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, however, 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 a whole lot 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 most recent incarnation of the Mini may feel and look 1,000,000 miles away from the unique imaginative and prescient, it’s acquired a shocking quantity in frequent with earlier automobiles. That ranges from retro styling touches via to the go-kart model buzz delivered when behind the wheel.

I’ve pushed a few of the best electric cars this yr, together with the sensible Hyundai Ionic N. The Mini Cooper SE can now be part of the checklist; it’s a blast. Even should you’re a purist and assume 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 awesome trying automotive, each in and out. The up to date inside advantages from some sensible 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 thing 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

Broaden

Worth, 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. 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 bit 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 seems simply acquired higher

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

Whereas the general design could 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 hold the automotive related although, with my take a look at automotive that includes glorious adaptive LED headlights and folding mirrors that helpfully auto-dimmed as and once 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 take a look at automotive had unique trim content material and over £5,000’s price of choices, nevertheless it 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 snug. There’s an excellent 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, nevertheless it left me feeling like the additional value was justified. The inside of the Mini Cooper SE is absolutely fairly particular and one of many comfiest small automotive cockpits I’ve been in just lately.

The know-how 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 feel and look. Working example: 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 adjustments to swimsuit the event. The retro mode, in the meantime, makes the show appear to be it did in outdated Minis.

My Cooper SE additionally got here with a small heads-up show, a number of the same old 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, which has an on/off toggle for the facility the place the unique automotive ignition key was once situated. 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 wonderful, however nowhere close to pretty much as good as the brand new mannequin. With 215 horsepower to play with, this automotive is at all times desirous to get on down the highway, with the 0 to 60mph time of 6.7 seconds seeming even faster than that because 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 which means my stops had been usually completed 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 acquired every thing 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 state of affairs. This automotive has a sensible vary too, with the power to get it charged in subsequent to no time as properly. 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