MINI Cooper Electric 2024 Review – International

Two versions of the new-generation 2024 MINI Cooper Electric hatch are available at launch in Australia – the base-grade 2024 MINI Cooper E, priced from $53,990 plus on-road costs, and the more powerful, longer-range MINI Cooper SE, which starts at $58,990 plus ORCs.

Arriving in Aussie dealer lots from the third quarter of 2024, rivals for the new-look three-door MINI Electric hatch include the Fiat 500e (from $52,500 plus ORCs) and Abarth 500e (from $58,900 plus ORCs), not to mention Chinese challengers including the GWM Ora ($35,990 drive-away), which is currently Australia’s cheapest EV – and a MINI look-a-like…

Ironically, MINI’s parent company BMW has joined forces with GWM for a joint-venture (dubbed Spotlight) in China, which is where the MINI Cooper Electric is now built. That it’s based on a development of the GWM Ora’s platform architecture could be a case of ‘if you can’t sue them, join them’.

Consequently, the British-based, German-owned, Chinese-built MINI EV is a multicultural machine, a child of globalisation designed to deliver a cost-effective rival to an avalanche of Chinese EVs flooding European, US and Australian new car markets.

Another interesting development of the MINI Cooper hatch is that the EV gets a new platform while petrol versions use carryover mechanicals on what is essentially a heavily facelifted vehicle. A sign of the times, indeed.

MINI reckons global customer interest for the EV versions is running hot at around four times higher than the petrol versions, while in Australia the Cooper E and SE have accumulated double the number of deposits compared to the new combustion-engined models.

Aftersales provisions for the new MINI Electric include a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty and two care packages (essentially capped-price service packs) that last for four or six years.

Service intervals are condition-based, so the car will indicate when maintenance is required rather than needing a traditional 12-month/15,000km update.

Alternatively, owners can take their vehicles in annually via MINI’s Service Inclusive Package, priced at $1202 over four years or $1753 for six years.

The entry-level 2024 MINI Cooper E electric hatchback is handsomely equipped with headline features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, a large panoramic glass roof, a wireless phone charger and sports seats fitted as standard.

This fourth-generation MINI is “proudly” devoid of all leather products for the first time, using various vegan leather and cloth upholstery options, while most fabric and texture surface materials are made from at least 90 recycled polyester, insists MINI.

There’s also a sports steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, high-definition head-up display (HUD) and, not least of all, a 9.4-inch circular touch-screen with augmented-reality satellite navigation.

Stepping up to the MINI Cooper SE adds a lovely 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system with gorgeous metal inlays in the doors, sportier (and power-operated) JCW seats and higher-quality upholstery across the interior.

The SE also has a different 18-inch alloy wheel design, although the big-ticket upgrade over the Cooper E is its more powerful e-motor and bigger lithium-ion battery that bring more pace and a longer cruising range.

Various options will also be available across the range, including a veritable cornucopia of different interior and exterior colour combinations (with contrasting roofs). Pricing for these is still to be announced.

The new 2024 MINI Cooper Electric doesn’t yet have an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating but is expected to receive a maximum five-star result when tested.

The GWM Ora, which uses the same platform, has a five-star rating, based on testing conducted in 2022.

Boasting LEDs for the headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and trendy customisable pixel LED tail-lights, the British-themed hatchback has a full suite of airbags covering front and rear occupants and all the expected advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted standard.

These include semi-autonomous accelerating, braking and steering via adaptive cruise control, steering and lane control assist systems, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

The automatic speed limit assistant can identify the current signposted limit and adjust vehicle speed to suit, potentially removing the chances of ever getting a speeding fine.

The Driving Assistant Plus package is also included, enabling stop-and-go functionality for use in heavy traffic and a 3D surround-view parking system – not that you’ll need it given the vehicle’s clear sight lines and small footprint.

If you really dislike parking the car, a parking assistant will do it for you.

The 2024 MINI Cooper Electric comes with loads of compelling tech, from excellent remote vehicle functions via the MINI app to an improved and thoughtful user interface via the ultra-sharp 9.4-inch frisbee-like circular touch-screen.

Indeed, the new MINI OS9 is about as intuitive as breathing and the responsiveness and high refresh rate of the screen make it a joy to use.

There’s considerable depth to the infotainment system, which has all the usual bits and bobs such as sat-nav and adjustable driving assistance settings, but also includes in-built video games to play while you recharge the car, using your mobile phone as a control pad.

