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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  Fun Fun Fun! And a daily driver, too! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By SCoop - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I Love this car! I follow several MINI bboards so I know about problems that other owners have had, and Ive had only two, both minor: coolant turned brown at around 2500 miles, and the weather strip between the windshield and the roof came out while traveling at highway speeds. Both were promptly fixed under warranty. This car is my daily driver, and I find it very comfortable and a blast to drive! I opted for the standard 16" wheels, which other owners have said make the ride a lot more smooth than the sport 17s. I have no complaints at all about the ride, but then I like a car that lets me feel the road. If you want a cushy ride, dont get a sports car!

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  MINI CooperS - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Homer Car - January 18 - 10:00 am

  These cars are one of the best cars i have ever had!

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  Go-Kart on rails - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Tom Ozimek - January 14 - 12:06 am

  To all potential MINI folks. These vehicles attract attention, a lot of attention. They perform extremely "flat-footed" and hold the road like chewing gum on your shoe. No it isnt the circus "clown-car" No it doesnt have a wind-up key The standard "bells and whistles" in the MINI far exceed anything on the road getting more then 33 mpg in the city today.

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  Great Car - but heres what you need to know - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By watermelon4 - January 13 - 1:27 am

  Great car but the S models tires & susp R harsh except on smooth roads. When time to replace them, buy softer tires & the car will b so much more enjoyable. U feel every bump w/OEM tires. Recall for timing belt tensioner & they replaced w/main crank seal, no charge. Paid $60 for new timing belt. No chatter anymore like it did on really cold starts. The auto trans is a worry. Seems to not know what gear it wants when U slow & then accelerate-bucks like a horse - I expect it will fail one day but so far at 55k, ok. The computer tells you 2 have service at like 40k & dealer charges $200 just to check the vehicle over, no maintenance -I wouldnt recommend it if you can find someone else 2 check

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  To my fellow Road Warriors - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By RoadWarrior - January 8 - 10:10 am

  I love my 2009 MINI and its a good thing I do because I spend most of my time in it. I am writing this review for people who are considering buying this car for frequent long trips. The car is a blast but Im not sure I would purchase again because of all the long trips I take. In 14 months I have driven this car almost 60k mi. To be honest, the interior is not very comfortable. After driving about 2 hours on the hwy I start to get fidgety. Being in the passenger seat is almost unbearable after 1hr. Great gas mileage, but not really any pickup on the highway. I know I sound like Im complaining. I really love my Mini but if you plan on driving as much as I do, you might want to reconsider.

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  Made our lifes interesting - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By driving for fun - January 7 - 8:00 am

  Owned in Nov-2007. Never required any service and computer shows that it needs have service after next 8000 miles for my current driving conditions. I had Mazda 6 before this car which was fun to drive but this is way more fun asking for more and more all the way up to turbo boost when I floor the gas pedal. Neither powerful nor fastest but it is quick, agile, solid and builds confidence even at high speeds on irregular pavements and curves never fails to give feedback to the driver. Premium gas is recommended but not required. Plenty of cheers/curious looks/hand waving/questions from others and other Mini owners is something Ive seen with Mini Cooper only but not with any other car.

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  A $20000 planter - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By ALEXTAM - December 30 - 10:00 am

  It was a big let down. I thought it would be better than a vw bug. It has a for sale sign on it now. It is noisy poor excelleration and the exhaust is rattling. very poorly made. not bmw quality

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  2005 MINI Cooper - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By pedro fonseca - December 26 - 11:46 am

  I do no like the CVT, it has have a little hersitation. I also expect better gas mileage in the city with highway 22. It uses only premium gas, which is the most expensive. However, this car is fun to drve, very good ar 70 or 80 miles per hour, very stable, has good pick up and passing ability. Id give it an eight out of ten.

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  Love my MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By DMINI - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I finally decided to buy a MINI and now I wish I hadnt waited so long. Its comfortable, handles great and is a blast to drive.

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  Awesome Mini - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Mikey Andersony - December 24 - 10:00 am

  The Mini is a great car, reliable, and very fun!