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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  my review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By thecoolest - November 18 - 10:00 am

  this vehicle runs smoothley and you can barely tell you are driving....if you are in the passenger seat you could end up falling asleep because it is really comftorable.i cant wait till next years model!

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  Miss Mini Loves Attention - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Miss Mini - November 15 - 1:43 pm

  My husband let me pick the car I wanted - and Ive always loved the Mini since we were in Europe. So I was overjoyed when the convertible became available. My husband thought my MINI was a girly car - that is until he drove it. Now he loves to drive it - the pick-up and the way it holds the road - especially in curves. He is tall - over 6 ft. and he has plenty of room. Only draw back is the nearest dealership is 100 miles away. So am glad it is working well.

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  Funfunfun - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By John & Traci - November 12 - 6:53 pm

  This is just plain FUN. Weve both had Mustangs in the past, and we actually prefer this. We could have waited for the 05 Mustang Convertible, but once we drove this...it was a done deal. Quick, easy to handle and park ANYWHERE...especially crowded soccer fields...and boy do the heads turn! Great mileage. At first it felt like we were driving a target after driving our SUV...but as quick and as safe ast it is...its not a problem anymore. We love our MINI.

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  Lots of fun - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Matt - November 11 - 9:46 am

  Ive owned this vehicle for about two months now. Overall Ive had a very satisfying experience. Despite the rising price of gas (and the fact that you fill up with premium) I cant get enough of driving this car. I did have some minor issues with the car, the first was that the door latch on the drivers side did not want to open correctly, a tension issue that was quickly fixed by the dealer. The second was a defective ignitor of one of my xenon headlights, again fixed for me under warranty.

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  Fun to drive? You better believe it! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Brian - November 5 - 1:26 pm

  This is the first car Ive owned in a while (10 years or so of truck ownership preceeded it) and Ive always wanted a convertible. WOW. There are not enough adjectives to describe what its like to drive this car. From handling corners like theyre not even there, to lots of punch in acceleration, you cant help but have a huge grin on your face when youre putting this car through its paces. Still, nearly a year after I bought it, I still get people daily asking me about it, if its fun to drive, where I got it...its the most fun Ive ever had driving a car. To the editors ratings..7.8? How can you possibly put as much weight into cupholders as you do fun to drive?

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  The wait is over! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By NekoWoman - November 4 - 10:00 am

  A lot like my folks BMW in ride & handling. Most comfortable seats ever - even my father 6’ agreed. Suspension is tight - not harsh - it provides great road feel. It’s a drivers car - not a squishy cruiser. It takes a while to get used to the rubbernecking & comments. Folks dont know MINI is a car company - the refrain "But who makes that?" after Ive said MINI might get old, but I dont mind now. Its a great car - dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Its a fitting sibling to BMW -- BMW might be the athlete of the family and get straight As, but MINI will get the dates and have the fun and still manage to make the honor roll...

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  Mini is Awesome - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By erik shryock - October 30 - 3:43 am

  I am very delighted that I bought this wonderful machine. Having BMW behind it you can sure tell the quality of this product. I had driven a friends two years ago and fell in love with it. I have been shopping for luxury autos for leasing; but, when Mini made this convertible and I test drove it with top down at BMW i quickly purchased it in stead of a BMW. I feel you get your money worth and its cute to boot. Thank you.

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  Cant drive it without smiling! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Millionmax - October 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this as a commuter car for my wife. It has been great. Truly a quality, fun car to drive.

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  greatest student car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By guin - October 26 - 10:00 am

  i love mine get one

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  Mini Madness - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Schpeck - October 26 - 10:00 am

  I had been dreaming of a mini for about two years, then was more fired up after seeing the "Italian Job". Built it online, and voila! picked up my mini in January and even my husband now wants to trade in the Tahoe for another family mini. My next door neighbor has one, and more in the neighborhood! What a great car to have and just enjoy being part of the mini mania.