A (mostly useful) AI assistant is also on board; just say “Hey, MINI” and up pops an avatar to accurately interpret your voice commands.

The most impressive thing about the infotainment system is just how instinctual it is. Tap a part of the screen that one would assume activates a certain system or command and, hey presto, it usually does.

The way you flick between regular and augmented reality sat-nav, for example, comes as second nature, as is cancelling navigation directions.

The only minor quibbles I have with the user interface is the lack of physical climate controls (you have to use the touch-screen) and the removal of the small digital instrument display. But unlike the new Tesla Model 3, all MINI models get a head-up display which helps mollify the situation and means you don’t have to avert your gaze for a road speed or sat-nav snapshot.

All models come with a function to record short drives using the front-mounted camera, while an interior camera with which to take selfies is sure to appeal to younger Gen Z buyers and sounds good in practice, but the fish-eye lens doesn’t have ‘mega’ megapixels and the images look a bit crummy.

Overall, the new MINI Cooper Electric jams in a lot of computing power and loads of tech, packaging it in a way that feels fluid and easy to access and ultimately makes it a delight to use and explore.

Both 2024 MINI Cooper Electric model grades – E and SE – are propelled by a single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, driving the front wheels through a fixed single-speed automatic transmission.

The MINI Cooper E gets a 135kW/290Nm e-motor, enabling a warm hatch-like 7.3sec 0-100km/h acceleration time and a 160km/h top speed.

The up-spec MINI Cooper SE gets a brawnier 160kW/330Nm motor, completing 0-100km/h in 6.7sec before topping out at a slightly higher 170km/h.

In practice, the SE feels pretty sluggish off the line, the 0-50km/h acceleration somewhat languid as the small e-motor motivates its 1680kg kerb mass.

Not that far, it turns out. We didn’t get to drive the base-grade 2024 MINI Cooper E, which has a paltry 36kWh (41kWh gross) lithium-ion battery for a claimed 305km range, which is very much on the lower side of the modern-day EV scale.

The brawnier, higher-spec MINI Cooper SE costs an extra $5000 but feels like it’s worth the extra outlay, given it offers around 33 per cent more range, claimed at 402km. That’s because it has a larger 49kWh (54kWh gross) battery.

MINI reckons the Cooper SE will draw from the battery at a rate of 14.1kWh/100km when used efficiently, but our testing showed 22.3kWh/100km, reducing the theoretical range to around 220km.

That said, we were hammering it hard. One of the PR peeps said something about go karts. Seed planted.

Small car, big fun – that’s the best way to describe how the new 2024 MINI Cooper Electric SE drives.

It’s unequivocally more engaging and indeed entertaining to drive than the previous-generation electric MINI and comes remarkably close to matching the fun factor of previous petrol-powered MINI Cooper hatches.

Indeed, flogging the bejesus out of the new MINI Cooper SE on twisting, turning, smooth bitumen surfaces results in increased pituitary gland activity, endorphins flowing freely as the car-to-driver connection develops.

The electric power steering has a nice heft to it, some real weight, and delivers more feel than pretty much any EV I’ve driven thus far. When you really start pushing on a choice section of road, there’s a hint of torque-steer as well, which I quite like – it’s a rare thing these days. It doesn’t rip the smaller-diameter steering wheel out of your hands, but it adds a bit of character and lets you know there’s plenty of torque on tap.

MINI’s chassis engineers have done a tremendous job tuning the suspension, with impressive mid-corner body control meaning you only get mild body roll when you’re really pushing hard through corners.

It’s predictable (and gratifying) punching out of corners under full throttle, and even if it breaks traction momentarily, it communicates what it’s doing – there’s no nasty surprises here.

The Michelin E Primacy tyres are designed for mileage, not traction, and they do tend to squeal in protest when you crank up the heat. But overall it’s a tasty dynamic package that blends tech and tradition to great effect.

Despite being based on the same architecture as the GWM Ora, MINI’s parent company BMW designed and developed the underpinnings – and it shows; the Cooper EV is hugely entertaining to drive.

There’s even a quasi drift mode that MINI’s chassis engineering lead, Patrick Haussler, explained was dubbed ‘hooligan mode’ internally.

“Then a British colleague called me and said it’s not cool: hooligans in England are really bad people,” he said.

Upon entering a very large (and empty) roundabout, with judicious throttle input and steering lock, the MINI Cooper SE is indeed capable of doing some rather flamboyant dance moves, but it’s all super-fluid and progressive, with no snappiness.

