2020 Mini Cooper SE Review: It’s Electric
2020 Mini Cooper SE review: it's electric
"The 2020 Mini Cooper SE offers electric car buyers an affordable alternative to the usual suspects."
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Looks like a petrol mini
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Lively acceleration
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Nimble handling
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Stylish interior
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Low price
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Lack of range
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No Android car
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Not the most practical
It doesn't happen often that you can choose between gasoline and electric for the same car, but that's the case with the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. This new model has the same retro design as a conventional Mini, but is now emission-free.
Most other automakers have abandoned electric versions of existing cars with internal combustion and opted for specially built models. Did Mini make the wrong call by launching the Cooper SE instead of a clean sheet design, and how is the electric Mini compared to its petrol siblings?
Let's start with the price. With basic Signature equipment starting at $ 30,750, the Cooper SE undercuts most other electric cars. Performance and performance are closest to the Mini Cooper S, which starts at $ 28,250. Cooper SE is, however, also entitled to the full $ 7,500 tax credit, reducing the effective price to $ 23,250. State and local incentives could lower the price even more depending on where you live.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
Mini also offers the Signature Plus ($ 34,750) and Iconic ($ 37,750) trim levels. Our test car was the latter to add a head-up display, a larger infotainment screen, mobile phone charging and a parking assistant to the equipment list.
Design and interior
Inside and outside, the 2020 Mini Cooper SE is largely unchanged from the standard Mini from 2014. The only visual changes are a slightly higher ride height (to accommodate the floor-mounted battery), a closed grille for better aerodynamics and (in our test car ) yellow trim and electrics-specific wheels.
The electric drive train is only available in the basic version "2 Door Hardtop" so that you cannot get a convertible, or in the more spacious versions "4 Door Hardtop" or "Clubman". According to the Mini, the passenger compartment and the loading capacity are identical to the petrol 2-door hardtop, which means that you won't get much of it either.
Small touches like toggle switches give the interior a bit of character.
The mini of the current generation looks like an SUV compared to the original from 1959 and is a full nine inches longer than the first modern mini that was launched in 2001. However, this is still a small car. The rear seats are not really suitable for people and the trunk is tiny. However, the space in the front seats is decent and the tall windows give the cockpit an airy, open feel. As with other mini models, small details such as toggle switches give the interior a little character.
Like the Petrol Mini, the electric version is a great commuter car for singles in the city. A Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf goes better with everyone else.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The Cooper SE gets a fully digital dashboard that consists of a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen (iconic models get an 8.8-inch screen) and a digital instrument cluster that resembles the track gauges used in racing cars. Apple CarPlay and navigation are standard, but Mini doesn't offer Android Auto.
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The screen had beautiful graphics and was easy to use thanks to an operating button and key combinations for important functions. However, placing the screen in a round case was a bit strange as it was a literal example of inserting a square pin into a round hole. The head-up display uses a physical plastic screen instead of projecting images onto the windshield. However, this can be expected in this price range. Information was easy to read even in direct sunlight.
The screen had beautiful graphics and was easy to use thanks to an operating button and key combinations.
As with the i3 of the parent BMW, the Mini uses a clip-in device instead of a conventional wireless charging pad, but this is too small for some phones. The only alternative is to put your phone in a cup holder, where it is tossed around like a change in a dryer. These include a forward collision warning, windshield wipers with rain sensors and automatic headlights. Parking distance control and parking assistant are optional.
The Cooper SE's low base price may explain the lack of standard features, but we're still surprised to see so few optional features. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf offer more driver assistance technology, although you have to pay extra for it.
Experience driving
In the driving experience, we expected the Mini to stand out, and it didn't disappoint. The small footprint of the car and the immediate torque of the electric motor make a good combination.
This electric motor sends 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. Mini quotes zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 93 mph. The performance comes pretty close to a gasoline Mini Cooper S that delivers 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. The petrol version reaches zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and reaches 146 miles per hour according to the Mini. Keep in mind that the Cooper S is the middle child when it comes to performance. It sits between the Base Cooper and the sportier John Cooper Works petrol models.
