MINI Cooper Electric Review 2024

If you're looking for a trendy little electric car that's fun to drive, the MINI Cooper Electric is a great choice. It's got a huge amount of kerb appeal (more so than most competitors), while its interior is modern and surprisingly upmarket. It's not got the biggest boot, while space for rear-seat passengers is tight, but that's the only real criticism we can only level at the new MINI Cooper Electric.

Don't assume you need the Cooper SE for its bigger battery. We actually think the cheaper MINI Cooper E is slightly more enjoyable to drive (even if it's not as quick), while its 190-mile range will be more than enough for many drivers. If you can, look for one with one of the desirable option packs - stretch to the Level 2 pack and you'll get a panoramic sunroof and premium Harman Kardon sound system.

If you're considering a new MINI Cooper Electric, you probably also want to consider the equally retro Fiat 500e and the sportier Abarth 500e. The bigger Cupra Born is another electric car that's fun to drive, as is the MG 4 EV. The Volvo EX30 is a premium competitor that's priced dangerously close to the MINI Cooper Electric, while you might also want to look at the Renault Megane E-Tech and Peugeot e-208.

There are some really neat finishes to the MINI Cooper Electric's interior, including knitted textile surfaces on the dashboard. It feels comfortable and homely, and a lot more upmarket than other affordable electric cars. Sit in a MINI Cooper Electric back-to-back with an MG 4 EV, and we suspect you'll struggle to resist the appeal of the MINI's more upmarket cabin.

A highlight of the MINI Cooper Electric's cabin is the super thin, circular touchscreen display in the centre of the dashboard. It's intuitive and easy to use, however, it does house the heater controls. We'd much prefer the tactile satisfaction of physical buttons, but we're losing that battle in 2024. The trend towards touchscreens is inevitable but at least this one makes the transition almost painless.

If fiddling with the central display isn’t your thing, you’re in luck. Simply shout ‘hey MINI!’ and the intelligent personal assistant springs to life. This smart assistant can adjust the climate control, skip radio stations, and perform a range of other tasks with ease. MINI claims it’ll even learn your routine habits - like automatically opening a window when you pull up to a car park payment machine.

Opt for one of the option packs and you'll get a welcome bonus in the form of a handy head-up display. This feature allows you to check your speed without ever taking your eyes off the road.

Practicality isn't exactly the MINI Cooper Electric's forte. Its boot can accommodate just 210 litres of luggage up to the parcel shelf; a Vauxhall Corsa Electric, GWM ORA 03 and BYD Dolphin are all more practical. In reality, we suspect most MINI Cooper Electric drivers will use the rear seats as an extension of the tiny boot. They can be dropped if necessary to provide up to 800 litres of luggage space.

In fairness, though, there are other cars in the MINI range that are better suited to carry luggage. If you're looking for an electric car that doubles up as a family vehicle, the new MINI Aceman or bigger MINI Countryman Electric will both be better choices.

And, for those sitting in the front of the MINI Cooper Electric, it feels a perfectly spacious little car. The front seats slide back quite a long way, so taller drivers should be able to get comfortable, while there's plenty of headroom.

Initially there'll be two flavours of MINI Cooper Electric available: the MINI Cooper E and the MINI Cooper SE.

The MINI Cooper E is powered by a relatively small 40.7kWh battery pack, which powers a single electric motor that produces 184PS and 290Nm of torque. As with a lot of electric cars, that provides surprisingly sprightly acceleration - it'll sprint to 62mph in just 7.3 seconds, which is quicker than the standard petrol MINI Cooper C. It's also quicker than a lot of other electric hatchbacks, including the Peugeot e-208 and GWM Ora 03.

We think a lot of buyers will be tempted by the MINI Cooper SE's bigger 54.2kWh battery pack which, as well as increased range, also provides sportier performance. With a power output of 281PS and 330Nm of torque, the MINI Cooper SE will sprint to 62mph in 6.7 seconds. It certainly feels pretty darty in the way it drives, helped by the lack of gear changes and instantaneous acceleration. There are faster electric cars on sale, but few drivers will find the MINI Cooper SE to be lacking.

If you want to travel as far as possible between charges, you'll need the MINI Cooper SE with its bigger 54.2kWh battery pack. This officially has a range of up to 249 miles - a very useable figure, even if the real-world range is likely to be significantly less, particularly at motorway speeds or during the colder months. We actually found our test car's range predictor to be slightly pessimistic, though, suggesting that - with some careful driving - you might be able to travel a significant distance before having to top up.

Don't just automatically assume you need the bigger battery, though. If you're looking for a city car and rarely travel more than 100 miles in a day, the entry-level MINI Cooper E will be well up to the job. With its 40.7kWh battery, it can officially travel up to 190 miles between charges. That's more than a Mazda MX-30 or Abarth 500e, and a healthy chunk more than the old MINI Electric, too.

The level of refinement in the new MINI Cooper Electric depends a little on which Experience Mode you're in. Toggling between the different modes switches between a variety of bold soundtracks - you'll love them or hate them; fortunately, they can also be turned off entirely.

With the fake sound effects turned off, the MINI Cooper Electric is a thoroughly refined little car. There's the slightest tyre roar (nothing you'll notice over the radio, however), while wind noise is barely noticeable.

MINI claims that 'maximum fun needs maximum safety’. That’s why the Driving Assistant pack is standard across the range, with cameras and sensors powering a wide range of helpful (and, in some cases, not-so-helpful) features. These include blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and the slightly annoying speed limiter warning, which beeps the second you exceed the speed limit by 1mph. Fortunately the latter is easily turned off, although it could help keep your licence clean.

At the time of writing, the new MINI Cooper Electric is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP.

We'd expect nothing less than exceptional reliability from the MINI Cooper Electric. It's actually the result of a partnership between BMW and Chinese carmaker Great Wall, both of which have a huge amount of experience building electric vehicles. Generally electric cars are more reliable than their petrol counterparts, too, as there's less to go wrong.

Insurance groups for the new MINI Cooper Electric are yet to be confirmed. It's worth getting some quotes before you commit to buying one - EVs can be a little more to insure than a conventional petrol car, thanks to expensive replacement parts and relatively high performance.

You won’t currently pay road tax on the MINI Cooper Electric, although that’s set to change in 2025. Expect to pay the same as hybrid models - currently £180 a year - unless, of course, the new government makes a surprise road tax announcement.

Standard equipment on all MINI Cooper Electric models include MINI experience modes, a heated steering wheel, floor mats, front armrest, two-zone air conditioning, cruise control, parking assist, a rear-view camera, navigation, front ISOFIX points and MINI’s Driving Assistant.

On top of this, there are three levels of equipment available. Level 1 is standard on MINI Cooper Electric SE and adds Comfort Access, the Exterior Mirror Package, anti-dazzle mirrors, heated front seats, extended LED lights, high beam assist, wireless charging and a head-up display.

The optional Level 2 pack builds on this with a Harman Kardon surround sound system, panoramic roof and sun protection glass. Level 3 adds Active Seat for Driver, electric seats, interior camera, Driving Assistant Plus, Parking Assistant Plus, personal eSIM and MINI navigation AR.

There are also three trim levels to consider: Classic, Exclusive and Sport.

MINI Cooper Electric Classic models come in a choice of four colour options (Midnight Black, Nanuq White, Melting Silver, and Sunnyside Yellow) and two roof colour options (body colour or Jet Black). 16-inch wheels are standard, while 17-inch alloys are available as an option. Inside, the Classic trim comes with Grey/Blue Vescin/Cloth or Black/Blue Vescin/Cloth.

The MINI Cooper Electric Exclusive is offered in four exterior colours: Midnight Black, Nanuq White, British Racing Green and Blazing Blue, along with three roof colours (body colour, Jet Black or Glazed White). 17-inch alloy wheels are standard with 18-inch available as an option. There are two interior upholstery options: Vescin Beige or Vescin Nightshade Blue.

The MINI Cooper Electric Sport model comes with four colour options (Midnight Black, Nanuq White, Chilli Red and Legend Grey) and three roof colour options (body colour, Jet Black or Chili Red). 18-inch JCW two-tone alloy wheels are standard, while the interior is finished in a Vescin/Cord combination JCW Black (dash knit in black with red accents).