MINI Cooper Electric: A compact urban EV with a big personality

MINI Cooper is an iconic car known for its charming looks, go-kart-like urban driving dynamics, and premium appeal. This compact MINI boasts a big personality, which is hard to ignore on the streets, where it effortlessly stands out. 

Back in 2020, the automaker first combined the traditional MINI DNA with sustainable mobility, offering a pure MINI feeling with emissions-free driving. However, in 2023, it rolled out an upgraded version of the vehicle, featuring a modernized design, advanced technology, and enhanced performance.

MINI launched the new Cooper Electric in Malaysia last year, which is available in just a single variant, the Cooper SE in range-topping Favoured trim. The pricing is as follows -

Model	Price (with a two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty)	Price (with a four-year extended warranty and service package)
MINI Cooper SE	RM 193,888	RM 200,188

The mentioned prices are on-the-road without insurance and include a standard eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty.

So, what makes the MINI Cooper Electric stand out? Let’s know 

Timeless design with a modern touch 

The new all-electric MINI Cooper has a charismatic aura for a new era. Its “less is more” design approach features clean, flush surfaces, sleek lines, and balanced proportions.

The iconic front design and short overhangs, combined with a distinctive octagonal front grille and sleek, circular MINI LED headlights, make it look modern and futuristic. The LED headlights incorporate a high-beam assistant and three selectable light signatures, each with unique welcome and goodbye animations.

The long wheelbase and larger wheel diameter augment the agile and compact silhouette. The Cooper EV emphasizes minimalism with flush door handles, the absence of traditional side scuttles, and 18-inch Night Flash spoke 2-tone wheels wrapped in 225/40 R18 Maxxis Premitra 5 tyres. At the rear, it boasts new-shaped tail lights.

Peppy performance: Fun driving in a small package

Despite being an electric car, the Cooper SE remains a fun-to-drive car, just like its older ICE siblings. It is powered by a single front motor generating a maximum power of 218 PS and a peak torque of 330 Nm. This grunt is enough to take the EV from zero to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 170 kmph.

To achieve maximum go-kart feeling, the automaker placed the battery under the floor, lowering the centre of gravity and improving driving dynamics. Adding to a thrilling driving experience is an optimised weight distribution and a direct steering ratio mated to a small steering wheel. 

Three MINI modes are also available to harness the different characteristics of the all-electric MINI Cooper -

Green mode	Sustainable, simplified, and completely silent for the extra-efficient drive that will enhance battery life.
Core mode	A classic and comfortable MINI driving experience with a sophisticated and modern ambience.
Go-kart mode	Inspired by the legendary JCW, it offers a thrilling drive with an adrenalin-inducing motor-sport aesthetic.

Range and charging: Perfect for urban adventures

The Cooper SE comes equipped with a 54.2 kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery, which offers a driving range of up to 402 km (on the WLTP cycle). The Cooper SE can be conveniently charged at home and on the go.

Charging at home	No complex installation is required as you can use a MINI Wallbox that allows charging up to 11kW. It comes with a Flexible Fast Charging cable and adapter for domestic sockets (2.3kW).
Charging on the go	The EV comes with the MINI Charging Card and Mode 3 charging cable for public charging. It supports AC (Type 2 connector) and DC (CCS plug) charging. Fast charging allows up to 95kW, reducing charge time significantly.

Speaking of charging time, the battery juices up from 0 to 100% in 5 hours and 15 mins when using an 11kW AC unit at home. However, on-the-go 95kW DC offers 10-80% SoC in just 30 minutes, making it suitable for urban adventures.

Smart and stylish interior: Tech meets comfort

The cabin has a clean and focused design inspired by the classic MINI and blends premium materials with cutting-edge technology, offering a comfortable driving experience. Available in Favoured trim, the EV features high-quality, recycled fabric with a unique 2D knitting technique for a luxurious feel.

The 3D-knitted textile dashboard has a new curved design and houses the world’s first circular OLED display powered by the latest MINI Operating System 9. It serves as an instrument cluster as well as your onboard infotainment and supports “Hey MINI!” Intelligent Personal Assistant. Also available is a convenient MINI Head-Up Display, providing essential info like speed, and traffic signs, directly in the driver's line of sight.

Positioned under the central display unit are five easy-to-use toggle switches for the parking brake, gears, and MINI Experience Modes. The redesigned toggle bar and centre stack add to storage and ergonomic comfort.

As mentioned above, the EV has a small steering wheel for a go-kart-like feel. On its left panel, controls for driver assistance are given while on the right panel, there are entertainment and communication controls.

Other key interior highlights being - 

• Keyless entry and start
• MINI Digital Key Plus
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable sports seats with driver’s side memory
• Faux leather upholstery
• Augmented reality navigation with optimised route planning for charging
• Qi wireless charger
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Built-in dash cam.

With the 60/40 split rear seats, the EV offers flexible boot storage. It provides an estimated 210 litres in the standard configuration, which expands to 650 litres with one rear seat folded and up to 800 litres with both seats folded down, allowing you to take all essential stuff.

Advanced safety for confident driving 

Along with a reinforced chassis and multiple airbags enhancing crash protection, the MiINI Cooper Electric comes packed with advanced driver-assistance systems. With the help of a small radar sensor positioned inside the front grille, it provides a hassle-free driving experience.

The key highlights include - 

• Driving Assistant package: Autonomous emergency braking, Blind spot monitoring, and Rear cross traffic alert with auto brake. 
• Parking Assistant Plus: Park assist, Reversing assist, a 360-degree camera system and Remote 3D view via a smartphone app.
• Driving Assistant Plus: Active cruise control, Steering, lane control assistant, and Automatic speed limit assistant.

Overall, the new MINI Cooper Electric perfectly fits an urban lifestyle. With the traditional MINI DNA combined with innovative, future-oriented technology, this compact EV has a larger-than-life personality.

Also read: Next-gen Mini EVs may shift from FWD to RWD, report says