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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  love to drive my mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By windo29 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Mini since July and have already put almost 8000 miles on it. I got the car because I love the looks and the price was not bad either. I took in to great consideration the fuel mileage as well. So far the car has been great. It is like driving a race car all the time. The gears are very short and the clutch lets out at the floor so that makes for a great take off. People wonder about space, they are little but I have 20 month old little girl so there for I have a car in the back of mine.

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  Fun to drive!!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Big Don - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Im 66" tall and the Mini fits me fine.Plenty of room to shift without my knees hitting the steering wheel. Handles like a go cart. Rides like a 3 series BMW.

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  best car ever had - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ed kogan - September 24 - 2:00 am

  handels like a golf cart

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  Little Hot Chili - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By d - September 22 - 1:40 am

  This is the best car to be resurrected. Unlike many movies, this sequel is equally as great as the original.

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  A blast to drive - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Ed - September 19 - 1:16 am

  I test drove a 2004 MINI for the first time, just for kicks - when I accidentally took a corner at 45 mph, I was hooked. The 05 model has more horses, some better styling, and even more options. I picked up an S (chili red, white roof and mirrors) with Premium, Sports, and Cold Weather packages (for use in Chicago), and the Harmon Kardon sound system. Short version: I love it. Handling is great; acceleration, while not the best, is plenty of fun for a daily driver. The size and maneuverability make the MINI perfect for parallel parking and highway passing. My only major worry is that somebody will drive into me while smiling at my car!

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  Good Lord, I love this car - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Jerry - September 16 - 10:43 am

  I upgraded my 1996 Honda Civic Hatchback with a 2007 MINI Cooper last April. I drove it 20000 miles this past year. Its first scheduled maintenance, an oil change, was about 2 weeks ago. There isnt anything I would change on this car. I love driving it to work, taking the kids to their activities, and just getting around town. It drives like a dream and gets fantastic mileage. The stereo sounds great too.

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  Sports car disguised as econo-car - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By rob_gendreau - September 6 - 12:00 pm

  The MINI has been described as a go-kart with functionality, and thats not far wrong. The car is a blast to drive, but works as a comfortable, affordable economic daily driver. The gas mileage is awesome: I get about 35 MPG in mixed freeway/surface driving. The standard Cooper has more than enough performance pizzazz to delight anyone who likes driving, and its even a decent autocrosser for those who are more ambitious. A great way to have fun and not go broke in the era of $4 gas.

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  Even us Seniors like it - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By William - September 3 - 10:40 pm

  Im 65 years old and driving this car makes me feel as I did at 17. There are several features which I enjoy, from the performance to the looks I get driving it.

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  Better than ever expected - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By NoelWinter - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this little gem for my girlfriend, unfortunately for her I really love driving it. I am 6 feet tall and am very comfortable in my/her MINI. We resently drove it to West Palm beach it was a great ride. Yeah, it can be a little bumpy at times...but, I can deal with it for all the fun it has afforded us.

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  04 Mini S - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By BocaJap13 - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive, and handles great! I recommend it to everyone. Its a small car on the outside but is so roomy inside... youd be surprised. Ive driven some great cars in the past, and my MINI is right up there with the rest of them!