Mini is BMW's "small car" brand, introduced in the past decade as a revival of the classic Mini Cooper vehicles.

The basic Mini Cooper is an iconic car that should be immediately recognizable to most drivers. That might not apply to two of BMW's recent takes on the classic design: the Clubman and the Countryman. Both of these versions extend the car's wheelbase to station wagon and crossover size, respectively. While the Clubman has seen some success, the Countryman won't hit dealerships until next year.

The base version is available as both a hardtop or convertible, but many drivers may be more interested in various performance upgrades, which turn the small car into more of a "hot hatch." The Mini Cooper S supercharges the engine, while the "John Cooper Works" option pushes it even further, with over 200 horsepower and a number of cosmetic changes.

Another option that the brand plans to introduce in the coming years is the Mini E, an electric version of the vehicle expected to compete with upcoming small electric cars like the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt.