The MINI has been stealing hearts for decades with its unique rounded-boxy appearance blended with its small size ready to slip into car ports and narrow urban parking spaces. However, it should never be written off as a car too small for anything. Smart designing inside makes the most of every inch, so you can turn heads at the market while still fitting your boxes and bags inside. When you opt for some turbo excitement, it turns into a little speed machine.
Originally an all-UK brand dating back to 1959, it took decades for the dapper machine to reach America. BMW purchased the marque in 2000 and opened the door for US sales. Ever since, drivers have been competing to hop into this hip ride. The third and current generation of MINI began in 2013 and includes the Two-door, a slight larger Four-door, the nearly spacious Countryman, and the ever-popular Convertible.
Why do we call it the MINI Cooper? In 1961, a racing legend named John Cooper brought his MINI into his garage, tweaked the suspension, played with the engine, and the little red car went viral as it scooped up a ton of rally trophies. Now, we popularly refer to all MINI brand cars as MINI Coopers.
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The current generation MINI is built in three stages: the body type including the Two-Door, Four-Door, Countryman, and Convertible. Next you select the powertrain, followed by an appearance/convenience package.
Powertrain Combinations (2013-present):
Appearance/Convenience Package (2013-present):
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Q: Is the MINI Cooper the Right Car for Me?
A: Do you love to love your car? The MINI Cooper rolls into town bursting with personality while inside you will find surprising spots to stow just about everything. When you want your ride to stand out at the supermarket and have enough room to bring home that impulse purchase, the answer is yes!
Q: How Reliable is the MINI Cooper?
A: The 2016 Two-Door MINI Cooper earned a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Certain vehicles have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.
Q: How Powerful is the MINI Cooper engine?
A: The entry-level of the 2019 MINI Cooper is built with a 1.5L three-cylinder, 134 horsepower engine that does well in city driving. For a little more oomph, look for the MINI Cooper S and its 2.0L turbocharged engine producing a satisfying 189 horsepower. When you want your little car to surprise everyone at the light, step up to the MINI Cooper John Cooper Works with its intercooled premium 2.0L turbo and its 228 horsepower.
Q: Are All MINI Coopers Stick Shift?
A: No. Of course, you can find plenty of Coopers with the six-speed manual shift, but there is also a six-speed automatic found on all models of the Cooper and Cooper S (2013-present). The John Cooper Works offers a sport transmission with paddle shifters, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Q: Do All MINI Coopers have Turbo?
A: Yes. While the 2.0L engine is the most popular option, the 1.5L three-cylinder engine manages to crank out the power with its lighter construction.
Q: Is the MINI Cooper a BMW?
A: The MINI marque was purchased by BMW in the year 2000, but the car remains a mostly English model. The Convertible and Countryman are built in the Netherlands, but all others are built at the Oxford plant. As part of the BMW family, new technologies are being introduced to the cute little ride, but it retains its iconic British appearance.
Fun factor is off the charts. I bought this car for my wife, who commutes to a part-time job. We already have two other vehicles, so practicality wasn't a concern. She decided she wanted a small convertible and after reading a lot of reviews, this is what we chose. We've had it four months now with no issues. I understand maintenance can be costly on these, but we haven't had a single issue. It gets decent mileage (it would get great mileage but it's so much fun to step on the gas in this thing), it's comfortable, and it is the most fun car I've ever driven, hands down. It has surprising room for the driver and passenger, but the backseat is only good for two mid-size passengers and even then, only for short distances.
I have loved this car from the moment I drove it. It's been fun to drive and has been a solid car. Whether zooming through twisty roads or taking it out for long drives, it's comfortable and won't leave you aching. I've heard that they're not super reliable but I haven't had a bit of trouble. Proper maintenance and care will make this last a long time.
Pros: - Saves a lot of gas (I drive aprox 45 miles pr day so that makes me very happy) - Agile car to drive in traffic - feels solid and stable (You feel safe in case of a collision) Cons: - Expensive maintenance (If you need to make a repairment it will be costly) In my case it was worthy...
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