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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  MINI - A better MGB - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Carlover - June 27 - 3:20 am

  I have a British Racing Green basic MINI with the cold weather option. Nothing extra and I love this car. People who say its under powered do not know how to drive a stick shift sports car properly. You must use the tach, rev the engine and you have to love to shift! Use its power curve and it will never dsappopoint. I have a hard time keeping to the speed limit. My little car just wants to fly! Its very similar to my long-gone MGs, but better. Its faster, handles better, great mileage, little engine, big heart, I havent had this much fun driving in years. No issues with reliablity. More room inside than my Pontiac and room for friends if needed. What more could you ask for? Love it!!

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  Mini S Owner since July - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Garyt - June 24 - 2:00 am

  the speed of the car is the most surprising thing. didnt expect that quickness out of a 4 cyl. I am 65" and there is plenty of leg room and head room. Safety feature of the car and recent rating of 4 stars is impressive

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  Expensive but Worth It - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Andy J - June 22 - 1:00 pm

  A home run; why cant US car companies build something like the MINI? We paid right at $30K for the car and feel like we got a bargain. The new MINI retains some British charm but really should be regarded as the smallest member of the BMW lineup -- it looks and feels incredibly solid for a small convertible. My wife says she feels like shes behind the wheel of a baby tank. Our "S" cabrio w A/T is returning 31 MPG in mixed city/hwy driving to date. What a combination of power and fuel economy -- way to go BMW/Peugeot! Way, way bigger inside than it looks from the outside -- Im 62" 200 lbs and very comfortable in drivers seat. Trunk is tiny, but useful w/back seats folded down.

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  This is a great little car! - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By DCroft - June 20 - 7:00 pm

  Ive only had it a week so the reliability rating may be bogus but this is the most fun you can have on four wheels. I find myself looking for twisty, winding roads. It is relatively inexpensive to buy and extrememly economical to drive. All that and a fast, very nimble drive as well! I couldnt be happier (but wait till next week...)

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  Love my mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By John - June 16 - 9:23 pm

  My 2005 MINI Cooper S is a great car. It is lots of fun to drive and fast. It is the perfect car.

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  Dont but get the Panoramic roof option - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By timmylee1958 - June 4 - 12:24 am

  I had wanted a mini cooper for some years. After finding what I wanted, in my price range, I purchased a 2007 base hatchback with 49k miles. The car was in super nice shape. Mechanically it ran and drove excellent. It has been an absolute blast to drive. It gets some super fuel economy. I was getting better than the average. 34.5 mpg combined. Then the trouble started. Sun roof stuck open. $1100 to install a used Sunroof just 5 days after I owned the car. Dealer said this is Common? The replacement sunroof had so much wind noise it sounded like a wind tunnel. 2 months later the replacement roof failed I just sealed it to help eliminate the wind noise. Dealer

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  MINI ME - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By tripower - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Just plain FUN! Every time you get into or get out of the MINI you cant help but smile!

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  First MINI - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Leslie Potter - May 28 - 4:10 pm

  The car was bought for my wife. It is a solid, well build car especially considering the size. Handles and performs very well.

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  "S" engine is now a star - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By clutchplate - May 26 - 8:30 pm

  Its hard to believe the Mini Cooper S is only rated at 181 horsepower, it feels like more. After driving the standard Cooper hardtop the difference was night and day... if you cant afford the S, dont drive one. I also have a Lotus Elise & have been driving both up the same canyon road to observe the differences. The Lotus corners quicker/flatter, but the Cooper launches you out of a corner with more low end (turbo) thrust. Its power is in the midrange and it flings you forward from around 3,000 RPM. What a blast. It leans a bit while cornering but stays neutral when you hit the gas so you dont need to enter a turn super fast to maintain speed. Great fun, great car.

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  A very poorly made auto - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By porsche7876 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I typically buy two to three new cars a a year. My favorite remains Porsche, however, I tried a MINI for a month to see what it would do. What a disappointment. The standard MINI shifter was terrible. So, I got the S which was only marginally better. Poor acceleration for what they claim to be a fun to drive car. Much like a Honda Civic more than anything else. Moving on.