Mini Reviews
2026 marks 25 years since the first modern Mini rolled off the line at Plant Oxford. The original was voted runner-up European Car of the Century, behind only the Ford Model T. Here's what road tests say about it today.
A Genuinely Rare Feat: Reinventing an Icon Without Losing It
When a panel of 130 international motoring journalists voted the original Mini "European Car of the Century" in 1999, only Ford's Model T received more votes for the overall global title — genuinely remarkable company for a car designed to squeeze four adults and a boot into something barely longer than a dining table. BMW took on the considerable risk of reviving that legacy in 2001, and 2026 marks 25 years of the modern Mini built at Plant Oxford since. The "go-kart feeling" that made the original a rally-winning icon under the Cooper name in the 1960s has remained the brand's guiding principle through every generation since, even as the cars have grown considerably larger than Alec Issigonis's original design.
Reviewers consistently credit Mini with genuinely delivering on that promise — few small cars are praised as consistently for eager, engaging handling, and the brand's design identity remains instantly recognisable decades on. Where opinion divides more is over practicality and value for money against mainstream rivals, since that character and badge appeal come at a real price premium. The summaries below cover what several independent testers actually found behind the wheel of each model.
Every Model, One Place
Rather than picking a single opinion and running with it, each review here pulls together several independent road tests and highlights where they agree — and where they don't. Pick a model below to see the full breakdown.