Overview & Reviews

Few cars are as instantly recognizable as the Mini. Loved for its diminutive dimensions and cheerful good looks, the British-born car has inspired passionate devotion both in the U.S. and abroad. The brand was briefly discontinued, but was revived in 2002 with help from BMW. Successfully paying homage to the original Mini Cooper of the 1960s, the reincarnated Cooper combines an athletic, BMW-engineered chassis with a space-efficient interior and a generous standard features list.

The history of the Mini make began in 1959. The original Mini car was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in England and its mission was to be a lightweight, agile four-passenger car that took up minimal space. In a sense, the brand was born out of necessity. The United Kingdom was subject to fuel rationing in the wake of the Suez crisis, and British consumers clamored for vehicles that offered optimum fuel efficiency.

The car was originally sold under BMC's Austin and Morris brands; the Mini name didn't make an appearance until 1961. Although it had just 34 horsepower, the Mini was the ideal urban car and proved popular in crowded European cities. In 1961, John Cooper, a man who built Formula One racecars, put his magic hands on the Mini and the result was the ferocious Mini Cooper. His Cooper S model had (at 76 hp) more than double the output of the standard Mini. That infusion of power, along with suspension tweaks and some really good driving, had Mini winning the Monte Carlo Rally four years in a row (1964-'67). The marque landed on American shores in 1962.

The '60s truly was the decade of the Mini. New variations on the car's theme came with the introduction of vehicles like the Mini Pickup and the Mini Moke, a vehicle that resembled a quirky cross between a Mini and a Jeep. The car's abbreviated proportions are even rumored to have played a part in sparking a fashion trend; the miniskirt raised hemlines and became emblematic of an era. Mini motorcars tore up the asphalt on the silver screen, with the brand's appearance in the 1969 film The Italian Job. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million Mini motorcars had been produced. Sadly, the vehicle was pulled from the United States in 1968, in the wake of strict new emissions regulations.

Though no longer available in the U.S., Mini remained in production in Europe through the '70s and '80s. By the mid-'80s, more than 5 million Minis had been produced worldwide. In 1994, the brand was acquired by the BMW Group. The marque went on hiatus in 2000, but was resurrected (and brought back to American shores) in 2002 with the launch of the entry-level, front-drive Mini Cooper hatchback. Thoroughly modern in every way, right down to its BMW-engineered suspension, steering and brakes, the Mini Cooper is sold alongside its cousins at BMW dealerships.

Today, Mini's offerings include various derivatives of the Cooper, including a coupe, a roadster and a convertible; the slightly longer Clubman; high-performance John Cooper Works variants; and even the crossover SUV-inspired four-door Countryman. With such a diverse, fun-loving lineup, it's no wonder that Mini has become one of America's most desirable small car automakers.

User Reviews:

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  For a better car, avoid high end options - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Don - November 11 - 12:40 pm

  The Cooper S convertible really DOES feel like a go-kart, it is a blast to drive, and people all want to make friends with such a cute little car. But the dynamic stability control is wildly overassertive (slammming on the brakes at the slightest chirp of wheelspin), the optional automatic climate control is a disastrous triumph of cutesy (shaped like the Mini crest) over ergonomic, and the optional Harmon-Kardon stereo upgrade is only marginal at best. If you delete these options, youll not only save money, youll have a MUCH better experience of the car...simple, direct, delightful. Mini gets into trouble when they try to get too fancy..but when they just go for fun, they get it right!

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  23 Years of BMW - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By S_Car_Go - November 4 - 10:23 pm

  Between my husband and I weve owned a BMW product since 1986. The Mini is truly a BMW and comes with all the benefits and the drawbacks. BMW is all about whats under the hood - great engine, handling and braking. BMW really doesnt care if your drink fits in the cupholder of if the interior uses materials that makes it look worse than an econo box. After all, youre having too much fun driving to notice! If its anything like our other BMWs, expect that each visit to the mechanic will be about $1,000 - it will happen enough to be painful but not enough to hate the car. Go to a Mini car club dinner (yes, you women too) to meet other owners and find out the best mechanics, body shop etc

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  Love it, but not the maintenance expense - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By christalhp - October 4 - 7:36 pm

  I love my MINI, its quick, responsive and fun to drive. But Ive had to replace one run-flat tire for every year Ive owned it - 200-500/tire. Add that to the three times Ive had to replace parts for the window, the consistent rattling noises, and a guy wire in the door that pops off so I cant easily open the driver side door - Ive spent more money on my Mini in the past four years than I ever did on my first car - a Honda Civic SI. You WILL be paying BMW prices for labor and parts. The allure of the initial price tag of the Mini (substantially lower than a BMW) is overshadowed by the maintenence costs - with alll the electrical problems of a BMW to boot.

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  Some issues, but a joy to drive - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By driverone - September 14 - 5:23 pm

  I was at the dealership taking advantage of the 36,000 mile maintenance warranty more often than Id like. First 36,000 miles: ball joint wore down, three sets of front tires (too much fun to drive), thermostat went out, front brake rotors replaced, tailgate sensor replaced, cd player skipped (radio replaced). After all is said and done, the MINI was a great car to drive. Even the convertible is faster than most cars on the road. Its easy to play leap frog in traffic with this little go-kart. Too bad they went to turbo, because hearing the whine of the supercharger was very comforting. I will miss the MINI, but not its potential for high maintenance costs and the small cargo area.

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  nickel and dime Fun - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By chandeau - September 11 - 2:46 pm

  Driving experience is fun fun fun. The reliability is not so fun. There is a design flaw where it wont start in really cold temps. My sunroof wont open when its really hot. I have it in the shop twice to get lights replaced and two other times for minor issues. The seats are great for short trips since they hug you in the seat...but for long trips my lower back aches terribly. Also, the center console opens on its own by merely brushing it with my arm, needs a better closing mechanism. The sunroom screen doesnt block enough sun.

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  Love My MINI - 2015 Mini Cooper
  By wareagle06 - September 11 - 12:29 am

  This car was originally not my first choice. I took one test drive and from that point I was hooked. I was looking for an every day driver that was also fun and I found it in the MINI. It really does have go-kart like handling. The interior is well built with quality materials. The performance is outstanding (I have the S model with the 2.0 twinpower turbo engine). What really sold me was the no cost maintenance.

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  O3 MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By wme - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Great car, doesnt feel like a little car from the inside.

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  my hot mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Isaac Davis - August 28 - 10:00 am

  o think it is very hard to drive.

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  A Year with a Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Christie FIsher - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive. People see me on the road and smile. It is extremely stable and handles well. Because it is a "driving machine" the ride is a bit rough. The main problem I have had is that it shifts quite roughly. Sometimes I have to try many times to get into reverse. I have asked the dealer about this and have been told I do not know what I am talking about. The rubber gasket around the top of the windshield has come apart three times now. The cruise control is not very good. When I set the cruise control, it lunges and usually slows down a few mph from where I set it.

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  Convertible Top Problem - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jean - August 9 - 6:50 pm

  Only one problem has turned up with my MINI. The convertible top got a wire rubbed and shorted out the wiring harness. They replaced the whole harness at no charge. Other than that, we love that little sweetheart!