Mini Cooper SE EV Review: Only Electric Hatchback Available In India

We have seen electric SUVs and even a sedan, but the Mini Cooper SE is the only electric hatchback that you can buy right now.

Mini Cooper SE EV

The Mini Cooper has always been a fun small car that is a lifestyle product with its performance as well as looks. But with an EV powertrain, is it as much fun and how is the range?

In design terms though it looks unlike anything else with the round LED headlamps, LED tail-lamps with the Union Jack theme. The Cooper SE however gets an EV specific grille, yellow accents and a different bumper.

The small size and the power on offer makes it a fun car to drive and same is for the handling which is enthusiastic along with being lively.

The Mini electric gets a 32.6kWh battery pack with 184 bhp with a top-speed of 150 kmph.You will get 160 km on a charge while a wallbox AC fast charger juices up the car to 80 percent in a bit more than 2 hours. The range is not huge but is ok for a city urban only car for quick city drives along with a work from office drive. It is fast charge compatible at DC charging stations but owners will mostly charge at home.

The interior continues to be colourful and different with colour accents while the new Mini Cooper gets a digital instrument cluster. That aside, it is fully loaded with features like a glass roof, a Harman Kardon audio system, sport seats and more.

The wheels are shaped like a plug socket while crucially the ground clearance is higher to accommodate the battery pack.

To drive the Mini electric is fun and quick with the instant power from the electric powertrain helping matters. It is seriously quick but manages to put down the power well with next to no torque steer. The Mini SE is firm and you do feel bad roads since the suspension is tuned for handling rather than comfort. The steering is also heavier but contributes to its fun nature.

Thanks to the compact size, the Mini Cooper SE is perfect for city roads as a premium runabout and the ground clearance is also enough to clear speed breakers though one has to be careful. At Rs 47 lakh plus, the Cooper SE electric is a premium offering with no rival and it will appeal to those who want a lifestyle choice which is also environmentally friendly along with standing out from the crowd.