I've started to see some mini-cars here in the U.S. Who is making them? Are they economical? Would it be a better investment for 5 years than a traditional compact?

I am a little unclear about your question. I'm assuming you are talking about car such as the Suzuki Aerio, the Mini Cooper and the like. As to their value it is much the same as with any other car. It depends on the maker and how much quality is built in. Suzuki's early reputation for mechanical reliability and longevity wasn't good. It may have improved.

You can find comparisons of various makes and models at www.edmunds.com.
As for investment, unless you're buying a very high-dollar exotic or rare old car, a brand-new automobile is the absolute worst investment anyone will ever make.

teeceeum,

Thanks for the info on the Cooper mini-car.

Clarification on my question - If I am going to spend $20,000 on a new car, will the Cooper hold up as well, and / or retain it's resale value better than a Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet...?

The Mini Cooper is made by BMW. I would expect the quality to be very high. I also expect that the BMW association will lead to higher than average re-sale values. I would still suggest that you visit a website such as www.edmunds.com to get comparisons on various models.