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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  Great car! - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By qwika - August 21 - 9:20 pm

  I bought my Mini used in March 2010 with 60,000 miles on it. I was really torn at the time between a Cooper S and a Cooper. I got a great deal on my Cooper and have to say it is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. This car is so much fun to drive, has great gas mileage, and looks. I drive 72 miles one way to work and usually get around 40 mpg on my trips. My trip is through a lot of back roads and highways, and is fun :) even in the snow here in central Pennsylvania. It is so hard to walk past this car without jumping in it a taking it for a drive.

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  A blast to drive - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By phuuf - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Owned for just over 2 months. Way too much fun to drive. We find it very comfortable. Its not made with a lot of storage space in mind, but the car is not meant for that purpose either. We find the power fine four our driving. Pickup in first gear is a little lagging, but once the rpms get up in 1st gear, power is great. Miles per gallon - weve averaged just under 30 mpg for the 10 weeks weve owned it.

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  Voom voom - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By slvr bllit - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I love this car... I am 6-2" and fit in it well. I throw in all of my hockey equip and still room for a passenger. The S is fast and imble. Fun to drive. Motor on..............

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  Cute Sexy but not for everyone - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By minime - August 13 - 5:23 am

  Forever contemplated getting a brand new VS. used. Found a used on Craigslist for a reasonable price so took the plunge. Mine is a decked out Mini Cooper S convertible with all the options and JCW package (except the nav system). Quick & nimble but harsh and jolting ride (17" run flats + stiff suspension = good looks+performance but uncomfortable) While no match for a hardcore RWD sports car, it has a very good vehicle dynamics characteristics for a FWD. Neutral steer with a hint of tail-out oversteering when pushed. Overly intrusive ESP (but you can turn it off). Not recommended if this is going to be your one and only car. Not many 4 seater convertible that can match fun factor as Mini Cooper

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  2003 Mini Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Ted P - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I waited 9 months for delivery of my 2003 Cooper S and it was well worth the wait. The performance of the car is awesome, acceleration, handling and braking are all that was expected and then some. The jury is still out if the ride is going to be too harsh. After two weeks, Im still adjusting to the firmness, I realize it adds to the handling

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  MINI details - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By deegirl1 - August 9 - 10:00 am

  The MINI Cooper Sport is an absolute blast to drive. Fun in the sun. However, it was in the shop 4 times within the warranty period, which makes me a nervous owner regarding maintenance. It is also not a car for bad roads with potholes. Mileage runs about 21/gal for the Cooper, and its premium gas. Dont know if I will keep this car due to maintenance issues, but it sure is fun to drive!

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  So much fun! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Marie - August 5 - 2:50 am

  This car is the most fun that you can have driving! Everytime that I get behind the wheel the Mini is ready to go. It handles beautifully, hugs the curves, and loves to accelerate up hills. With the top down and wind in my face- what could be better?

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  Smiling & Motoring! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By gusdog - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Its worth the wait! A lot of car for the money and regardless of the size, Mini doesnt cheat on quality. My first new car in 15 years, so the bells and whistles are amazing. Great dealership assistance when you need it; thanks BMW! And you should see my dog in it--hes motoring too!

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  Cooper S has it, dollar for dollar - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Mark - July 29 - 12:36 pm

  You want a good sports car for your money, buy the Mini Copper S but buy the S model becuase its worth to pay the extra money for the Copper S.I drove one in the plant in Munich & wow what a sports car for the money & seats 4 people very well. Have the money try one out & buy it if you want a nice sports car for your money.

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  So much fun! and frugal for us - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By bruccoo - July 25 - 9:23 am

  Where to begin? My wife and I bought this car to replace her 04 AWD V6 Honda CRV. She was originally looking at the coupe but after seeing it in person changed her mind. She test drove this model and liked it. The hatch provides great functionality and since it is the two of us didnt need a large vehicle. After driving this car a week we both have grown even more on it. It is really fun to drive, think of go-kart handling as its main selling point. The mileage is definitely better as well in comparison. Going from regular to premium still provides a savings cost in our situation. Also, super easy to park! We opted for the auto trans in ours btw.