Suffice to say, we’re looking forward to getting this electric hatch on the racetrack.

Haussler explained that during development and testing of the FWD power-sliding system, it could be programmed to allow you to “drift all the time, with a front-wheel drive, but you cannot do that for the customer”.

“This was experimental, but I said this is cool and we somehow should use it, but not with stability control off – because once it’s off, things can go wrong because there is no more help,” he said.

“But you can counter-steer and then you have instantly the car under control and this is a really fun mode.”

MINI’s chassis guru added that a development of the MINI Cooper Electric’s ‘hooligan mode’ will be applied to the more powerful – and first ever – MINI Cooper JCW EV.

“I think on public roads it is not ideal; a good driver can try it but you know, drifting on public roads is also nothing you should do. But on a track, yes.”

While the brakes aren’t ultra-responsive – most likely due to the recuperation systems – MINI has done a very good job tuning the suspension and steering and this vehicle ultimately exceeds expectation.

But let’s be fair: its predecessor – the first electric MINI – is best described as underwhelming.

Ride comfort in the new model sits on the firmer side of the fence, but given there’s no adaptive dampers (and how low to the ground the vehicle is), the fact it settles so smoothly after traversing speed bumps is impressive.

Smaller cracks and ripples in the road sometimes feel a bit sharp, so we’ll have to reserve judgement on ride quality until we drive it on Aussie terra firma.

But look, it’s fun to drive, has fabulous optics and a cheeky character, all of which make every drive just a bit more special than your average hatchback.

At higher intensities it’s almost as satisfying to drive (on the road) as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N – arguably the most engaging EV from a mainstream brand we’ve driven to date.

Which makes us wonder whether a vehicle like this is a better investment given it’s half the price of Hyundai’s Namyang nutcase but generates almost as many smiles?

It’s fantastic; one might even call it mini-malistic. Like the exterior design, the interior of the 2024 MINI Cooper SE has been stripped back and even the smaller touches like the use of fabric across the dashboard, complete with concealed LED mood lighting, give it a high-quality look and feel.

If no one mentioned its country of origin – China – there’s a high probability most people hunkering down into the low-slung seats inside the cabin will think it’s a British car, or a German one, such is the build quality and solidity.

Our test vehicles featured rose gold-coloured metal door handles and Harman Kardon door speakers, which deliver a high-end look and feel. Even the doors have a nice thick thud when shutting them.

Another peachy element of the new MINI EV are the seats. We expected them to be well bolstered and comfortable (and the vegan leather ain’t bad) but few electric cars permit the driver to sit so low.

The old ‘go-kart’ hyperbole that MINI’s marketing machine has on high rotation feels appropriate here and the hunkered-down seating creates a closer connection between car and driver and road surface.

I personally like the smaller-diameter steering wheel and its thicker rim, although it didn’t win favour with all drivers. That said, one thing that is overblown are the exaggerated inner flaps at 10 and 2 o’clock on the steering wheel. They’re like inverted wings and just get in the way.

A pared-back control panel below the epic floating frisbee touch-screen has a chic look and retains a couple of the toggle-like switches, while the motor start is now a twist-type control.

But apart from front and rear window demisting there no physical controls for the climate control, which can be frustrating.

Another odd ergonomic choice is the fitment of three air vents for the front passenger but just one for the driver.

Front seat room is ample, and although rear seat legroom isn’t great, headroom is pretty good.

The boot is tiny at just 210 litres, opening to 800 litres when the rear seats are folded down, but this is to be expected of a car measuring just 3858mm long.

Based on our first overseas drive, the short answer is yes. For a few grand less than a Tesla Model 3 you get a significantly more involving vehicle to drive, and one that looks and feels more mischievous too.

Sure, it won’t carry as much stuff or drive quite as far, but if these aren’t major issues when you’re looking for an EV, the 2024 MINI Cooper Electric deserves to be on your shopping list.

It’s a precocious little tacker and it backs up its feisty on-road personality with a gorgeous retro exterior design, a fantastic interior concept and loads of computing power with one of the most intuitive user interfaces this side of an Apple iPhone.

Simply put, this first taste of the new MINI Cooper EV has left us wanting more.

2024 MINI Cooper SE at a glance:
Price: $58,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Third quarter 2024
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 160kW/330Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 49.2kWh lithium-ion (54.2kWh gross)
Range: 402km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 14.1kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested