MINI Cooper SE First Drive Review
17 May 2024|3,836 views
What We Like
Reductive design language marks nice but clear evolution over its predecessor
Innovative and charming infotainment system; improved interior space
Retains zippy, light-footed character
More composed on the road than its predecessor
Far better range
What We Dislike
Still not the most comfortable nor practical little machine
Abundance of hard plastics in cabin
What should the reinvention of an icon entail? More drama? Extra extravagance?
Not quite, MINI thinks.
As the brand draws closer than ever to its declared deadline for combustion power (by the early 2030s, to jolt your memory), it's brought its original three-door hatch up to speed in all-new, all-electric form. Complexity is not part of the MINI ethos, though, and the brand seems clear that it wants to steer the new car away from that. As such, it's directed its focus towards simplifying things - by its own playbook - while bumping up range and day-to-day usability.
A quick primer in nomenclature first: With the new MINI family only represented by three core models, 'Cooper' now no longer refers to an engine variant, but to the entire model line that we once knew as the MINI Hatch. There are combustion-powered variants, the Cooper C and S, but MINI appears to be handing the brighter spotlight over to this: The Cooper Electric (E), or more specifically, this more powerful Cooper SE.
Those large, oval-shaped head lights will still tug at your heartstrings instantly; as will the car's unmistakable silhouette, courtesy of its wraparound glass windows, floating roof, and pulled back two-box shape.
Still, while retaining a good number of MINI-hallmarks, the Cooper SE marks quite a significant visual evolution over its predecessor. The protruding plastic wheel arches of old have been dropped for fenders that sit flush with the rest of its body. Also flushed are its door handles - in place of the old car's chunky grab bars. The result: Extra emphasis on the car's paintwork, which works excellently for a colour as chirpy as this Sunny Side Yellow.
It's all part of MINI's latest design philosophy, named 'Charismatic Simplicity', which is not only reductive from a design standpoint, but also has sustainability in its sights. Chrome has been completely eliminated; the heavily slimmed-down grille, now octagonal in shape, is finished in a new 'Vibrant Silver' trim - or the gloss black seen on this particular car.
The biggest difference, of course, is at the rear, where triangular taillights, still sporting Union Jack motifs, make an appearance for the first time. Though slightly jarring at first, it doesn't take more than a few hours for the new rear to feel natural.
On the other hand, what may not strike initially is the Cooper SE's increased size. Though 8mm longer than its predecessor, being built atop of a dedicated electric platform has allowed MINI to stretch its wheelbase out by a sizable 31mm, thus reducing the car's front and rear overhang - and preserving the hatch's cutesy demeanour.
On the other hand, so much vibrancy has been injected into the new cabin of the Cooper Electric that any concept of simplicity might seem confounding at first.
Touched by the magic of MINI's tech team, the crowning piece here is a rounded, massive OLED touch display running MINI's Operating System 9. This new flair, interestingly, has arisen out of MINI's dogged pursuit of Sir Alec Issigonis' original three-element template: A sporty steering wheel, a rounded speedometer, and a toggle-switch bar.
Admittedly, the system's sheer expanse will force even more tech-savvy folks onto a learning curve. On the flip side, however, the screen's sharp, colourful graphics are hard to frown at, even as it boasts the sort of touch responsiveness rivalling today's best smartphone flagships.
Still, what's most impressive about this setup is how the user interface has been carefully calibrated for the shape. Your speed reading is permanently lodged centrally at the top, for instance, while temperature controls for the A/C - which require just light, single taps for adjustment - are curved into the four and eight o'clock positions.
Another entertaining touch: A total of eight 'Experience' modes, each with their own visual personalities, soundscapes, and unique quirks ('Timeless' notably teleports you back to the original Mini), out of which three are actual Drive Modes. No other infotainment system on the market is doing it like the one here.
Simplicity does indeed reign in the new cabin, in the form of the (reduction of) materials used. Chrome has been eliminated. Surfaces within the entire interior - down to the seats - are now vegan-friendly. And the dashboard has notably gotten a knitted fabric texture, built out of recycled polyester, whose look changes depending on which of the four trims you go for.
If this isn't enough, there's optional light projection too - running down the roof lines, and splashed across the dashboard. Sustainability may be at the forefront, but that doesn't mean that the Cooper SE has suffered losses in character and customisability.
An important part of this new generation is that MINI has made sure to translate the car's extra size into space gains on the inside too.
Manage your expectations; the Cooper Electric is a three-door hatch after all, and its boot space remains dismal at 210 litres. On the flip side, rear passengers certainly have it better now with extra head, leg, and shoulder room.
