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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  I Love My Car! But im loosing it! Bee ware! - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By 0to60n6 - March 28 - 12:03 pm

  My car has been thru everything! Jumps, high speed runs, never has overheated or indicated any ware and tear. I was 15 when i got my car and i loved it! I have gotten hit by a drunk driver in a loaner car and it was a cooper and i obveously didnt die and the Full sized truck was in the ditch and i was stil on the road. He was more seriously enjured, oh and he side swiped me going 80... I love my car to death, but theres one thing to beware it sticks out like a sore thumb i got pulled over the oother day on the interstate for the wrong speed because i stick out and they didnt see the other car so my parents are selling my baby. :( Best car i have ever had and i will miss it so much :(.

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  08 Cooper Convertible - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Marcel - March 27 - 4:36 am

  If I was going to buy an economical car, then I wanted a car that is fun to drive. The Cooper convertible is just that. Currently at 34 mpg around town and the 5-spd. is perfect for this car. The car is perfect except for the blind spot when the top is up. This is the rear quarter area, behind the back seat. Tough to see when backing up - however the rear sensors are helpful.

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  The best car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ACHAYA - March 26 - 2:00 am

  this car is awsome all around and very fun to drive, you will have more fun driving it than a Ferrari. the engine on the S is very powerful and very responsive.

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  lets motor - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By ilovemymini - March 19 - 4:43 pm

  i have never been so happy with a car purchase. I love my mini cooper and cannot wait to purchase the redesigned and improved version in 2007. i recommend this car to everyone looking to have a great time and turn some heads.

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  German engineering trumps British build - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By dreadopus - March 19 - 2:00 am

  My only fault with this car is my personal dislike for the transmisson layout with reverse slotted to the far left next to first. Although this is the conundrum with 6 speed layouts.

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  Mini Convertible - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Magoo - March 17 - 12:43 am

  Great Car. Real fun to drive. Wife wanted an automatic. You can still shift it manually if you want.

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  Worth the Wait - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Miss Mapp - March 12 - 12:13 pm

  I have the Cooper with CVT and so far am totally thrilled. Yes, its small (hence the name), and yes the ride is ... firm. But. If you want to look for excuses to run errands, make heads turn at every stoplight, smile whenever you put the key in the ignition, and just plain feel more excited about driving than since you were 16, then the MINI is for you.

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  Loved it since I bought it. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Dave Finski - March 8 - 10:46 pm

  Ive loved my 2006 Mini convertible since I bought it brand new. My wife asked me what Id get on my next one that I didnt get on the one I bought. My answer, "nothing". There isnt anything I feel I should have opted for. Nothing I opted for that I should have done without. Opted for the basic engine. Saved money and dont need the extra horsepower, extra complexity of the turbo now mileage loss from being assertive with the gas pedal. Got the chrome exterior do-dads to cheer it up, leather bolstered seats, AC, manual transmission, more chrome do-dads inside and heated seats. Must get the heated seats. Awesome when the air gets a bit chilly. Now my wife wants her own!

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  two thumbs up - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By got mini? - March 5 - 2:00 am

  After putting about 3000 miles on my Cooper S I still love it! However I have had the car in for service about three times, once for steering wheel alighnment, the other times for a weeping coolant resvoir and a leaking water pump. Service at Knauz MINI was great, the only problem was that I was with out my car for two days. Service was nice enough to give me a 3 series BMW for a loaner car.I was surprised to find out that the MINI S was better overall in every catagory over the 3 series BMW. Overall this car is awesome, I highly recommend the space cloth seats.

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  Greatcar - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Lovingit - March 2 - 9:40 am

  The new 07 Mini is much improved over the last one. Just got one of the first six speed manuals. The car drives great and has significantly more performace than the previous base model. Performance could be better, but then they wouldnt have a reason to charge more for the S. Overall, the car is a joy. The sport seats are comfortable, easy and specific configuration options enables you to get exactly what you want. The car gets a great deal of attention and is just plain fun. I would highly reccomend this car to those who want something different and individual.