Small, reasonably affordable and completely new: the MINI Cooper SE convinces in the test.
Some of the diehard MINI fans stumble over the looks. I can’t blame them completely, the characteristic plastic fender flares are gone for example. Even little ones grow up and lose their tricks.
Yet there is still enough of the character left. Short overhangs, the short bonnet, the wheels that are placed relatively on the corner, the upright windscreen, they are all typical features of MINI. Modern MINIs add large wheels to that, which the original MINI really did not have. Because of the streamlining, the MINI now has recessed door handles, which are immediately reminiscent of the products of parent company BMW.
Two versions, third electric variant on the way
The previous generation MINI was only available in one electric version. That was a car with a very limited WLTP range of only 234 km. The looks, brand values and the rest of the package were apparently strong enough, because in the Netherlands 1 in 4 MINIs sold was an electric version.
For this fifth generation, the electric version has (fortunately) been greatly improved. Even the entry-level Cooper E has a larger battery pack (and range) and there is also the Cooper SE with a larger battery. Later, an electric MINI Cooper S Works edition will follow.
The basic MINI Cooper E is produced in Europe and has a 180 hp / 290 Nm strong electric motor. It is good for a sprint to 100 in 7.3s. The 40.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides a range of 307 km WLTP and can be fast-charged with 70 kW.
MINI Cooper SE
For the test we chose the thickest MINI Cooper SE, not even for the extra power, but for the extra range. The 54.2 kWh provides a WLTP range of 402 km. Interestingly enough, the display showed an even greater range with a fully charged battery, which we don’t often experience.
I didn’t get around to fast charging, but that should be possible with a modest 95 kW. Despite the relatively small battery pack, it still takes 35 minutes to charge from 10 to 80%. It’s fine, but MINI doesn’t set new standards. In my opinion, MINI could still make a move there.
Cooper SE gets a modest boost in power and can now fire a maximum of 218 hp or 330 Nm to the front tires. The sprint to 100 improves by more than half a second and now comes to 6.7s.
How does the MINI Cooper SE drive?
As a typical MINI, which doesn’t help if you’ve never driven one. The chassis is on the firm side, with the Cooper SE MINI clearly aims at the sportier driver. The front end is almost too communicative, sometimes to the point of being nervous. It doesn’t help that the electric motor always has maximum torque available.
Torque steer is not foreign to the MINI Cooper SE, especially when it rained during the test. The front tires really have to work hard to transfer all the power to the asphalt. Incidentally, that is entertaining, but I can also imagine that you get nervous from it. The traction control does an excellent job of keeping excessive wheel spin in check. So this dog does bark, and loudly too, but does not seem to bite quickly.
Are there any negative points?
Yes. The comfort is really moderate. The chassis is hard, the seats too, the fabric on the armrest is rough. Who wants to be beautiful, must really suffer in the MINI Cooper SE.
The user interface is also quite terrible. In the middle of the dashboard is a beautiful OLED display with a diameter of 240mm. It is round and the MINI operating system 9 (analogous to the BMW software) is adapted to it, but it does not work very pleasantly. The autistic in me can also get green and yellow annoyed by all the unused screen space, caused by the round shape.
The heads-up display is even worse. There is no driver display, instead there is the HUD. Due to the upright windshield (and undoubtedly also cost saving) a piece of transparent plastic pops up from the dashboard. At my height it is not a HUD at all, I look directly at the dashboard. The idea of a heads-up display is that it is projected further in front of the car, so that you can see the information more easily. Well not, just give me a normal display. This is crap.
Killer features
It’s just a fun car. And if you don’t think so, then you’re no longer in the target group. Materials, colours, the possibilities to customize the car, they are all unique features of MINI. If you view a car purely as a mobility solution, then you will never end up with a MINI. If you want a car that is part of your lifestyle, then yes of course.
Where the MINI Cooper SE is the bomb, if you have to go through the city in a bit of a hurry. Tip of the day: if your wife forgets to take something with her in the store, it is not a good idea to ask how that could happen. Luckily I recovered quickly and fixed it with a quick drive back and forth to Rotterdam Center. A compact, silent, fast throw and toss car made that drive almost epic. I seriously enjoyed it, although in the city you can never really reach mega speeds.
Alternatives
If we only look at electric competition, the Volvo EX30, Abarth 500e and perhaps the Alfa Junior stand out. There is much more available, but the rest is more mobility. Both Italians feel a bit too pricey, the EX30 is a great competitor. The Swede is a bit (but not much) bigger and has extra doors and such, but that is very boring practical. In the right configuration the EX30 is quite nice, but don’t choose the wrong interior.
Conclusion
It’s not the best car and certainly not the best electric car for the money. But that doesn’t matter one bit, you buy a MINI because you want to have a MINI. Life is way too short to drive boring cars, so what color will your MINI be?
