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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  This Car Rocks! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By hctiev - October 3 - 9:10 pm

  I chose this car over an Acura TL - why? The fun factor! Ive gone from HAVING to spend time in the car to WANTING to spend time in the car. I have yet to find two Minis that are identical. BMW did this right. I now have a car that has all of the British nature combined with the best of German engineering. Im keeping this car forever.

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  Bmw Mini Cooper - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By hong kino - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I love the car, it is very comfortable and very easy to park.The car gets awesome gas milage and you get luxury and technology you would have to get in a 40000 dollar car.

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  LOVING LOLA - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By gigi - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY MINI HER NAME IS LOLA .IVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH FUN DRIVING

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  Cute quirky w some less than ideal attributes - 2016 Mini Cooper
  By David - September 23 - 4:41 pm

  I have my own opinions that sometimes run counter to the popular view. Case in point are some aspects of the 2016 Mini Cooper hard top. We recently bought mostly for its quirky charm unfortunately not because of its handling. We ordered a base cooper with the 15" wheels but with the default performance tires. The handling isnt as good as I hoped. It has personality like the rest of the car although Id hoped for it to just work. Steering is responsive, however the car fishtails in quick maneuvers. It fact its one of the worst Ive driven testing by swishing the steering wheel side to side. The rear reacts violently after a long delay like the back is whipping around later. Can be scary on the expressway. We tried 16" wheels and theyre a little better but not great. Many other cars this size do better on this test. The other thing I dont like is the Harmon Kardon upgraded stereo. It has way too much bass. If that all you want to hear, maybe its fine but I rank it as practically unlistenable even with the bass turned way down. The Fender upgraded stereo in VWs are awesome. Awesome bass yet clarity. We didnt order the upgraded stereo. The base stereo is fine and sounds clearer. The little 1.5 liter 3 cylinder engine is great. Has lots of low end torque, is happy to rev, and is surprisingly quiet. Manual transmission is very good. Nice fairly short throw. Rev matching on downshifts, hill hold. I test drove automatics. It works well in most cases but I got it confused when I jumped out in traffic and it took an eternity (maybe a second or two) to decide what gear to go into, all while cars were bearing down on me. Interior is small but can be comfortable is people arent too big. Sunroof is amazing. Feels like your in a convertible. Overall ride is very solid. Stiff body, normally few rattles, good at absorbing bumps. Storage space is definitely lacking. Mini went cheap for 2016 and removed the secret compartment on the dashboard reducing storage space thats practically non existent. Whos idea was it to make a four door car and only have one cupboard in the rear seat? Overall a fun cute car but with sometimes poor handling with the base wheels.

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  Excellent - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Michele Cook - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car. Looks good, great fun to drive. Turns heads everywhere. Love it!

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  Fun...No I mean really fun! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Tomtom - September 18 - 2:00 am

  A long wait well worth it. The most fun I have had in a car sense drinking and driving became bad form....handles great and well made. Lots of look/thumbs up too.

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  Great second car - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Bobolo - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive put about 5000 miles on my mini and I still find myself sneaking out at night and driving it on the back roads. this car is alot of fun.

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  No Pep, you are kidding, right? - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Joe - September 17 - 1:20 pm

  I agree on the first post regarding pep. With the CVT tranny I put it in, my Mini shifts itself at 6,000 RPM. It has plenty of snap! Maybe the reviewers were afraid to push it. You can push it. It takes it well. This car handles like a banshee! I love it! My next one is an "S" with a 6-speed transmission. If youre thinking about buying one, do not hesitate unless you need a back seat.

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  Love My MINI Cooper Convertible - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jean03766 - September 8 - 9:03 am

  My MINI Cooper Convertible is so much fun to drive. It surprises people who think it is a powerless compact car. It appeals to all ages. This car will probably be driven by my grandchildren, someday! My license plate says it all: MAXIFUN!

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  Where Form Meets Function - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Bill Prueter - September 7 - 9:46 am

  I looked at Mini over a two year period. I test drove it three times before my purchase. I could not be happier. I am impressed that it is the smallest car (143 inches) yet holds four people. My son is 6 2" and says it is the nicest car he has ever driven (for fun he and I often test drive cars on Saturdays). His leg length does mean that someone can not sit behind him. Other wise we have had four people in the car ride comfortably. This car has zip. My Miata (former car) cornered very well, but this car performs even better. Its acceleration is wonderful. However, on a trip to New York I achieved 44.1 mpg one time and 41.5 another. I live in a small town and typically get 30 mpg.