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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  A Perfect 10 - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By boogatti - September 6 - 8:33 pm

  What else is there to say, I went from a 2 series Volkswagen Cabrio to an MINI S with full perks. This car is a perfect 10.

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  Electrical Gremlins - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By John - September 4 - 9:50 am

  Love the car, hate the electrical bugaboo that has caused it to change abruptly from full on function to stone cold dead. Its up to the dealer at this point to convince me that this can be resolved. I hear they get high marks for service thats customer oriented, so far they have been, but the electrical issue is still there after stranding me the first time. Disappointing because we really like the car, the dealership is trying but I hate the idea of always wondering about electrical issues that are supposedly resolved. Well see...

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  Buy something else - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By ledward88 - September 1 - 1:07 pm

  Bought a mini brand new. We drive the speed limit and keep up the maintenance. The tires had to be replaced at 24000 miles, not covered by warranty. Right after warranty expired we had to replace brakes and rotors and battery. The transmission stalls in first gear after stopping at a light, but only on hot days. The water pump is bad and leaks coolant; $900 fix at the dealer. The water pump goes bad a lot on this mini; you conveniently do not have a Temp gauge! It also leaks oil from the valve solenoid; $2500 fix at the dealer. Overall worst vehicle I have ever owned, period.

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  Mini Cooper S w/sport & premium - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Minnie Driver - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive never paid MSRP for a car before, but I would say that this car is worth it. The buying experience is extremely easy & fun. Mini is constantly sending me nice goodies in the mail, & customer service has been great so far. Like how you can order exactly what you want on the car. A VERY fun car to drive with lots of pep, great handling & brakes. The int & ext design continues to draw looks, and its refreshing to drive something different. Im used to an SUV, but quickly acclimated to this small car which feels roomier inside than it looks. The ride is firm, but I expected that. Love all the BMW features without the BMW price.

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  Bang for the buck - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By CHILIMINI - September 1 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST FUN I HAVE EVER HAD FOR UNDER 20K GREAT LOOKS, FUN FACTOR, NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM, AND A CROWD GATHERS WHEREVER IT IS PARKED. DRIVES LIKE IT IS ON RAILS AROUND CORNERS. DO NOT SKIMP, GET THE DSC ATABILITY CONTROL, AND THE HARMON KARDON STEREO IS A MUST AS THE FACTORY ONE IS AS BAD AS MY ALARM CLOCK

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  Love it! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By G-Man - September 1 - 12:56 am

  The MINI is a fun, comfortable, safe vehicle to drive. I bought mine as a surprise 50th birthday present for my wife. I cant get it away from her. Next time we need to replace a second car, its a MINI for dad.

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  Honey, I shrunk the car! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By michaelkrz - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my recently graduated-from- college daughter a new MINI thinking she would love it. Unfortunately, after driving it less than a week, it has had so many problems she ended up selling it and buying a Honda. The doors did not appear correctly set. The engine had smoke come out of it. And so many rattles she thought her niece was playing in the back. Oh well.

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  The new MINI, What a ride. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By cageorge - August 24 - 10:00 am

  In six weeks I have managed to put 2,000 miles on my new mini, including 2 trips to the Keys on Card Sound Rd. (ouch), couldnt be happier, and to think I could be driving truck (SUV) instead, thank God I got my MINI, its soooo much fun.

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  Im in Love - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By sicko_q8 - August 24 - 2:16 am

  Im only 19 years old. I have driven the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 330i, but the Mini Cooper S is the best thing I have ever driven. Even my mom thinks so because she drives the car more then I do (give me my car back). Now my younger brother is buying one because we all agree that its worth the price.

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  Sell it before the warranty runs out - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By iautox1 - August 22 - 7:05 pm

  MINI had and had multiple defects that it will not fix. Bad automatic transmissions. Bad clutches. Bad vacuum pumps that can cause the need for a complete engine review. And the problems Ive had: death rattle dieseling. Its a noise the engine makes on start up. You can find countless posts on Mini forums on this issue. The noise is a symtom of the timing chain and tensioner failing. It usually just costs $1,550 to fix, but the change can jump timing or break causing the valves to contact the pistons and the need for a $8,000 engine replacement. My was replaced at 20,000 miles and now again at under 70,000 miles. It began making noise right after it was replaced the first time.