There’s hardly anyone who wouldn’t know about the brand Mini. And you’d be certainly living under a rock if you are unaccustomed to car manufacturers bringing in electric vehicles. This Mini Cooper SE is the electric version of the iconic Mini Cooper hatchback. In place of a conventional internal combustion engine, there’s now an electric motor paired with a battery. The best part is that none of the Mini’s design elements have changed. This includes the round headlamps, two-door body style, and a compact footprint. Lest we forget, even Brit elements like in the tail lamps and now the UK electric plug design in the alloys. What about the driving fun? We shall get to that bit in the due course.
Let’s first get inside the cabin of the Mini which is known for its quirky design traits and features. This one too isn’t any different as the styling, and layout remains the same. The circular-shaped housing for the infotainment unit still gets surrounded by lights that flash up in red in the sport mode. Like the instrument cluster, the central display gets a ton load of info this time explaining the electric bits as well. Apart from the usual audio, navigation, and other controls, there are displays to show up performance parameters, charging settings, regeneration, etc. all part of the E-Drive. Even the part-leather part-fabric seats with adjustable under-thigh support continue to offer comfort as in the standard Mini. It’s an ergonomic cabin offering good all-around visibility. Even the unique toggle switches have been retained on the dash and the roof.
That said, it also brings in its Achilles’ heel, the cramped second row with difficult access and lack of under-thigh support. Now, the limited boot space has also been reduced with the incorporation of batteries and related charging equipment. Though it has individual sunroofs, a full panoramic one with fully electric controls as against the part manual ones now would have worked better. A 360 camera and ventilated seats would have added to the delight of customers. Nevertheless, some of its USPs remain to be sports seats, a Harman Kardon music system, a Nappa leather steering wheel, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen. The latter gets manual controls in the centre console and it comes with Apple CarPlay compatibility. On the safety front, there are a host of passive and active driver assistance systems including four airbags, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, TPMS, adaptive headlights, and more.
Now, this is one thing most would absolutely want to know given the ICE Mini was always good to drive. Now with a weight of 1,420 kg the SE is heavier than the standard Mini and with an increased ground clearance it might look like it isn’t that great. But that’s not the case. There’s a 32.6kWh battery pack that powers its electric motor to deliver 181hp and 270Nm of torque. Yes, it’s slightly less than the petrol-Mini, but here there’s instantaneous torque available. So much so that the tyres squeak while spinning and trying to find grip. The steering also slightly tugs as the car is propelled forwards to achieve a 0-100kmph sprint time of 7.3 seconds. Now, that’s fast and indeed good by any standards.
Another advantage is that this isn’t a conventional gearbox with a slight delay or lag. This E-Drive transmission aids in transferring loads of readily available torque to the front wheels and darting ahead with agility. There are four driving modes green+, green, mid, and sport in the increasing order of its quick zipping ability. Even in the most conservative green+ mode, the throttle response is fantastic. But then it switches off the air-con controls which are not to my liking. The other modes do not restrict anything with the sport mode, no holds barred, providing ballistic power to race away. Here though you will see the range reducing by a tad bit. Nevertheless, there are two regeneration levels on offer — high energy and low energy. Both allow one-pedal driving with the former being too aggressive with the braking and recuperation.
And to address the elephant in the room, yes the driving range can be one deterrent for all buyers. Though we managed 225.7km in our real-world range test, a practically estimated less than 200km range isn’t any impressive. And even if one manages to find a 50kW rapid DC charging that can reduce the full charging time to 35minutes, would you be okay with halting and finding a charging station every now and then? Currently, with the developing charging infrastructure, this will be a tedious task. Hence the car will mostly be restricted to the city confines though it can take the highways with superb stability. Tyre noise is quite prominent though after 70kmph which will have to be downed by the on-board music system.
Nonetheless, the car’s weight distribution has been smartly managed thanks to the batteries arranged in a T-Shape below the rear seats and between the front row. In addition, the lowered CG further helps. So when you chuck the car around the corner you do feel the heft but you’re very much in control and can enjoy driving it like the athletic Mini that it always has been. Its steering provides good feedback and is quite direct to take the car in the exact direction it’s pointed at. The 17-inch wheels shod with Goodyear rubber do a good job of finding grip and, in fact, isolating the cabin from irregularities. However, there’s no running away from the fact that with such a stiff set-up you’ll have to slow down on bad patches of the road and be mindful of the sharp-edged potholes. But then again, the car didn’t scrape anywhere thanks to its short wheelbase and took all speed breakers without having to go zig-zag across.
Yes, most certainly if you are looking for a brand that has an upmarket image. A car that will lend you bragging rights of having something unique while being a little friendly with the environment. And an electric vehicle that’s not just outright fast but agile and fun to drive as well. However, on second thoughts you might reconsider due to certain points like driving range, practicality, seating comfort for four, and an on-road price of Rs 53.68 lakh. I would, for that matter, consider the Volvo XC40 Recharge then. Still, if you swear by the Mini’s looks and want such a modern car with retro looks, you’ll have to remember two things. The Mini Cooper SE can be your only car if you don’t mind charging it frequently, or your usage isn’t much, and within the city only.
Pictures by Kaustubh Gandhi
Keyword: Mini Cooper SE — First Drive Review