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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  Can you say fun? - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Sgt.Pepper - October 7 - 2:00 am

  This car is just too much fun to drive. With any other vehicle, I would have been disappointed with the stumbling problems, small visors, lack of storage space for front passengers, but the fun factor far outweighs those "minor" problems. It takes a while to realize that its not just a toy car driving at an amusement park!

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  Mini a piece of junk - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By nkdhome - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Mini doesnt stand behind the car and the dealer doesnt stand behind the car. The runflat tires are over priced and hard to find, and the electrical system is terrible. Overall the car is cute and that is the only good thing about the car. When you take the car in for service they dont fix anything and most times they will keep the car for a week or more. This car is an over prices piece of junk!

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  A satisfied owner/driver. - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Broker - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Having researched this car as thoroughly as possible,before making a decision to buy, my car turned out to be tops in all categories.The fact that just about every feature one could ask for, was standard, and I could pick and choose from a very short list of extras without any pressure from the dealer, made it as close to a custom car as I will ever come.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Chume - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my mini about 3 months ago & it is perfect. I love my car. It runs excellent & is very comfortable. It has more than you think. The eye is deceiving.

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  A lot of fun for less - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Greencooper - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The new MINI is the perfect car. As long as you dont think you need a SUV for your groceries. How much more fun can you get for $20K? Great around town, easy to drive, fun on the corners, amazing at 100+mph on the hwy. Looks great inside and out. I have the British Racing green with a beautiful leather interior. Oh, and its $20K! If you need to show the world youre pimpin then spend the extra $30K and get an M3 otherwise the MINI is for fun and light-hearted motorers that like to have a good time everyday, all day.

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  Good value/fun for the money! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By lugnutz - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The car is well built and solid. Handling is go-kart like and similar in capability to my classic Mini. Ride is excellent even over 100mph. Power could be improved with more low end torque. But if you wind it up, its quick enough. You just get into 5th a little over 90mph. Critics must be unfamiliar with classic Minis or mini cars.

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  Zoom. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Mini1380 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The car just wants to go. This car has drivability/handling of a go-cart with the quality of a BMW. Being six feet tall, I easily fit in the car with room to spare. There has been an amazing amount of time spent on details such as the programable options: light delays, auto-locking, etc.. I just love the car.

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  LONG LIVE MINI - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MINI MANIA - October 6 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome in every way Its Fast and drives and handles like a go kart tons and tons of car for the money

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  Grinning ear to ear. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By James Samuel - October 6 - 9:23 am

  Driving my new Mini S Coupe is a breath of fresh air. I stand 66" and can comfortably fit in drivers seat. After driving large pickups for my daily drivers the Mini has been a welcome change. Not only is it fun to drive, but it has cut my weekly fuel bill by two thirds! I am using those savings to find me an older pickup that is free from all of the new fangled technology that plagues pickups today.

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  Mini Needs Better Gas Mileage - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Gina - October 5 - 6:53 am

  I have owned this car for about six months. Its fun to drive, has a classy interior, and is loaded with everything and has chrome everywhere. It is easy access to whatever you need. This car has a great panoramic roof!! With a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine it needs to get much better gas mileage though. I have the auto. w/o supercharger and only get about 26 mpg. I would suggest the S model for those who drive on the highway. Getting on and off highway ramps gets a bit tricky. As for the interior room, Ive taken 3 coworkers of average size to lunch and they seemed comfortable on the short ride. I enjoy this car because Im a 53 inch female and it fits me. Getting in and out is easy, and I have a back seat for stuff. I just need to adjust to the lack of power.