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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  Its the best. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By epaquin - June 22 - 10:10 am

  I love to drive my Mini. Its comfy, roomy, everything. and Im a big girl. Im 511" and i fit comfortably in it. So if you are in the market, I would go for it.

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  Mini Max - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By semitame - June 20 - 5:23 pm

  My Mini has replaced an Audi RS6 as a runabout vehicle. I have an Audi Q7 on order for harsh situations. Going about town with my little go-cart is a blast. I ttook it on freeway from CT to NH. It is a little less friendly on poorly-maintained highways. It has lots of vibrations and I think I need to replace the performance run-flat tires with all-weather tires, and maybe adjust the shocks. I am old. Altogether my 500 mile trip was enjoyable. Pay attention on those bumps...make sure you land where you intended!

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  2003 MINI Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jmegown - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car...plan on buying two more for my kids...and maybe an open one for me.

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  Love my MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By SuperDooperCooper - June 19 - 10:00 am

  The newness has run out but the fun has just begun. Mini finally got broken in after 3500 miles. She is a happy little gal now and is very smooth running. Still got lots of great comments from others.

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  Mini Baby - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Dita - June 19 - 10:00 am

  We special ordered our Mini from Salt Lake,Utah and recieved information as to when it was born and and when it would be delivered. We have had much fun with Mini.We also have a few other cars but we take the Mini to town to save on gas. We highly recomend this car to anyone and everyone no mater what class of car you can afford. It really is FUN.

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  Love my MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By eimr - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I own 5 other cars (all BMWs), but I dont drive them since buying the MINI. Its just too much fun to drive. Had the car on the track at Summit Point Raceway, and I was so much faster exiting corners, that the much faster cars could not get by me, even in the straights!

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  45,000 and still going! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Sean Michael - June 3 - 1:13 am

  OMFG THIS THING IS A BLAST!!! From the very get go I fell in love with a car my wife had suggested when I thought of getting a bug... Im glad I went with the Mini. First of all I commute 184 Miles a day up and down from the mountains. Phx to Payson AZ of an elevation change of over 5000 ft. I needed something reliable and could handle the road and elements. This little car has sold me for LIFE! I love the Tech with the Sports handling. If youre thinking of buying your wasting precious time you could be driving. =)

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  If you cant beat em, join em!!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Becca - May 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun and the automatic gets to 80mph fast and you cant even tell youre going over 50 (oops, I have already gotten one ticket, I think they were just jealous of my cute car). : ) Hood stipes are a must along with the white wheel, but keep them clean. This car gets more stares and comments than I thought possible.

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  Spot On! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By ACNMini - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Yellow S model for a month now, and I can confirm that this car is nearly perfect. The combination of beautiful exterior design, well executed interior design, build quality, and economy shows that BMW really got this one right. The car can match most sports sedans on a feature- for-feature basis. The S model is NOT an economy car dispite the fact that it gets 30mpg average for me-it is a high- performance sports car in every sense. Pure fun!

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  Sexy, Sassy, & Sweet - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By LieutMoMo - May 31 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned. If you dont like to recieve attention, stares, questions, hoots & hollars from fellow motorists, then this car is not for you. Whether you are making a quick trip to the store or a road trip across the state, the cooper always manages to keep its passangers safe, comfortable, and yerning for more.