One reviewer compares the MINI Cooper to a Jack Russell terrier – alert, solid and energetic. Sure, it’s a little brash and it even plays a little rough at times, but it simply is impossible not to like its bright and bubbly personality.

That’s the MINI Cooper, a car that generates something well beyond simple enthusiasm. MINI Cooper owners love their cars—kind of like they love their dogs—with true loyalty and devotion. So, what is it, exactly, about the MINI Cooper?

To begin with, no other car looks remotely like a MINI Cooper. It is entirely unique, which, in itself, is something of an accomplishment. Today’s models call to mind the MINIs of yesteryear with an utterly modern style that oozes “cool,” but without attitude or pretense. If a car can look open and friendly, this is the one.

Don’t be deceived by its funky and fun good looks. The MINI Cooper is engineered to a fair-thee-well—no surprise, since MINI’s parent company is BMW. In its base form, it is perfectly content to tote the groceries and dash about town. However, the turbocharged S model or John Cooper Works model will cause drivers to be pressed back in their seats and grinning at the true sportscar performance.

Happily, any model MINI Cooper offers outstanding fuel economy—32 combined mpg on the base model and 29 combined mpg on the John Cooper Works model.

What makes a MINI so special? Consider the convertible: For drivers who want a Openometer, which tracks how much time you spend with the top down, well, there is only one choice—the MINI Cooper. Does the MINI Cooper convertible actually have an Openometer? Yes. Does anyone actually need one? No, and that is why the MINI Cooper is funky, fun and still highly functional.

Every detail in every MINI is designed to emphasize the car’s spunky attitude and sporty handling characteristics. Standard for all versions of the MINI are its 15-inch alloy wheels, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, six-speaker stereo with aux-audio jack, leatherette upholstery, air conditioning and full power accessories. On the convertible model, you get a full-power soft-top with sliding “sunroof” and a bottom-hinged trunk opening with remote control.

For more zip, try the Cooper S, which comes with a turbocharged engine, sport-tuned suspension and seats and 16-inch wheels. The John Cooper Works edition kicks it up another notch with a more powerful turbocharged motor, Brembo calipers, 17-inch wheels and special styling details both inside and outside the car. Drivers who plan to run their MINIs on the track will definitely go for the available limited-slip differential, optional on both the S and John Cooper Works edition.

Drivers can choose various wheel styles, xenon headlights, rear park assist, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, heated seats, keyless ignition/entry, HD radio, Bluetooth, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a portable navigation system and much more.

While all of the MINIs are fun to drive with super-responsive handling, there are a range of setups to choose from, beginning with the base model, which comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out a respectable 118 hp and 114 lb/ft of torque. After that, there is significant step up in power to the Cooper S, which has the same size engine but, with its turbocharger, produces 172 hp and 177 lb/ft of torque. (At full-throttle, the “overboost” function pushes torque to 192 lb/ft.) Finally, there is the John Cooper Works edition, which produces 208 hp and 192 lb/ft of torque. All three models come with six-speed manual transmissions while an automatic with manual shift paddles is available on the base and S models.

If driving performance doesn’t make you smile (the S model will take you from zero-to-60 mph in 6.5 seconds), then fuel economy is bound to. The base MINI offers 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined while the S and John Cooper Works models are rated at 26/34/29.

The MINI Cooper doesn’t give anything away in the area of safety either. All MINIs come with antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and stability control. Options include side-curtain airbags and traction control. All models are highly rated in government crash tests.

The interior of the MINI is as much idiosyncratic fun as the rest of the car. The most prominent feature is the pie plate speedometer, and the seats are surprisingly roomy and comfortable. Drivers are often shocked to find that headroom and legroom are not an issue! The rear seat offers a 60/40 fold to create a square-shaped cargo hold.

Perhaps more than any other vehicle, the MINI Cooper is a car you must experience to really “get it”—to understand how masterfully MINI has engineered the ethos that driving should be fun.