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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  Beware of the Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By BAD REVIEW - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Beware of the Mini, is an all too true phrase. Looks cute. Performance in a nut shell makes the "Yugo" shine. Would like to see their saftey tests.

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  S as in Superior - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Paul Julian - December 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is about as close to perfection as any that I have owned. The last one that provided this much pure fun was my 67 XKE which I still own.I cant find a single fault with either the design or the build or with BMWs marketing.No dealer add ons,just straight forward pricing.These guys are setting the standard!

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  Mini cooper rocks - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By dashboardfan1787 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Mini Coopers are built with everything consumers want: style, elegance, reliability, performance, comfort. Not only that but it is so well priced, how could you pass it up?

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  Love it! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By parrotkind - December 1 - 10:00 am

  We absolutely love our MINI. We have had on two autocrosses and a driving school at Buttonwillow racetrack. It has to be one of the most fun cars on the road and it absolutely is the cutest. It still brings a smile to my face everytime I look at it and we have had it almost a year. The only complaint I can find is the lag in first gear especially with the a/c on. I dont usually use a/c, but it has been hot this year, and I have had to a bit. Well I am embarassed to pull away from a light because the car is a slug with a/c on. With it off the car still needs to be in a higher rev off the line or it lags in first.

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  smashing little car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By boxerjaxson - December 1 - 10:00 am

  fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my mini cooper, it is a great little car. My parents had one when I was a child and now I have my own.

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  The Zip-ster - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Phelps Hope - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I have had my 2003 Mini Cooper-S for six months now. I find myself volunteering for any errand, whether at home or work. I am parking in placing I did not know existed, and I get so many smiles, winks and appreciative nods while cruising in town. I have a new style of driving called "Zipping", where I zip in and out of traffic, especially on the freewyas. I even had a Georgia State Patrolman give me a thumbs up and a smile when I passed him on the freeway last week!

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  the mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By thewholenine - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I have love the car since I first saw it. I use to drive a Dodge Durango and it is so much nicer being able to get in and out of traffic quickly. The gas bill is much easier to swallow too.

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  EXOLONTO - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By RILEY TRIPLETT - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THIS CAR STYLE LOOK AND DRIVE THE IS THE BEST CAR I BOUGHT YET

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  MY MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By kfuqua - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my MINI when I was anticipating the birth of my first grandchild and I wanted a car that would make me look fun and not "old"!. The MINI was just the car for me. The car seat and stroller fit in just fine because of the versatility of the hatch back and the ability to fold one back seat down at a time. Also the big speedometer keeps my lead foot in check. Most of my driving is around town and my MINI is east to park and get in and out of. Also I am still getting quite a few stares as I go down the road (something I havent gotten in a few years).

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  the best car ever - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By kav9008 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is the best car ever.If you want fast get this car.It tops out to about 130 god i love this car.