Used Mini Electric review and buying guide
The used Mini Electric offers plenty to like. After all, it retains the cheeky personality and ‘go-kart’-like handling of the internal combustion engine (ICE) version. Range, however, is pretty compromised, making it better suited to urban driving than mile-munching.
The Mini Electric debuted in 2019 for the 2020 model year. Fast-forward to late 2023, and it was replaced by a newer version packing a bigger battery capable of – surprise, surprise – more miles.
Despite its flaws, the first-gen, all-electric Mini was a hit with buyers drawn by its sharp styling and city friendly character.
As a used choice, the Mini Electric makes sense for motorists seeking a hatchback for urban driving or short trips thanks to its 32.6kWh lithium-ion battery, returning an official WLTP range of up to 145 miles. Real world data, however, suggests the Mk1 Electric will manage just 120 miles on a single charge.
Official Mini/BMW dealer prices start at around £11,500 for a used Mini Electric. The most expensive used model we found was just shy of £21,000. However you look at it, the Mini Electric is a great used choice, as long as you’re not planning on driving very far, very often.
Mini Electric UK model history
Known as the Mini Cooper SE outside of the United Kingdom, the Mini Electric arrived just in time for the 2020 model year and was priced from £32,995 OTR.
Across the range, just one battery was available, a 32.6kWh unit returning up to 145 miles of official range, or around 120 miles in the real world.
Despite coming under criticism from the motoring press, this lowly figure wasn’t down to slack maths or a big case of “we can’t be bothered” on Mini’s behalf. The Electric’s relatively small battery was fitted after Mini’s engineers ran the numbers and found that the average Cooper S driver travelled just 26 miles per day.
Keeping things typically simple, Mini offered the Electric in three trim levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Each was well-equipped, and added a futuristic, digital spin on the ‘new’ Mini’s retro-inspired interior layout.
The Mini Electric weighs in portlier than the regular Cooper S. Somewhat portlier, actually. With a kerb weight of 1,365kg, the electron-powered Mini carries a 145kg heft over the standard car.
The EV’s front-mounted motor produces a 2.0-litre Cooper S-rivalling 181bhp and 199lb ft of instant, electric torque. A 0-30mph run of just 3.9 seconds, and a 7.9-second 0-62mph run make the Mini Electric ideal for nipping in and out of traffic in town.
Combined with a ride height that’s just 18mm taller than the dino-burner, all of this clever packaging sees the Mini Electric retain its spirited, go-kart-like drive and remain close to the petrol-powered Cooper S in terms of handling and dynamics. Good.
In 2024, Mini replaced the first-gen Electric with a new, tech-heavy version available with either a 36.6kWh or 49.2kWh battery. While this latest version has more range than the Mk1 cars, it’s even more of a chonk weighing in at 1,600kg.
Mini Electric equipment
The entry-level Mini Electric ‘Level 1’ came with a 5.5-inch digital driver display, 8.8-inch infotainment display with integrated Mini Navigation, Apple CarPlay connectivity, dual-zone air conditioning, plus cruise control. No Android Auto connectivity on any models, unfortunately.
For further reasons known only to Mini, the Level 1 trim was discontinued early into the Electric’s life. This meant that the mid-tier ‘Level 2’ cars became the base models. These built on the already-strong standard kit with traffic sign recognition, high beam assistance, and collision avoidance. Further Level 2 kit included a rear-view parking camera, and rear parking sensors.
The flagship Level 3 cars got wireless phone charging, a driver’s head-up display, front and rear parking sensors (with park assist), LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and a non-vegan friendly leather interior. ‘Choon’ enthusiasts will be happy to know that the Mini Electric Level 3 also benefited from an excellent Harman Kardon sound system.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that plenty of Mini Electrics ride on 17-inch wheels shaped like the British three-pin plug. If you are not from the UK and these pieces of design are lost on you, don’t worry – they’re optional extras. The car’s standard alloys are much more conventionally-shaped 16-inchers.
The Mini Electric’s exterior was also finished with several luminous green/yellow details to remind you of its all-electric credentials. If you feel that these brightly-coloured details make an already boldly-designed car even more unsubtle, they can be removed. It is, however, worth checking with your local Mini retailer to see whether it can still be done free of charge.
Used Mini Electric price range and running costs
During our research, we found a total of 219 Mini Electrics for sale via dealers on Auto Trader. The most affordable car we found was a 2021 Mini Electric Level 1 with 34,185 miles on the clock and a £11,495 price tag.
Conversely, the most expensive was a 2023 Level 3 for sale via an official Mini dealer. Finished in a very lovely metallic British Racing Green with a total mileage of just 2,540 miles, it was priced at £20,794.
Thanks to the Mini Electric’s somewhat small 32.6kWh battery, it’s far from expensive to run. Using a home charging tariff with an overnight off-peak charging rate of 0.7p per kilowatt hour, the Mini Electric can be charged from 0% to 100% for just £2.82. But you will be topping it up regularly if you do big miles.
Even without a dedicated home charging plan, charging the Mini Electric still won’t break the bank. Using a standard variable tariff of 25.7p/kWh, it’ll set you back £8.37. By our estimations, both of these are significantly cheaper than going for lunch in Jeremy Clarkson’s pub.
How quickly you drain the battery will depend on how heavy you are with your right foot, and whether you spend most of your time driving in Sport (spicy), Mid (normal), Green (eco), or Green Plus (super eco) mode. The Mini Electric benefits from the BMW i3’s clever traction control system built around maximising efficiency, as well as the i3’s one-pedal driving mode.
Used Mini Electric insurance
The Mini Electric falls under insurance groups 21, 22, and 23. Given there are a total of 50 insurance categories in the UK, this makes it one of the more affordable EVs to ensure. As always, do remember that insurance costs will change based on factors including where you live, the type of property you live in, where you work, and your age.
We would recommend that before purchasing any vehicle, you obtain an insurance quote from your insurance provider.
Once again, don’t forget that EVs are no longer exempt from road tax. Cars registered from April 1, 2017 will now cost £195 in annual road tax. The Mini Electric as a post-2017 car is no exception.
Used Mini Electric reliability and faults to look for
During its relatively brief life, the Mini Electric proved largely bombproof. In the 2023 What Car? reliability survey, it was top of the EV class with a reliability score of 97%. Equally as impressive was the fact that no Mini Electrics were rendered undrivable due to technical issues. Those that were affected by unreliability were back on the road in under a week. Moreover, Mini covered the cost of all repair work done.
It’s not just the Electric that became synonymous with reliability. As a brand, the same survey saw Mini finish third overall behind Lexus and Toyota who ranked first and second respectively in the What Car? reliability charts.
Official recalls
None. Absolutely none. From late 2019 to late 2023, not a single Mk1 Mini Electric was recalled.
In September 2024, some 140,000 second-gen Mini Electrics were recalled due to a battery issue.
The one to have
It’s not a secret to say that the electric car world has spoilt us at EV Powered. That considered, we’d plump for the Level 3 car with its additional toys – namely the Harman Kardon sound system, head-up display, and panoramic sunroof. We also like the yellow exterior detailing and three-pin plug 17-inch wheels.
If, however, you’re less concerned than we are about those sorts of things, then a Level 2 Mini Electric will do the job just fine. It’s not as if you’ll be covering vast distances anyway.
