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 Seventies Mini panel van, which was cute however hopelessly unrefined and hideously gradual. This EV, however, is basically a sizzling hatch, despite the fact that there’s a trunk lid fairly than a liftback. It’s additionally very refined, with the mannequin I’ve been driving this final week that includes quite a lot of extras that give it a premium really feel.

For me, nevertheless, the principle attraction of the Mini Cooper SE is the best way 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 1,000,000 miles away from the unique imaginative and prescient, it’s acquired a stunning quantity in frequent 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 few of the finest electrical vehicles this yr, together with the good Hyundai Ionic N. The Mini Cooper SE can now be 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 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 stage. It’s a fantastic wanting automobile, each inside and outside. 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 thing a small EV must 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
• Glorious revisioning of unique Mini

Cons

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

Develop

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 worth, and it isn’t going to be to any actual detriment of the driving expertise both.

Design and construct

Traditional appears to be like simply acquired higher

To be sincere, I haven’t been a giant fan of the fashionable Mini. They’re vastly in style, and I see them all over the 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 acquired 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 to be like the enterprise.

Whereas the general design is perhaps 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 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 price of choices, nevertheless it was nonetheless an actual deal with to take a seat within the cockpit. The white trimmed seats have that traditional Mini look, however are far more snug. 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 stage, nevertheless it left me feeling like the additional value was justified. The inside of the Mini Cooper SE is actually fairly particular and one of many comfiest small automobile cockpits I’ve been in just lately.

The know-how breakdown

A lot of tech treats to take pleasure in

My outdated Mini had nothing in the best way of tech, and the Cooper SE reveals 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 superb satellite tv for pc navigation system. It may be personalized too and even switched into Go-Kart mode, whereby the display modifications 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 bunch 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, which has an on/off toggle for the ability the place the unique automobile ignition key was 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 superb, however nowhere close to pretty much as good as the brand new mannequin. With 215 horsepower to play with, this automobile is all the time desperate to get on down the street, with the 0 to 60mph time of 6.7 seconds seeming even faster than that resulting from its compact dimension. 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 fast and straightforward to cost, with the 95kW most charging capability that means my stops have been typically achieved and dusted in lower than half-hour.

Do you have to purchase the Mini Cooper SE?

I’m completely bought on the Mini Cooper SE. It’s acquired every thing I like about small electrical vehicles. There’s the efficiency and dealing with, which may 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 colour mixture and old-meets-new styling touches and that is one very robust package deal. Nice stuff.

Editor’s selection

Mini Cooper SE