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At 3,153 pounds, the Cooper SE weighs about 300 pounds more than a Cooper S petrol engine (thanks to its heavy battery). That makes a noticeable difference in handling, but the SE still feels pretty nimble, and the immediate response of its electric motor felt like a fair compromise. The ability to get away from traffic lights quickly and take advantage of traffic gaps is more relevant for daily driving than the slower reactions of the steering and chassis in curves, which result from the additional weight. This lively acceleration is just fun.
In the driving experience, we expected the Mini to stand out, and it didn't disappoint.
Compared to other electric cars, the Cooper SE is a bit more entertaining than the Nissan Leaf due to its smaller size on winding roads, but the Chevrolet Bolt EV is tougher competition. The Chevy weighs a little more than the Mini, but is also more powerful with 200 hp and 266 lb-ft. According to Chevy, the Bolt EV reaches a speed of 0 to 100 km / h in 6.5 seconds and feels almost as nimble in corners as the Mini.
Like most electric cars, the Mini uses aggressive regenerative braking to gain additional energy. This enables driving with a pedal, where the car slows down as soon as you lift the throttle. Electric car fans will appreciate the strong regeneration that increases efficiency. The Mini also included the “Green” and “Green +” driving modes to further increase efficiency, as well as a “Sport” mode for drivers with a lead foot.
Range, charging and security
The main reason why Mini can undercut other electric cars in price is because it uses a smaller battery. At 32.6 kilowatt hours (with a usable output of 28.9 kWh), the Cooper SE battery is about half the size of the Bolt EV. A smaller battery means less range. At 110 miles, the Cooper SE has one of the shortest ranges of all electric cars currently for sale. Most other mass market electric cars have a range of at least 200 miles, although again you have to pay more.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
The Cooper SE is equipped with a 7.4-kilowatt on-board charger that, according to the Mini, enables a full charge from a 240-volt stage 2 AC source in four hours, although we have found that charging times are significantly longer when the The battery is not warmed up thoroughly first. Standard DC fast charging can be charged to 80% in 40 minutes, with a maximum output of 50 kW. Performance is pretty low, but that's not a big problem in the real world thanks to the car's small battery.
The Cooper SE has an overall efficiency of 108 MPGe, which is not very impressive. The Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona Electric manage 118 MPGe and 120 MPGe with more interior and range.
Mini offers a four-year, 50,000-mile limited warranty and free scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000-mile owned. Mini has a mixed reputation for reliability, but the Cooper SE should at least require less regular maintenance because it is electric.
Petrol versions of the two-door Mini performed quite well in crash tests, but these results may not be transferable to the electric model. The lack of an engine and the bottom-mounted battery can cause Cooper SE to perform differently when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) begin testing.
How DT would configure this car
It may spoil the Mini's value proposition, but the best option for technology is Iconic's top trim level. This adds a head-up display, mobile phone charging, and a larger touchscreen. It also receives the improved Harman / Kardon audio system from the Signature Plus medium version.
Mini did not have a full online configurator for Cooper SE at the time of publication. However, when it comes to other mini models, the Cooper SE should also get numerous customization options. It will be interesting to see if the aftermarket takes the Cooper SE like petrol mini models.
Our opinion
The 2020 Mini Cooper SE doesn't look very impressive on paper. In fact, the Mini's lack of range and inability to comfortably carry more than two people seem to disadvantage other mass-market electric cars.
However, lack of practicality is also a problem with the two-door petrol mini, and the car sells pretty well. People don't buy a Mini for the loading capacity, but for its style and driving dynamics – which are transferred to the electric Cooper SE.
The range is also reasonable given the price of the Mini. Other cars may offer more range, but they also cost significantly more. The base Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric offer a range of 149 miles and 170 miles, respectively, at prices closer to the Mini, and offer more interior space. However, none of the cars have the personality of the Mini, and while all three small cars are suitable for commuting in the city, the Mini is the smallest.
As with previous gasoline minis, the Cooper SE offers something unique that may not be suitable for everyone. With so few choices for electric car buyers, that's a big deal.
Should you get one?
Yes, if you're a city rider looking for an affordable, nimble commuter.
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