Besides Charlize Theron making the MINI even more attractive, the little go getter from the British car maker has so much to offer in a small, yet profitable premium segment. Often pundits say that when you buy MINI you either love it or hate it, and judging by its fairly conservative designs, that seems to be true.
While many have been obnoxiously pro or against, some solid facts about the MINI cars still remain. With the expansion of their product range, there have been several different models introduced in the last decade. For example, the MINI Cooper or MINI One add that unmistakable flavor of old, meshed with the new to create a special premium mini car.
On the other hand, the Countryman takes the modern ideas behind a sports utility vehicle packaged in a classic design with a go-kart driving dynamics. Last but not least, the MINI Roadster tried to cater to those looking for a beautiful MINI spyder, but for some reason it hasn’t become a darling of the MINI world.
We gathered five reasons why everyone and their mother should own a MINI at least once in their lifetime, but if you believe we left other reasons out, please feel to let us know.
1. Design
While the MINI design has evolved over the years, it still retains the same overall theme and shapes, and it often pays tribute to the original Mini. A MINI is a work of art, a living thing, a cool little vehicle that looks fitting in urban surroundings and just the same in the powerful Alpine scenery. Even now when there are dozens of different small car designs out there, a MINI always gets noticed and draws attention around it. It’s one of those cars that you recognize from a mile away.
2. Performance and agility
It’s small, it packs a capable engine, and its more powerful MINI Cooper S versions can cross swords with the best of cars on the track. While straightline speed was never the primary focus for MINI, the go-kart dynamics and nimbleness are what sets it apart.
Simply put: this is one of the best front-wheel driving machines.
3. Space
Many first time owners assume that a MINI lacks cabin and storage space, but as we proved before, you can fit quite a few people in a MINI. Even for tall people, a MINI offers plentiful of space. It doesn’t have too much boot space, but it’s enough for most use cases and a couple of medium size bags.
4. Racing Heritage
A MINI is almost that unicorn type of a vehicle, especially considering its battles with more powerful, more known and a lot more impressive vehicles in the Monte Carlo Rally held back in the 50s and 60s. It battled cars like the Porsche 911 and Alfa Romeo Giulietta with ease.
5. Pricing
While the new MINI generation is far from affordable in many cases, used MINIs depreciate fast, so picking up a pre-owned model makes a lot of financial sense.
Owning a used MINI Cooper is not an expensive experience. The current, modern generation, all BMW-designed and powered MINIs provide a safe bet in terms of reliability, parts pricing and ownership cost. They provide good fuel economy (quite important for younger people) and cool looks.
