by Chris Chase
Like many automakers, Mini is looking to the future of driving by experimenting with electric vehicles. Right now, it sells two cars you can plug in to charge: One is the Cooper Countryman SE, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) subcompact SUV, and the other is the all-electric Mini Cooper SE three-door, which is the brand’s only pure battery-powered model.
The Cooper SE arrived in Canada in 2020. For 2022, it has been updated along with the rest of the Mini Cooper lineup. There are some styling changes and a refreshed interior, but the rest of the car is fundamentally unchanged. That’s good or bad, depending on what you expect from a subcompact hatchback you can plug in to charge rather than filling up at a gas pump.
Mini Cooper SE Electric Drivetrain
In place of the Mini Cooper’s usual turbocharged gas engines, the Cooper SE has an electric motor that generates 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. The “S” in SE means Mini engineered the electric Cooper to perform like the gas-powered Cooper S, which is a little more powerful on paper and, according to Mini, accelerates more quickly from 0-100 km/h.
But the real difference between the gas and electric versions of the Mini Cooper S is in the sounds and sensations of the driving experience. If you’ve never driven an EV before, one of the most striking things about the Cooper SE is the lack of noise and vibration, which enhances the sense of speed.
Mini Cooper SE Driving Feel
More familiar is the way the Mini Cooper SE goes over the road. It’s just as much fun to drive quickly around corners as any version of the Cooper, thanks to sharp steering and a firm suspension. The downside is that the stiff suspension translates into a harsh ride on rough pavement.
Like many EVs, the Mini Cooper SE has regenerative braking that directs electricity to the battery when the car slows down. In its most advanced setting, the regenerative brakes will slow the car down aggressively enough that you will rarely need to use the brake pedal. If you do need more stopping power, you’ll find the regular brakes can feel grabby at low speeds.
Mini Cooper SE Driving Range and Energy Consumption
The Mini Cooper SE promises up to 183 km of driving on a full charge of its battery, which is among the lowest driving range estimates of any EV you can buy today.
Mini estimates the Cooper SE’s electricity consumption at 17.6 kWh/20.9 kWh (city/highway), or 2.0/2.3 Le/100 km (city/highway). According to its on-board computer, my test car averaged 18.3 kWh/100 km in a week of mixed driving, and I put 30 kWh of electricity into the car through plugging it in to charge at home. At Ontario’s off-peak hydroelectricity rate of $0.082/kWh, my week of driving cost me less than $2.50.
Mini Cooper SE Interior Comfort and Space
Like any Mini Cooper, the SE is best considered a two-person car with an occasional-use rear seat. The trunk is also small, but folding the rear seat gave me enough space to fit a bike inside with the front wheel removed.
Front-seat headroom is good even with the optional sunroof, but depending on your height you may find the rearview mirror gets in the way of your forward visibility.
My main complaint about the Cooper SE’s front seats is the aggressive side bolstering that is uncomfortable for anyone who is not especially slim.
If space is a concern, the Mini Cooper five-door has a roomier rear seat, but you can’t get that body style with the electric drivetrain.
Mini Cooper SE Pricing and Features
That modest driving range comes with a big price tag for a small car. Mini’s MSRP for the Cooper SE is $40,990, and my car came with $8,350 in options for a total of almost $50,000. That price includes an optional Premier+ package that adds a Nappa leather steering wheel, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, 17-inch wheels, auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof, leather seating, and rear parking sensors.
The Cooper SE’s basic features include 16-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, a digital gauge display, navigation, collision avoidance assist, adaptive headlights, active cruise control, and lane departure warning.
For about $3,000 more than the Mini’s MSRP, you can get a Tesla Model 3 with more than 400 km of range. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Bolt EV also promises more than 400 km of range, but at a more attainable price of $38,198. All of these prices exclude government electric-vehicle rebates and incentives.
Conclusion
The Mini Cooper SE proves that an electric vehicle can be both truly fun to drive and reasonably affordable. But while its 183-km driving range is plenty for city driving – especially if you can plug the car in to charge every night – a $40,000 starting price is steep for a vehicle that’s not practical for venturing beyond city limits. All that said, if you’re a fan of the Mini brand, the Cooper SE would be an entertaining way to discover if an electric vehicle suits your daily driving needs.
