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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  Trading Spaces MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By aminc - October 26 - 10:00 am

  My experiences have been rewarding, I am please with the style and most of all the fun factor. Numerous time I have been stop and asked about the car. I never had any mechanical problems, and enjoy the car as much as my wife.

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  A+ - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mtrulis - October 26 - 10:00 am

  The mini is perfect. I live in Chicago and the mini can fit into any parking spot on those busy streets. In a land of SUVs the mini gets amazing gas milleage. I can get up to 420 miles on a tank which is twice as much as my old SUV and it costs the same amount to fill it up. Amazing car, great look, and everyone digs a mini couper

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  My Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Toni - October 26 - 8:33 am

  Minis have everything in a small packet. Its really fun to drive at high speeds. In the city its even more fun to drive. It is small, fast and really good at cornering. The interior is really goo\d looking.

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  Im Happy with Happy - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Happy - October 23 - 10:10 am

  Just sitting in my MINI Cooper (Happy) puts a smile on my face. Very few cars can do that anymore. It handles like a GoKart and gets good economy. The only issue that I have had with it is that BMW says to use Premium Fuel, which is a bummer. The back seats are not usefull unless those in front are small also. Otherwise, this car is a beatiful piece of machinery.

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  LOVE IT! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MY MINI - October 21 - 3:26 am

  I have been wanting a new car for sometime but couldnt find one that I liked til now. What a great car! So much better than a VW bug. I love everything about it!

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  I love Minis - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By coryelli23 - October 18 - 11:53 pm

  This is honestly the best car I have ever driven or ridden in. It is very fun to drive and has amazing handling. Also, the turning radius is very tight. The only bad thing about it is when you have to replace the tires. They are very expensive and hard to find. Honestly, I cannot see myself wanting another car.

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  my favorite car ever - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Scott Nickel - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is the most fun Ive had on wheels ever. It corners like it knows the way. The smiles from other motorists, the thumbs up, the conversations. All so positive about a car under 20,000. I am so grateful that BMW brought this car to market. Its an awesome ride.

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  The biggest grin - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Asher Schaffer - October 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive. You will find yourself with a huge grin on your face that lasts for hours even after you are done. The low end torque could be better, but if you keep it above 2500 RPM you are in for a good time. I would recommend going for the anthricite interior as the silver looks a little too plasticy IMHO. Some things (like the auto AC) I could do without, but the reason to get this car is because you like to drive. The stock stereo in the US is pretty good, but you should replace the speakers if you are really concerned with the quality.

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  Great Car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By JMS - October 1 - 11:43 pm

  Im hooked. Even my daughter that wanted me to get a Saturn Sky is glad to have this car. It is true what people say, it really does handle like a go-cart. Super responsive and I just hit 1200 miles with a life to date MPG of 35.9. Power and handling are the most obvious features of this car. I will own a MINI from now on.

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  Unique, classy, practical and fun - 2017 Mini Countryman
  By Bruce Bolen - September 30 - 5:08 am

  Its an emotional car and a blast to drive. I knew when I ordered a Mini, it would likely have problems based on Minis track record. The sales experience was dysmal; the dealer is 171 miles from my front door. I asked the salesman to pick us up at the airport nearest the dealer, 20 minutes away. He refused. We got lost on the city trolley system and asked the dealer receptionist to have someone pick us up, which they finally did. The salesman had all the paperwork wrong (after Id given specific email information), and, after the third try and 1.5 hours we were on our way. At the first rest stop, my wife opened the passenger door and a trim piece fell in her lap. The second day, the infotainment system had long delays, there was static in the speakers and the navi froze. Later, the heads-up display developed a loud clicking noise while retracting, and the rear hatch would come open by itself when nobody was around the car. Mini USA was more than accommodating by providing a flatbed four two 342-mile round trips from my home to the dealer, one to diagnose the infotainment problem, and a second to make the repairs (after waiting nine weeks to get a new head unit). The service writer at the dealership who handled everything over this two-month period was also exceptional. I wanted a Mini Countryman really, really badly, so I have never waivered from loving the car right from the start. After owning over 35 new cars and reading every review known to man, I knew I wanted and loved the new Countryman. The car is economical, power is adequate, the paddle shifters are very intuitive to use, and the outstanding 8-speed auto is always in the gear you want. The steering is exceptional, the brakes very solid, and the sport seats are very comfortable. The standard sunroof in this car has less draft and minimal buffeting....better tan Ive experienced in Mercs and BMWs. The suspension is very well sorted out, providing an outstanding ride/handling compromise. Overall MP g is 31 in mixed driving and 34 highway on mid-grade fuel. In spite of my horrific sales experience and all the electronic issues, I still highly recommend this delightful and wonderful car which is now 100% operational with 5,400 miles