Lee and Lynne Evinger were inspired to purchase their first MINI Cooper, not because of its gas mileage, but after seeing the movie "The Italian Job." Lee proclaimed the car as the "real star" of the show.

"We saw the movie and fell in love with the thing," Lee said. "We took a test ride and that was it."

The Evingers currently own two MINI Coopers, a 2005 Convertible and a 2009 Clubman. The cars were customized to the couple's liking, which they admitted was a selling point.

"One of the things I liked was that you could order it online with your own specifications," Lynne said. "You can start out by getting the basic car and go from there."

A couple of the many features they eventually settled on were an iPod adapter and heated seats. In their bright yellow and checkered Clubman, Lee and Lynne can even set a specific temperature on their automatic air conditioner and heater, just like at home.

Each MINI has its own unique qualities. Lee explained that while the Convertible is fantastic for summer, the Clubman is about a foot longer. The Clubman has an unexpected station wagon feel, with ample room in the back seat, a trunk with a floor compartment and a third door on the passenger side, making it easier to get in and out of the back.

As a teacher, Lynne finds no trouble loading things into the Clubman, doors popping open with the press of a button. She explained that the vehicle has enough room for all of her things, and a chair can fit easily in the back seat.

"It's a surprise for a car that size to even have a back seat," Lee said.

The MINI Cooper's reputation about its size is partly a misconception. Granted, it's no clown car, but the Clubman can comfortably fit four passengers as long as the back passengers are not 7 feet tall.

"They're really solid and really comfortable, with plenty of floor space and leg room," Lee said, adding that the couple has taken both cars on road trips to Tennessee.

And more MINIs may appear on the highways in the near future. On May 19, the Obama administration unveiled stricter fuel economy standards to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan will require passenger cars and light trucks to get an overall average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Cars will be expected to average about 39 mpg, and 30 mpg for trucks.

But the Evingers are already experiencing the benefits of their MINIs, which fit the couple's lifestyle and personality so well.

"It's really well-designed and thought out, and the fuel economy is certainly easy to swallow," Lee said.

The MINI Clubman averages 38 to 39 mpg on the highway and can drive 500 miles between fill-ups.

Overall, the Evingers are thrilled with their MINIs, but Lee doesn't think everyone else should be required to purchase vehicles with the same gas mileage. After all, the couple also owns a Ford F-150 pickup for camping.

"There's a lot to be said to have high fuel economy, but I believe we're still a country where if a person wants to pay for a vehicle that gets 8 mpg, that's their right," said Lee.