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 automobile. That was a Nineteen Seventies Mini panel van, which was cute however hopelessly unrefined and hideously sluggish. This EV, then again, is basically a scorching hatch, regardless that there’s a trunk lid moderately 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, nonetheless, the primary 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 most recent incarnation of the Mini may appear and feel one million miles away from the unique imaginative and prescient, it’s bought a stunning quantity in frequent with earlier vehicles. That ranges from retro styling touches by means of to the go-kart type buzz delivered when behind the wheel.

I’ve pushed among the best electric cars this yr, together with the good Hyundai Ionic N. The Mini Cooper SE can now be a part of the checklist; it’s a blast. Even for those who’re a purist and assume 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 selection

Mini Cooper SE

The Mini Cooper SE hits the spot on nearly each degree. It’s an incredible wanting automobile, each in and out. The up to date inside advantages from some good tech, together with a retro-but-modern central touchscreen. It’s comfy too, however one of the best bit is the driving expertise, which is all the pieces a small EV needs 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 Pace

106 mph

Transsmission

Automated

Execs

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

Cons

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

Broaden

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-obligatory extras. Which means 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 worth, and it isn’t going to be to any actual detriment of the driving expertise both.

Design and construct

Basic seems simply bought higher

To be sincere, I haven’t been an enormous fan of the fashionable Mini. They’re massively well-liked, 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. Perhaps 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 the enterprise.

Whereas the general design may be very fashionable, 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 check automobile that includes glorious adaptive LED headlights and folding mirrors that helpfully auto-dimmed as and after I wanted them to. A panoramic glass sunroof supplied the icing on the cake.

The inside take

Premium really feel on the within

Admittedly, my check automobile had unique trim content material and over £5,000’s value of choices, nevertheless 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 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, nevertheless it left me feeling like the additional price was justified. The inside of the Mini Cooper SE is absolutely fairly particular and one of many comfiest small automobile cockpits I’ve been in lately.

The expertise breakdown

Plenty of tech treats to get pleasure from

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. Living proof: The central Speedo, which is now a touchscreen that bristles with all the pieces I would like, together with a wonderful satellite tv for pc navigation system. It may be custom-made 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 seem like it did in outdated Minis.

My Cooper SE additionally got here with a small heads-up show, a number of the standard driver aids and wi-fi cellphone 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 positioned. The Harmon Kardon encompass audio system sounded excellent, too.

Battery, vary and efficiency

I drove an earlier model of the all-electric Mini, and it was positive, however nowhere close to nearly as good as the brand new mannequin. With 215 horsepower to play with, this automobile is at all times desirous to get on down the street, with the 0 to 60mph time of 6.7 seconds seeming even faster than that as a consequence of its compact measurement. 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 that means my stops have been usually carried out 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 all the pieces I like about small electrical vehicles. There’s the efficiency and dealing with, which will be tweaked and fine-tuned to offer much more enjoyable relying in your temper and the driving scenario. This automobile has a sensible vary too, with the power to get it charged in subsequent to no time as effectively. Add on the fab design, nice shade mixture and old-meets-new styling touches and that is one very sturdy package deal. Nice stuff.

Editor’s selection

Mini Cooper SE