With a wealth of in-car tech that makes electric driving even easier, safer and more enjoyable, the MINI Electric has lots to love. Our experts pick the best…
The MINI Electric is packed with the latest style and tech – all designed to make owning and driving an electric car even easier and more fun. Whether you’re being eco-conscious in the city, maximising your range for a cross-country trip, or simply enjoy the thrill of driving, the MINI Electric has it all.
So, who better to explain how much fun the MINI Electric is to drive than those in the know? That’s why we got real MINI Electric drivers Iola, Misty and Monwar to give us their impressions and their top tips for electric driving. Here, we’ve asked them to pick their favourite MINI Electric features that make life in the EV lane so exciting, and to explain how they amp up an already amazing all-electric car.
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A heads-up display with more info, more of the time
Driving can present many distractions. That’s why the MINI Electric’s optional Heads-up Display (available on the Level 3 trim) projects key driving information – such as your speed, navigation prompts and warning signals – directly onto the windscreen, right in your eyeline, so that you can see the most important driving essentials more of the time.
“I live in a small coastal town, and with so many narrow streets, busy bars and people crossing the road, the safety assists in the heads-up display really help you stay alert,” says Monwar. As Misty adds: “When you go past speed signs it’ll signal the speed on the display which is really handy. It’s nice because you’re not having to look down as much, you’re just looking forward, which makes driving so much safer.”
The MINI Electric’s heads-up display is also fully configurable, so you can choose what information to display, based on your preferences, or the journey you’re taking. As Misty explains: “You can set the display to your specific preferences, including positioning the information in the right place for your eyeline. My partner can get in, select his profile and drive with the display set to his height, which is fantastic.”
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Parking aids to guide you in tight spaces
Whether you’re squeezing into a gap in a multi-storey car park or eyeing up the last space on a crowded street, the MINI Electric’s easy-to-use Rear-View Camera (available on the Level 2 and Level 3 trims) works with the optional front and rear sensors to warn you if you’re getting too close to other cars. “It acts like a comforting second pair of eyes,” says Monwar.
Alternatively, the optional Parking Assist function (available on the Level 3 trim) automatically manoeuvres your MINI Electric into tricky spaces, stopping the car instantly if a hazard should rear its head. “The Rear-View Camera and Parking Assist work perfectly together to make even the most awkward multi-storey parking spaces a non-issue,” says Iola. “I’ve never had an easier car to park.”
As Misty adds: “The Parking Assist function is an amazing extra – I think the first week I had my MINI Electric, I was just parking everywhere – even when I didn’t need to! Even the most troublesome spaces don’t pose a problem.”
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Different driving modes for different moods
From the bustling city centre to the glorious open road, the MINI Electric’s driving character can be tweaked to suit any route and every journey. With four driving modes (Green, Green+, Mid and Sport) you’ll always have the perfect setup – whether it’s making the most of your range, or enjoying a thrilling B-road.
Green and Green+ are perfect for ultra-efficiency, helping you conserve energy to maximise your range, while Mid provides you with the perfect balance of range and performance. “I live in the Green modes, which help a huge amount with the range on my commutes,” says Misty. “I then dip in and out of Sport mode as needed.”
With a flick of the switch to Sport, the MINI Electric transforms from fabulous family car to heart-pumping hot hatch, enhancing throttle response and maximising power for more performance. “Stick the MINI Electric in Sport, and it completely changes the character of the car,” says Monwar. “I was blown away the first time I put my foot down. The instant torque and steering response are completely addictive.”
Want to try the MINI Electric yourself? Take a 24-hour test drive
Sports seats that let you travel in first-class comfort
The MINI Electric’s optional Sport Seats with MINI Yours Lounge leather upholstery (which come as standard on the Level 3 trim) are the perfect fusion of form and function, elevating the interior of your MINI Electric to new heights. “Everything inside the car feels incredibly luxurious, made even more so by the leather,” says Monwar. “The steering wheel, in particular, feels amazing in your hands.”
There are added benefits to the leather interior, besides the luxurious look and feel. If you’re using your MINI Electric every day, its rugged durability works to help keep it looking fresh. Whether you’re jumping in and out of the car, placing items on the seats or simply dropping them down to carry larger loads, the MINI Yours Lounge leather takes whatever life throws at it – sometimes literally.
“I chuck a lot of things in my car and the leather holds up brilliantly,” says Misty. “It feels incredibly premium but it’s also functional for everyday use.”
