The Mini Cooper SE is my favourite EV of the yr

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

For me, nevertheless, the principle attraction 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 most recent incarnation of the Mini would possibly appear and feel 1,000,000 miles away from the unique imaginative and prescient, it’s bought a shocking quantity in widespread with earlier automobiles. That ranges from retro styling touches by to the go-kart model buzz delivered when behind the wheel.

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

Editor’s selection

Mini Cooper SE

The Mini Cooper SE hits the spot on nearly each degree. It’s an amazing wanting automotive, each in and out. The up to date inside advantages from some good tech, together with a retro-but-modern central touchscreen. It’s snug too, however one of the best bit is the driving expertise, which is every part a small EV ought to be.

Engine

Electrical motor powered by Lithium-ion battery

Drive Format

Two-wheel drive

Horsepower

330 kW / 215 hp

0-60mph

6.7 seconds

Torque

330 Nm

Prime Velocity

106 mph

Transsmission

Automated

Execs

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

Cons

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

Develop

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 price 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 bit of change off the asking worth, and it isn’t going to be to any actual detriment of the driving expertise both.

Design and construct

Traditional seems to be simply bought higher

To be trustworthy, I haven’t been a giant fan of the fashionable Mini. They’re massively common, and I see them in every single place, 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 bought to strive, which featured a Blazing Blue exterior topped with a superb white roof, black tinted glass and sporty 18-inch alloy wheels. It seems to be the enterprise.

Whereas the general design may be very fashionable, there’s additionally sufficient retro stuff occurring that helps to maintain the essence of what made the unique mini so tempting. There are nonetheless loads of styling touches that assist hold the automotive related although, with my take a look at automotive that includes wonderful adaptive LED headlights and folding mirrors that helpfully auto-dimmed as and after 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 automotive had unique trim content material and over £5,000’s price of choices, however it was nonetheless an actual deal with to take a seat within the cockpit. The white trimmed seats have that basic Mini look, however are far more snug. There’s a superb little steering wheel too, which lets me perform loads of automotive 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, however it left me feeling like the additional value was justified. The inside of the Mini Cooper SE is admittedly fairly particular and one of many comfiest small automotive cockpits I’ve been in not too long ago.

The expertise breakdown

Numerous tech treats to take pleasure in

My outdated 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 appear and feel. Working example: The central Speedo, which is now a touchscreen that bristles with every part I want, together with a superb satellite tv for pc navigation system. It may be personalized too and even switched into Go-Kart mode, whereby the display screen adjustments to go well with the event. The retro mode, in the meantime, makes the show seem like it did in outdated 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 ability the place the unique automotive ignition key was situated. 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 high quality, however nowhere close to nearly as good as the brand new mannequin. With 215 horsepower to play with, this automotive is at all times wanting to get on down the street, with the 0 to 60mph time of 6.7 seconds seeming even faster than that because of its compact measurement. The opposite main attraction 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 that means my stops had been typically executed and dusted in lower than half-hour.

Must you purchase the Mini Cooper SE?

I’m completely offered on the Mini Cooper SE. It’s bought every part I like about small electrical automobiles. There’s the efficiency and dealing with, which might be tweaked and fine-tuned to offer much more enjoyable relying in your temper and the driving scenario. This automotive has a sensible vary too, with the flexibility to get it charged in subsequent to no time as effectively. 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 selection

Mini Cooper SE