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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  amazing commute! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By emily - November 7 - 3:16 am

  I elected to build my mini from scratch, and it was a really fun experience. Mini Marketing kept me in the loop with what was going on with my car and supplied me with fun little mini accessories along the way. I live in the city, and commute ~20 miles to work. On both fronts, this car is amazing... it puts a smile on my face when commuting (and not just because of the 39mpg), and makes me want to hug it when it inevitably fits in the most ridiculously small street parking spots. The car oozes character.

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  Did I buy the right car - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By kongsi - November 5 - 10:41 am

  Well I was looking for a bigger car , but saw this MINI at BMW of Dallas and fell in love with it. I was surprised , how good the service was when I bought it , this Ali really went out of his way to help me choose the right car.Then usually I feel the car gets lesser as the time of purchase goes by , but they upgraded the car to certificated the car and replaced things that were getting worn , like the run flat tires. The car is a blast to drive ,the only thing I´m not sure of how hard the ride is and how loud the road noise is. It can wear me out . The price is a little high ,because some things are so much plastic , but there are allot of features on it .

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  mymini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ohiobuckifan - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I really like the look and feel of the car. Plus its really fun to drive

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  In case you were wondering... - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Penny - October 28 - 3:20 am

  This has been a fun little car with more room than previously anticipated. For comuters who are willing to forego a smooth ride for great gas mileage or someone who likes to be looked at, this is the car for you. Personally, I am enjoying this car. I wasnt even interested in buying it because I had an SUV and thought it was to small, I was wrong! This car is fun and sexy at the same time, who would have thought! One thing that is confusing, the car has beaucoup gadgets, but is missing standard perks ie; auto tint rearview mirror or digital compass this was standard on a base Saturn. Those items are kind of a no brainer.

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  OWNER - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By KETTLEHEAD - October 20 - 10:00 am

  not only is this engineered beautifully, the car is a blast to drive with power to spare. safety features to match more expensive cars and handling like a go-cart.

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  mighty mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By george daly - October 18 - 12:00 pm

  This is a great car. It is very reliable, fun to drive, and gets great gas milage. I would buy another one. I have owned sport cars and luxury cars, but I like this one the best.

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  "Monster" - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MonsterMINI - October 17 - 7:56 am

  Monster is the license plate of my 2002 Chili Red Mini Cooper S with black bonnet stripes. It is BMW technology at its best - an affordable, compact car that people from all walks of life desire. The history plays a major roll for this car, yet even if this was its first time around, I believe it would be equally as popular simply because of its perfect engineering and carefree lifestyle that it promotes. Whenever MINI owners pass one anther on the street they most always wave or honk, very unusual in todays world of "iPods."

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  Beware of water for Mini Convertible - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By NotSoGreat - October 14 - 9:20 am

  To those of you considering buying the Mini Convertible. There is a design issue where water pours into the Mini on the drivers side when you open the door or window when it is, or has been, raining. I thought mine had a problem, only to find out after three visits that its just the design that is an issue and thus cant be fixed. Its been fun driving it, but the water issue is a deal killer for me so I will be selling my Mini.

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  The MINI Experience - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MINIpower - October 10 - 12:06 am

  Absolutly everything about owning a Mini is exciting. My 9 rating under comfort is for the lack of an armrest, but one soon becomes accustomed to that, or buys one! The car just begs to be driven around tight corners, which are frequently found in my Rocky Mountian town. It handled great even when it snowed for weeks straight this winter. The car has much more interior room that would be thought at first glance. Basically, I do not think that there is any other car on the market in this price range of such good quality!

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  Its a LEMON - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Hale - October 7 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a problem since i drove it off the lot. It went in for service 2 months after i picked it up and has been in 6 more times. im waiting for the dealership to honor the Lemon Law. The GPS has never worked; i had a service agent tell me he would never recommend purchasing the unit on a Cooper. The major problem has been the acceleration and fuel injection. Two different software upgrades and the problem still exists. This error causes severe safety issues when pulling out at intersections. They tell me they havent had any complaints ont he automatic transmition, but who wants to drive an automatic MINI? Wait a few more years, or buy a Bug!