Can the new all-electric Mini Cooper still deliver the smiles per mile of its predecessors?

Mini Cooper SE review: small car, big fun

July 19, 2024 Matt Allan

Can the new all-electric Mini Cooper still deliver the smiles per mile of its predecessors?

It’s now been more than 20 years since BMW reinvented the Mini as a retro-inspired premium hatchback but the recipe has never really wavered much. Every generation has been a gentle evolution of the previous in terms of looks, equipment and powertrains.

That was until the fourth gen, which suddenly threw an electric drive option into the petrol mix. Now we’re onto the fifth gen and for the first time the Mini has a bespoke electric variant built on a different platform and officially named the Mini Cooper.

There are two versions – E and SE – and while the milder E is competing with the likes of the Peugeot e-208 and Fiat 500, – the biggest rivals to the more powerful Cooper SE I’m testing here are the Abarth 500e and incoming Alpine A290.

Design, interior and technology

The new Cooper does a neat trick of looking like an entirely new car while still clearly being related to the old one.

It still has the basic proportions that have marked out every era of BMW Mini, with short overhangs, a long bonnet and the distinct shape to the glazing that’s emphasised on cars with a contrast roof.

The big, round headlights that bulge out of the wings are also still very much in evidence but this time come with the option of three running light signatures. However, the front is less vertical than it used to be, with a more obvious slope to the lights and bonnet. The weird droopy moustache motif of the old cars has gone and there’s a new contoured octagonal grille that comes either in white, silver or gloss black depending on the car’s trim level. Chrome has been banished completely.

Different grades also bring other exterior options including wheels and the roof. Regular Classic-spec cars get a body coloured roof but you can fork out for a contrast colour. Sport models get a red roof and optional bonnet stripes while the Exclusive trim comes with a three-colour multi-tone roof.

The difference between this and the old Mini Electric are more obvious at the rear where the blobby curved tail lights have been replaced with pointy, almost triangular affairs and a much sharper fold on the tailgate.

The interior follows a similar ‘keep it simple but update’ mantra. So there’s still a massive central dial and a toggle panel underneath which features a neat power switch that twists like the key in an original 60s Mini. Beneath that, the centre console is low and simple, with cupholders, a wireless charging pad and a decent open storage area, which in high-spec cars features a neat lidded box. It helps make the car feel more spacious, which is handy. This new model is fractionally smaller than the old one and while there’s loads of space up front, the rear seats are definitely still reserved for people you don’t like. And the boot remains a tiny 210 litres.

New for this generation is a woven fabric finish to the dashboard and door tops. It’s made from recycled polyester and is a fantastically tactile, attractive and modern approach.

The round screen lies at the heart of the Mini’s interior and finally fixes the old issue of cramming a small rectangular infotainment screen into a giant circle. For the new car, Mini has developed a world-first OLED system that uses every pixel of the 24cm circle as a touchscreen.

It’s a neat system that has permanent zones for different functions, such as driving information (at the top), heating controls (around the sides) and media/navigation (at the bottom). It also allows you to swipe and select elements and shortcuts or turn the whole thing into a giant speedo. Seven different ‘experiences’ alter the look of the screen, the soundscape and the ambient lighting as well as changing certain driving dynamics in ‘go-kart’ and ‘green’ modes.

Battery, motor and performance

The last electric Mini was brilliant to drive but the range was comically bad. Mini quoted about 135 miles but in the real world it was closer to 100. So this car tries to fix that with two new bigger batteries that offer between 190 and 250 miles. Charging speeds still aren’t brilliant, with 75kW on the smaller battery and 95kW on the larger.

The entry-level Cooper E gets its 190-mile range from a 41kWh battery and comes equipped with a 178bhp motor that gives a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. The more potent SE gets a 215bhp motor at the front wheels, along with a 54kWh battery for a 250-mile range. There are no chassis differences between the two, which means you’ll have a blast at the wheel of either.

The throttle is calibrated to give really immediate response and there’s a decent amount of shove in the SE (plus a fair bit of torque steer) but in terms of outright pace it’s no great shakes – 0-62mph takes 6.8 seconds in the SE. But, like earlier cars, the fun of this Mini is the snappy way the power comes on and off and how you can hurl it into corners and carry your speed through them.

The steering response is immediate and accurate and the little car tucks into corners with gusto, gripping impressively and communicating far more than a lot of ‘sporty’ EVs. There’s the merest hint of body roll that’s at odds with the distinctly firm ride – another common factor with previous generations.

The Cooper is lively and characterful in any drive mode but go-kart predictably adds weight to the steering and more urgency to the pedal response, as well as a synthesised ‘engine’ noise borrowed from the BMW i5 and which sounds oddly out of place in the Mini.

Price and specification

Prices for the new Mini Cooper start a whisker under £30,000 for the E and £34,500 for the SE.

That’s not exactly cheap, especially when Fiat has just dropped the 500e to less than £22,000, but the Mini is arguably more of a premium product and comes pretty well equipped.

There are three trim levels – Classic, Exclusive and Sport – with their own cosmetic touches but every car gets two-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, rear view camera, parking assistance and dynamic cruise control, plus driving assistance, smartphone mirroring and built-in sat nav.

There are three simple, but not cheap, options packs. These bring everything from heated seats and a head-up display to electric seats and an interior camera (for on-the-go selfies, presumably). Truthfully, Level 1, which is standard on SE, is as far as you need to go unless you’re desperate for a panoramic sunroof or Harman Kardon stereo.

Verdict

BMW-era Minis have always been about premium style and image first and value second but they’ve also been about the joy of driving.

And in those terms, this latest electric version is a worthy successor. The exterior looks might split opinions but the new interior is classy, modern and packed with high-end tech.

And it delivers on the road, too, with sharp handling and enough pace to put a grin on the grumpiest of faces.