Overview

The latest MINI Cooper Electric isn’t just a refreshed electric hatchback, but rather the product of a seismic shift in Mini’s approach to its iconic little car. At first glance, that may sound like nonsense, given that the latest model’s size, shape and overall appearance bear heavy resemblance to the four previous versions.

But dig a little deeper into the nuances of this latest car and suddenly the developments become clear: MINI has (almost) let go of nostalgia, and crisp modernism is this generation’s dominant flavour. 

The fourth generation Cooper is available with a combustion engine, (which you can read about in our dedicated MINI Cooper review) but the fully electric models are what MINI wants to sing about. Now, for the first time, the all-electric Cooper is available with a choice of batteries, in grades E and SE. Both offer a greater range than the previous electric MINI Cooper, but the SE is the more powerful of the two and can go further between charges. 

Advancements in the MINI Electric’s battery performance were sorely needed. The previous generation counted the Peugeot e-208 electric and Vauxhall Corsa Electric as rivals, but with a range of 145 miles – 100 in real world driving – it couldn’t hold a light to these models when a particularly long road lay ahead. Other rivals to this latest MINI Cooper Electric include the Abarth 500e, and a large selection of combustion-powered hatchbacks like the Renault Clio and Suzuki Swift.

Base-spec MINI Cooper Es get a 40.7kWh battery with a 184hp electric motor for a WLTP range of 190 miles. The Cooper SE meanwhile, with its 218hp motor and a 54.2kWh battery, has a maximum range of 250 miles. Trim levels are split between three options: Classic, Exclusive and Sport, which each have their own distinctive interior upholstery styles. 

Within the Classic and Sport trim grades, there are two package levels to choose from, while Sport has three. All cars come with Mini’s circular OLED screen as standard, along with a parking assistant feature and a heated steering wheel, among other amenities. Package Level 1 introduces front heated seats and adaptive headlights to name a couple of extras while Level 2 adds a panoramic glass roof to the car and an uprated sound system.

Over the next few pages, we’ll be sharing our opinions of the MINI Cooper Electric. We’ve dived into how it drives, how practical it is, what we think of the interior and whether we think the price is right. Read on for everything you need to know about the MINI Cooper Electric, or head over to our how we test cars page to find out why we put cars through the trials that we do.