Has the MINI Electric sparked your interest? Take a 24-hour test drive
Simple trims and options that make your MINI uniquely yours
So much of being a MINI driver and a MINI Electric owner is about celebrating your individuality. “I really love that my MINI Electric is customised and that there isn’t another one on the road that looks like it,” says Iola. “It’s uniquely me!”
Once you’ve selected your perfect MINI Electric trim (Level 1, 2 or 3), you can customise the look and feel of your MINI Electric to perfectly suit your personality.
“I love the simple trim levels system,” says Misty. “It helped me make the right decision on the key features I really needed. I was then able to spend the rest of my time deciding on the paint colours, wheel designs and all the little styling details that help make my MINI Electric stand out.”
Fancy getting behind the wheel of the MINI Electric? Take a 24-hour test drive
An app that keeps you (and your car) connected
The MINI Electric smartphone app helps you control key features of your MINI Electric remotely from the palm of your hands. Whether you’re checking your charging status, assessing the driving efficiency of your latest journey, or remotely defrosting the windscreen on those colder mornings, you can do almost anything you would inside the car, before you’ve even left the couch.
“The MINI Electric smartphone app is brilliant,” says Iola. “As well as tracking your charging rate, you can lock your car, close your windows and pre-programme the satnav, which is incredibly helpful.” Misty agrees: “I can pre-condition the battery for more efficient driving while my MINI Electric is still charging – which is incredibly useful and saves money in the long run.”
Want to try the MINI Electric yourself? Take a 24-hour test drive
One-pedal driving that’s easy and efficient
The MINI Electric’s one-pedal regenerative braking makes driving even easier and even more efficient. As you lift off the throttle, the electric motor helps to slow the car, meaning you don’t have to do as much braking. It also captures unused energy and pumps it back into the battery, enhancing your driving range.
You can customise the strength of the regenerative braking to suit your preference. “I rarely use the physical brake,” says Misty. “Single-pedal driving actually helps me better anticipate what’s happening on the road, which makes me more alert, safer and more conscious of how I’m driving. It also makes me a more efficient driver which ultimately saves me money.”
Monwar agrees: “The regenerative braking and one-pedal driving became second nature. If you drive an automatic car, it will feel familiar quite quickly.”
Has the MINI Electric sparked your interest? Take a 24-hour test drive
A high-end sound system to tickle your ears
For the ultimate audio experience in your MINI Electric, you’ll want to opt for the Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio System (which comes as standard on the Level 3 trim). The high-performance speakers have been positioned optimally throughout the car’s interior, providing perfect acoustics no matter where you’re sitting or what genre of music you’re listening to.
“The Harman Kardon system is amazing,” says Misty. “It’s higher-end than anything I’ve experienced in a car before. My partner, who works as a sound engineer, said he was blown away by the quality of the sound in the MINI Electric.”
Fancy getting behind the wheel of the MINI Electric? Take a 24-hour test drive
Infotainment that’s a delight to control
At the heart of the MINI Electric, is an exciting, user-friendly infotainment system which keeps you connected to your friends and family, while also giving you easy control of your favourite music and the intuitive navigation system.
“I absolutely love the way the infotainment system looks,” says Monwar. “It takes the iconic circular speedo of the original Mini into the 21st century. I also love how easy it is to operate and navigate.”
On the MINI Electric’s Level 1 and 2 trims, you’ll get a crisp 6.5-inch touchscreen as standard. But, to truly supercharge your infotainment package, you should go for the range-topping Level 3 trim, which provides an even larger, vibrant 8.8-inch touchscreen taking all your favourite infotainment features and supersizing them.
“My phone instantly connects to the infotainment system, which means I can set off without delay,” says Iola. “The driver profiles function is incredibly handy, too, keeping everyone using the car happy with a unique setup for each user.”
Want to try the MINI Electric yourself? Take a 24-hour test drive
Customisable lighting to match your mood
Finally, the MINI Electric comes with Ambient Lighting as standard. At the press of a button, the instrument cluster, the LED ring around the large central display, and subtle lights – in various recesses throughout the interior – come to life in a multitude of colours and hues, all customisable to your particular taste and mood.
“The fully-customisable interior lights are a really nice touch,” says Misty. “They speak to how fun and customisable the MINI Electric is on the whole.” Iola agrees. “My little boy loves how the lights respond to touch and spends a lot of time changing them,” she says. “There’s a certain level of interactivity to the ambient lighting which gives you more reason to spend time playing around with the settings.”
So, with lots of features that existing MINI Electric drivers love, maybe it’s time to find out which of them could light up your life.
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Keyword: Top MINI Electric features, by real MINI Electric drivers