The Mini Cooper SE is the electrical model of the cheeky Cooper Hardtop 2-door. It’s a extra enjoyable, agile, and premium various to the opposite electrical choices on the highway. Costs for these hatchbacks have come down considerably previously yr, and since they’ve stopped qualifying for the tax credit score in 2023, shopping for used is the extra financially advantageous route. Higher but, those that play their playing cards proper may even rating the $4,000 point-of-sale used tax credit score, drastically growing the affordability of sure examples.
Consumers can discover a number of examples hovering across the $20,000 mark on used automobile web sites. A dealership in New Jersey is promoting a 2022 Mini Cooper SE for $19,995 with 29,000 miles. It comes with the Signature Plus bundle, that means this Cooper has a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, panoramic sunroof, and leather-based seats. Because it’s a one-owner car and a couple of mannequin years previous, it qualifies for the $4,000 EV tax credit score. One other dealership has a 2023 mannequin yr with 12,000 miles for $22,000.
Mini Cooper SE: The Overview
The Mini Cooper SE comes with a liquid-cooled 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, of which 28.9 is usable. Because of its comparatively small battery, it has an EPA-rated vary of 110 or 114 miles, relying on mannequin yr. In our 70-mph vary take a look at, we noticed 108 miles in a 2020 mannequin and 103 miles in 2022. Each featured the bigger 17-inch wheels within the exams, so count on to see barely extra vary with the smaller 16-inch ones. As for charging, the Cooper SE can settle for as much as 50 kilowatts, delivering a zero to 80 % cost time of round 36 minutes. AC charging is completed through a 7.6-kilowatt onboard charger, that means a full cost on 220V will take simply 4 hours.
Propelling the electrical Mini Cooper is a 181-horsepower electrical motor mounted up entrance. Mini says it could possibly dash to sixty in 6.9 seconds. Nonetheless, real-world exams show it’s even faster than that. MotorTrend recorded 6.0 seconds with the rollout subtracted, the identical time as their take a look at of the RWD Mustang Mach-E (the latter is quoted at 5.8 by Ford). Conservative efficiency figures courtesy of BMW, verify. It additionally affords responsive steering and little physique roll in corners. Better of all, it weighs simply 3,144 kilos.
Regardless of its efficiency pluses, its vary and charging restrict the electrical Mini to short-distance duties. Positive, one might take it on a weekend journey, although it’s going to require extra planning. For consumers who need to journey extra, the much less personable however nonetheless enjoyable Tesla Mannequin 3 is the higher possibility as a consequence of its considerably higher charging and highway journey capabilities. Nonetheless, the Cooper SE is a strong possibility for metropolis dwellers or two-car households.
EPA Vary: 110 to 114 miles Energy / Torque: 181 hp / 199 lb-ft Charging AC / DC: 7.4 kW / 50 kW
A Premium Different
Vary and charging apart, the Mini Cooper SE is an upscale EV. It affords frameless home windows and doorways that exhibit a convincing thunk when closing. Even on the entry-level Signature mannequin, drivers might be happy to search out properly appointed leatherette seats and loads of soft-touch supplies within the cabin. The bottom mannequin additionally comes with commonplace wi-fi Apple CarPlay, heated entrance seats, and keyless entry. For reference, the $46,595 BMW 330e doesn’t get heated entrance seats or keyless entry with out an additional cost.
However the Signature Plus and Iconic trims are the variations to look out for. Each include a gap sunroof, upgraded seating supplies, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and quite a few different facilities. In the course of the chip scarcity, some choices have been briefly taken off the shelf, so checking that the mannequin of curiosity incorporates all of the listed options is vital. As an illustration, Mini shipped some Iconic fashions with out adaptive cruise management regardless of it being on the choice checklist.
LED headlights with cornering Leatherette seating materials 6-speaker sound system Wi-fi Apple CarPlay Heated entrance seats App performance 16-inch wheels Keyless entry Warmth pump 12-speaker Harman-Kardon sound Twin-pane opening sunroof Leather-based seating materials Energy-folding mirrors 17-inch wheels Black headliner possibility (no cost) Adaptive cruise management Blackout exterior trim Head-up show Parking help
Verdict: Yay or Nay?
9 Photographs
When pitted towards a similarly-priced used Chevrolet Bolt or Nissan Leaf, there may be merely no comparability: the Mini Cooper SE is only a nicer automobile. Positive, it affords a comparatively restricted vary of round 110 miles, however it punches above its place available in the market with a nice inside and spectacular efficiency attributes. Within the mid-$30,000 vary when new, the Mini Cooper SE isn’t extremely related. However calmly used at $20,000, the electrical Mini is a compelling deal. It is enjoyable, sporty, and upscale. One might argue it is the one sub-$20,000 EV that meets these traits.