Sunny Side Up: Test Driving The All-Electric Mini Cooper

Introducing the new All-Electric Mini Cooper: Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby drive an upmarket little car with a big attitude (and backside to match).

Inside The New All-Electric Mini Cooper

J-TP – We need to talk about the latest Mini.

JT – I think I know where this is going. While we both have a soft spot for a 60s icon, even the more recent models, that enduringly quirky and cute Mini styling has disappeared from latest version.

OK, let’s be honest: it’s just plain Jane boring! The funky interior is joyous, but the battery-powered Cooper E we drove isn’t love at first sight. Gone is the curvy rear-end, replaced with a large, flat near-vertical hatchback door.

I thought that might be to increase the size of the boot itself, but the Mini E still has only half the luggage area of the more practical Peugeot 208 Electric.

Yes, and while front seat space is great, the back is quite a squeeze – a fact not helped by the Mini Electric being offered as a three-door only, so you need to fold the front seats forward to step in the back.

I think most rivals are more spacious but, apart from the electric Fiat 500, none offer quite so much battery-powered chic style. Others offer greater practicalities but lack Mini cache.

On the bright side, our Sunny Side Yellow car has a tad more range that the original Mini electric, which barely managed 100 miles on a single charge. The 184hp E version is said to manage 194 miles, although fully topped up on a cold February day, our car said 125 miles max.

I note the SE model has a larger 218hp motor and that range is boosted to some 249 miles, which likely translates to 180 miles in the real world at this time of year. Perfect for city commuting, but perhaps a little less useful on longer runs.

Flick through various drive modes to suit your mood – from eco Green to the frankly hilarious G-Kart. All have signature lighting to match, as well as some crazy sound effects.

The retro-styled, circular infotainment screen harks back to Minis of old. It’s fairly straightforward, although trying to tap some of the tiny controls – such as the heated seats – while driving demands laser precision.

Form over function?

The clear-crystal OLED screen is bright and sharp but there’s too much information to pack in. Our E model cost £29,420, which includes heated steering wheel and a fast-charging cable. A Level 1 kit costs £3,100 and has all the fun stuff, like head-up display and heated seats. 

For urban drivers, a Mini is still the most desirable electric car. While all-round visibility is great and cameras take the stress out of parking, a Mini will also park itself too. 

However, the car is less composed on a motorway run – expect wind noise and, of course, you might start to worry about how much juice is left in that 39.9kWh E battery. Cruise control is standard.

So, overall, a little car with lots of character, fantastic interior styling and fun to drive. Shame the three-door is less practical and the infotainment screen isn’t so easy to navigate on the move. Other electric cars travel further on a single charge.

And love it, or loathe it, don’t forget that rear-end too!

DISCOVER

Find out more about the All-Electric Mini Cooper at mini.co.uk

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.