The modern Mini Cooper traces its heritage to a line of small British cars built for almost 50 years. Historically, the Mini Cooper variants were simple and efficient transportation but the modern Mini is as tech-laden as any luxury car. The Mini Cooper is one of the few upscale compact cars to find sales success in the US market. The current lineup consists of the Cooper 3-door hatchback, and the extended wheelbase Cooper Clubman. The convertible is temporarily absent from the lineup.

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Performance

For many, the way a car performs is a key criterion for which car to purchase. Our Velocity Index helps determine which vehicles are the best all-around performers taking in to consideration a balance of factors such as acceleration and handling.

For more information, view our new car performance guide.

What would we drive?

Based on our Velocity Index analysis, the 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman (1.6L TC 172hp) seems to provide a good trade-off between price and vehicle performance.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy has long been a key decision factor when buying a new vehicle. While the EPA estimates may accurately predict your mileage with a given vehicle, they are useful for broad comparisons of vehicles. Note that many trucks and large SUVS are too heavy to be required to specify their fuel economy.

For more information, view our new car fuel economy guide.

What's popular

Here are the five cars that draw the most attention from our readers.

• 2009 Mini Cooper
• 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman