Mini is a popular automaker that makes tiny cars. They’re easy to spot, and have a bit of a cult following with some consumers. But is Mini a luxury brand or a mainstream automaker that offers vehicles that have some expensive trims?

Is Mini a luxury brand?

At first glance, the answer is yes, but BMW is a little bit more ambiguous. The BMW Group states Mini is “the original in the premium segment of small cars.”

Other ways that the BMW Group goes on to describe the Mini brand is as cars designed for the city street that offer a go-kart feel. Rather than pushing the luxury factor, the BMW Group seems more interested in proving that Minis are unique and don’t easily fit in a pre-made box.

Even though BMW doesn’t explicitly call Mini a luxury brand, it’s hard to argue that it’s not. Beyond being a part of the BMW Group, Mini offers many luxury features such as premium leather on the dash, doors, seat, and steering wheel, Anthracite headliners, heated front seats, and moonroofs. These are obviously offered at the higher trims, but even the base trim levels have a luxury feel that is undeniable.

Even BMW is undeniably a luxury brand, it’s important to remember that Mini is not BMW. They are both owned by the same parent company, which is the BMW Group. Rolls-Royce is also a part of the BMW Group.

There are benefits to this, as the BMW Group is able to offer Minis at a lower price than BMWs. The two brands also share many features like technology, platforms, engines, and more.

Mini hasn’t always been a part of the BMW Group

The Mini brand first came into fruition in 1957. Fuel prices were incredibly high, and people were looking for cheaper methods of travel. To help address this, the BMC (British Motor Corporation), designed a tiny vehicle known as the Mk I. This stood for Mini Mark I.

Four years later, the Mini Cooper 997 was released. From there, the brand had its ups and downs but managed to stay relevant.

It wasn’t until 1997 that Mini officially became a part of the BMW Group. Since then, the Mini brand has grown and added new vehicles to the lineup, while still staying true to its British roots.

Which are the more popular Mini models?

The Cooper is easily the most popular Mini on the market. It’s the most well-known of the Mini vehicles and is offered in a variety of trims. There is the Mini Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works. It can get rather expensive at the higher trims, especially if you add in all the available options, but it’s worth it.

For consumers who want something a little bigger, there is the Mini Countryman. It’s technically a subcompact SUV, although it’s hard to compare the Countryman to any other vehicle in this category. The Countryman often gets criticized by critics for feeling sluggish, but it’s still an impeccably styled vehicle that is eye-catching.

A third popular Mini is the Clubman. It’s a little bigger than the Cooper and is a blast to drive. It’s not designed for going off-road, even if it’s based on go-karts, so you’ll probably feel each bump and hole in the road.

Mini was rumored to be producing a truck, and may still do it. At this time, however, Mini doesn’t seem to be committed to this, which is a shame because the concept pictures looked incredibly cool.

The Cooper Paceman and Cooper Roadster were retired in the mid-2010s, but make excellent used vehicles if you want a Mini, but can’t afford a new one. Mini cars may not be labeled as luxury vehicles, but it’s hard to deny they aren’t when you’re driving one.