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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  Electrical Mayhem - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By asdf;lkjasd;flkj - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Wait a few generations for them to work out all the bugs. There are a lot of them.

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  Rocket on wheels - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By joejh - March 13 - 3:57 pm

  Im always shocked at how exciting this ride is everytime my foot touches the accelerator. Its the grown-ups go-kart, on steroids. Mario can eat my dust! How did they put such a large herd of horses under that tiny hood? This car literally growls and thunders when I hit the starter. And whats even more shocking is the fuel economy. Still get low 30s even with my happy feet dancing on that gas pedal. And the bucket seats are perfection - I heard BMW has a PhD designing their seats. It has to be perfect in order to keep you in it!

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  Sold on MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Carol Clark - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is 7th car Ive driven off the showroom floor, and no prior purchase comes close to my MINI. On Edmunds recommendation, I chose the Cooper over the Cooper S. I find her to be zippy and powerful enough to enjoy anywhere. Fun to drive is an understatement. I think of places I need to go just as I did 35 years ago when I had a brand new license! She feels like a sports car, and fits anywhere!

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  Automatic Transmission (CVT) is OK - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By nesad1 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Because most of my driving is spent in traffic commuting into Boston, and because my wife wont drive an standard transmission, I ordered my Mini with an automatic (CVT). Now, after a month of driving it, I am happy that I got the CVT. The CVT has one gear with an unfixed, huge range of variable gear ratios. It doesnt drive quite like other automatics, but its more than adequate once you get used to it. In addition, there is "sports drive" mode built in that makes it run at higher rpms and thus makes additional torque available in this mode. Its a lot of fun when youre driving on a road with lots of tight twists and turns.

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  MININIM - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By SV326 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  awesome car, fun to drive, a real eye catcher!

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  Go GO Cart GO! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By MINI S POCKET ROCKET - March 5 - 2:00 am

  This is a blast to drive, there is no other way to describe this little Pocket Rocket!! Fast tight steering, just out and out fun to drive. I Have had many types of cars in my life over the years from Jags and Vettes to Mercedes and the like. The most fun car to drive ever. The radio is kind of lacking how ever should have bought the Better radio option!

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  Super Cooper - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Rafthos - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Most fun on 4 wheels

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  My Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Caol Erickson - March 1 - 2:00 am

  :-)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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  Great car! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By katrodgers78731 - February 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is so much fun on the Autobahns of Germany. We hate the idea of selling it but it does not fit a family of 3 very well. There is not a lot of room for a car seat and stroller.

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  All cars should be this much fun - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By cooper fitz - February 19 - 10:10 pm

  My Green Mini Cooper S with a silver top is absolutely the best vechicle I have ever purchased. The closest dealer is 180 miles away, so I am very happy with the fact that I have had no problems. My only issue is that I live in the land of flat, straight roads. Im sure I would be happier with the fuel economy if I wasnt bombing around in it all the time (21 mpg in town). When I drive more sedately I get about 24-25 mpg in town. On the road I get 26 when averaging above 80 mph; 30+mpg when driving slower.