The Mini Cooper is just about as British as they come, though the automaker hasn’t always had the easiest path forward financially. Under the control of BMW since 1994, however, the storied company is busy with a surprisingly expansive line of small new cars and crossovers. The now-capsed MINI Cooper, however, remains in place, and comes in a few different body styles.

Mini’s history is rich in motorsport, and the Cooper has been in the front seat the whole time. Though it’s a fun sports car for the road, it’s a capable race car for the track and rallying. A Cooper S won the Monte Carlo rally in 1964, and several racing series today exist to take advantage of all MINI models’ sharp handling and “reasonable” top speed.

MINI sells the current Cooper as a two-door coupe/hatchback (MINI calls this a Cooper hardtop), a four-door hatchback, a convertible, and a small crossover. One of its larger vehicles, the MINI Countryman, is also available with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The larger crossover models, which tend to attract a different buyer, are listed separately on the site, so we’ll focus on the Cooper hatchbacks and convertible. Though the Cooper is a small car with a small engine, MINI offers performance variants called John Cooper Works, but all models offer sharp, go-kart-like handling and quirky British style.

Generations: Three

MINI Cooper 1st Generation MINI Cooper 2nd Generation MINI Cooper 3rd Generation

Pros: Retro style, infinitely fun to drive, huge customization and upgrade potential
Cons: Everything costs extra, ride can be harsh at times, still has a tiny rear seat

MINI Cooper 3rd Generation (2014-Present)

The current MINI Cooper has been around since 2014, and it has seen multiple powertrain options and updates over the years. MINI began offering a turbocharged three-cylinder engine with this generation and bumped the Cooper S’s output to 189 horsepower. Some international markets have seen diesel variants over the years, but MINI stuck with gas for the US market. The standard mill is a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder that makes 134 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and some models are available with all-wheel drive (AWD).

Though it’s still a small car, the MINI Cooper is bigger than it’s ever been. The back seats are still tight, but most people will find plenty of space in the front buckets. Surprisingly, the newest Cooper models offer enough legroom to accommodate drivers reaching six feet in height. MINI Cooper convertible models offer almost zero trunk space, but others deliver good utility with their large hatchback cargo area.

The Cooper’s 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is surrounded by a light ring that changes colors with drive modes and adds a unique accent to the car’s cabin. It offers Apple CarPlay, navigation, and other features, but Mini followed BMW’s misguided lead by making them added-cost options. The automaker does not offer Android Auto.

MINI Cooper 2nd Generation (2007-2013)

MINI didn’t go crazy with styling changes for the second-generation Cooper, but it completely overhauled the car’s powertrain options. The Cooper S came with a turbo for the first time, and for the 2009 model year, MINI introduced the Cooper Convertible.

The entry-level drivetrain included a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 118 horsepower. It sent that modest output to the front wheels through either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a five-speed manual transmission. The newly turbocharged Cooper S became a hot commodity and delivered 172 horsepower. It got a six-speed manual gearbox or an automatic.

A new MINI Cooper Clubman model debuted with the second generation. The car brought more passenger space and added a rear door to ease entry to its more spacious back seat. At the same time, MINI made improvements to the basic Cooper Hatchback, including new tech and a revised interior design.

MINI Cooper 1st Generation (2002-2006)

The first-generation modern MINI hatchback was produced from 2002 to 2006, at first in just MINI hardtop Cooper and sporty Cooper S models, with the convertible arriving for 2005 and remaining on offer through 2008. The baseline 115-hp engine was able to move the Cooper adequately enough, but the 163-hp supercharged Cooper S was easily the favorite.

A light facelift for '04 offered a more comfortable three-spoked steering wheel and digital speedometer, and the 208-hp John Cooper Works debuted for '05 alongside the convertible, some style updates, and an engine tweak for the Cooper S which netted five more ponies.

This generation, however, suffers from constant squeaks and rattles out of its loosely constructed body, and the optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) seriously held back performance over the manual. Taller drivers should also note this generation lacks a telescoping steering wheel, although there is surprisingly ample legroom otherwise.

Mini Cooper Historic Models (Pre-2002)

The Mini first landed on UK soil in 1959 as a fuel-efficient answer to the region's oil crises and a super-compact companion on tight British roads with room for four adults and their luggage.

Fortunately, it was also very light, since the original 34-hp engine almost certainly wasn't going to make it up any real hill on its own, but that's probably why only 20,000 Minis were produced in those first years. By 1962, however, the Mini had achieved stardom, and no fewer than 200,000 were produced in each of the following 15 years by the British Motor Corporation.

The classic Mini Cooper debuted for 1961, and for a short while it was an American counter-culture favorite. By 1990, the marque had become a part of the Rover group, which was then purchased by BMW in 1994, but the first BMW-produced MINI didn't arrive until 2002. The lineup up to that point was largely hit or miss, with a few anniversary special edition bright spots and a slow progression toward modernity, although it always has been and still is a sharp little number—in both maneuverability and style.