The Mini Cooper SE is my favourite EV of the 12 months

The model new all-electric Mini Cooper SE is a far cry from my first automobile. That was a Seventies Mini panel van, which was cute however hopelessly unrefined and hideously gradual. This EV, then again, is actually a scorching hatch, despite the fact that there’s a trunk lid relatively than a liftback. It’s additionally very refined, with the mannequin I’ve been driving this final week that includes a variety of extras that give it a premium really feel.

For me, nevertheless, the principle enchantment of the Mini Cooper SE is the way in which it drives. Anybody who finds most EVs mundane to drive ought to strive one out as a result of it’s a riot, with oodles of efficiency and nice dealing with on faucet. Whereas the newest incarnation of the Mini would possibly feel and look one million miles away from the unique imaginative and prescient, it’s obtained a stunning quantity in widespread with earlier vehicles. That ranges from retro styling touches by to the go-kart fashion buzz delivered when behind the wheel.

I’ve pushed a number of the best electric cars this 12 months, together with the sensible Hyundai Ionic N. The Mini Cooper SE can now be a part of the record; it’s a blast. Even for those who’re a purist and suppose the brand new mannequin is a bit too far faraway from the unique, it’s value experiencing if just for the shock you’ll get when pushing down on the accelerator pedal.

Editor’s alternative

Mini Cooper SE

The Mini Cooper SE hits the spot on nearly each degree. It’s an amazing trying automobile, each inside and outside. The up to date inside advantages from some sensible tech, together with a retro-but-modern central touchscreen. It’s comfy too, however the very best bit is the driving expertise, which is every thing a small EV needs to be.

Engine

Electrical motor powered by Lithium-ion battery

Drive Structure

Two-wheel drive

Horsepower

330 kW / 215 hp

0-60mph

6.7 seconds

Torque

330 Nm

Prime Velocity

106 mph

Transsmission

Computerized

Execs

• Enjoyable to drive, with efficiency and dealing with to match
• Refined with consolation and loads of tech on faucet
• Wonderful revisioning of unique Mini

Cons

• Trunk lid must be slammed shut
• Costly if all of the trim choices are added

Increase

Value, specs, and availability

The mannequin I’ve been testing is a top-of-the-range trim version, which is fitted with greater than £5,000 value of non-compulsory extras. Meaning it comes with a hefty £33,920 (simply over $45,000) price ticket. Anybody who can do with out the additional trimmings can lop a piece of change off the asking value, and it isn’t going to be to any actual detriment of the driving expertise both.

Design and construct

Basic appears simply obtained higher

To be sincere, I haven’t been an enormous fan of the trendy Mini. They’re vastly common, and I see them in all places, however I’ve by no means felt like I wished to personal one. All that has modified with the arrival of the Mini Cooper SE. Possibly it’s the colour mixture I obtained to strive, which featured a Blazing Blue exterior topped with a superb white roof, black tinted glass and sporty 18-inch alloy wheels. It appears the enterprise.

Whereas the general design may be very trendy, there’s additionally sufficient retro stuff happening that helps to maintain the essence of what made the unique mini so tempting. There are nonetheless loads of styling touches that assist preserve the automobile related although, with my take a look at automobile that includes wonderful adaptive LED headlights and folding mirrors that helpfully auto-dimmed as and once I wanted them to. A panoramic glass sunroof offered the icing on the cake.

The inside take

Premium really feel on the within

Admittedly, my take a look at automobile had unique trim content material and over £5,000’s value of choices, but it surely was nonetheless an actual deal with to sit down within the cockpit. The white trimmed seats have that basic Mini look, however are far more comfy. There’s a superb little steering wheel too, which lets me perform loads of automobile management choices as a substitute of utilizing the touchscreen, and the electrical heated seats helped to take the sting off cooler fall temperatures.

I might need been spoiled with this trim degree, but it surely left me feeling like the additional price was justified. The inside of the Mini Cooper SE is admittedly fairly particular and one of many comfiest small automobile cockpits I’ve been in lately.

The expertise breakdown

Numerous tech treats to take pleasure in

My previous Mini had nothing in the way in which of tech, and the Cooper SE exhibits simply how far we’ve include interiors. The wonderful thing about that is that Mini’s designers retained the unique feel and look. Living proof: The central Speedo, which is now a touchscreen that bristles with every thing I want, together with a wonderful satellite tv for pc navigation system. It may be personalized too and even switched into Go-Kart mode, whereby the display screen modifications to go well with the event. The retro mode, in the meantime, makes the show appear like it did in previous Minis.

My Cooper SE additionally got here with a small heads-up show, a bunch of the standard driver aids and wi-fi telephone charging, plus consolation touches, together with heated seats. Cleverly, it’s the little particulars that make all of the distinction, with a button panel beneath the Speedo display screen, which has an on/off toggle for the facility the place the unique automobile ignition key was once positioned. The Harmon Kardon encompass audio system sounded superb, too.

Battery, vary and efficiency

I drove an earlier model of the all-electric Mini, and it was effective, however nowhere close to pretty much as good as the brand new mannequin. With 215 horsepower to play with, this automobile is at all times desperate to get on down the street, with the 0 to 60mph time of 6.7 seconds seeming even faster than that as a result of its compact dimension. The opposite main enchantment of the Cooper SE is its vary, with the official determine of 244 miles proving actually sensible. I additionally discovered the battery to be quick and easy to charge, with the 95kW most charging capability which means my stops have been typically finished and dusted in lower than half-hour.

Do you have to purchase the Mini Cooper SE?

I’m completely offered on the Mini Cooper SE. It’s obtained every thing I really like about small electrical vehicles. There’s the efficiency and dealing with, which could be tweaked and fine-tuned to supply much more enjoyable relying in your temper and the driving state of affairs. This automobile has a sensible vary too, with the power to get it charged in subsequent to no time as nicely. Add on the fab design, nice coloration mixture and old-meets-new styling touches and that is one very sturdy package deal. Nice stuff.

Editor’s alternative

Mini Cooper SE