As mentioned, MINI is now offering not just one, but two variants of the Cooper Electric to customers. The base Cooper E nets you nearly the same sort of power that the original MINI Electric had, but gets a larger battery for extra range (more on that soon). The Cooper SE, on the other hand, steps things up even further, its single motor sending 215bhp and 330Nm of torque to the front wheels.
With the century sprint dispensed in 6.7 seconds, performance is best described as confidently brisk - though not nauseatingly ballistic. Which, to be clear, is an absolute positive.
Electric the Cooper SE may be, but sterile it is not. Most EVs today get a bad rep for removing much of the engagement out of driving, so it's both a relief and a joy to see that MINI has stuck to its guns, and not deferred to just playing up straight-line speed.
Instead, the car stays faithful to the nippy and responsive nature of its predecessor - and in fact, builds on it for an even better-rounded experience.
The underfloor mounted batteries give it a sweet, lowered centre of gravity that is fully palpable as it tackles the winding hill passes around Sitges with tireless eagerness. Those brakes, too, are wonderfully modulated and integrated with the regenerative system, to give a driver consistent confidence to shed speed.
Interestingly, the Cooper SE's steering feel is lighter than before - even in Go-Kart mode - even though it thankfully retains the alert accuracy loved in past MINIs. While suspension damping remains on the firmer side, it's perfectly in line with the car's hot-hatch identity, and does an excellent job managing weight shifts with the larger battery pack.
Impressively, with its longer wheelbase and wider tracks, the Cooper SE is also notably less fidgety than the MINI Electric that preceded it. The improvement is already apparent at lower speeds, but get it out onto open highways, and its composure is impressive for a machine with resolutely supermini-like proportions.
The bigger story has been centred around the righting of the MINI Electric's biggest flaw: Range.
The Cooper SE gets a significantly larger 54.2kWh battery, with a claimed range of 402km on a full charge; opt for the Cooper E, with its smaller 40.7kWh battery, and that figure drops to 305km. Yet even the latter posts a significant jump over the official 235km managed by the MINI Electric.
Battling not just the hill passes, but also the temperamental dry-wet-dry weather around Sitges (this meant fiddling with seat and steering wheel heating), our short drive would have returned more than 300km of range still with the Cooper SE. Though nothing to shout about by modern electric car standards, the extra range still provides a solid and welcome heapful of assurance when out on the road.
Putting charge back into the battery is a less tiresome affair, too, thanks to its ability to support DC charging at 95kW now (the Cooper E's smaller battery only supports up to 75kW, but the dip is inconsequential, since the 10 to 80% recharge duration is flat for both at under 30 minutes).
It speaks volumes of the singular, intangible identity that MINI has cultivated - that the Cooper SE can genuinely pull off the claim of being a reinvention, yet remains true and familiar to what we expect from the brand.
For such a tiny car, this is perhaps its largest achievement.
Considering how much has changed on both a technological and mechanical level, the Cooper SE could have well run the risk of feeling too distant from the car that preceded it. It doesn't. In fact, it goes beyond that, and flexes the improvements in practicality and driver engagement that only a committed plunge into full electrification can arguably achieve.
The combustion-versus-electric power debate may forever be interminable, but the new Cooper SE is also inarguably the machine that it is now - fun to look at; fun to drive - because of its dedicated platform. Beyond just reinvention, the icon has its oval-eyes firmly locked on longevity.
What We Like
Reductive design language marks nice but clear evolution over its predecessor
Innovative and charming infotainment system; improved interior space
Retains zippy, light-footed character
More composed on the road than its predecessor
Far better range
What We Dislike
Still not the most comfortable nor practical little machine
Abundance of hard plastics in cabin
What should the reinvention of an icon entail? More drama? Extra extravagance?
Not quite, MINI thinks.
As the brand draws closer than ever to its declared deadline for combustion power (by the early 2030s, to jolt your memory), it's brought its original three-door hatch up to speed in all-new, all-electric form. Complexity is not part of the MINI ethos, though, and the brand seems clear that it wants to steer the new car away from that. As such, it's directed its focus towards simplifying things - by its own playbook - while bumping up range and day-to-day usability.
A quick primer in nomenclature first: With the new MINI family only represented by three core models, 'Cooper' now no longer refers to an engine variant, but to the entire model line that we once knew as the MINI Hatch. There are combustion-powered variants, the Cooper C and S, but MINI appears to be handing the brighter spotlight over to this: The Cooper Electric (E), or more specifically, this more powerful Cooper SE.
Those large, oval-shaped head lights will still tug at your heartstrings instantly; as will the car's unmistakable silhouette, courtesy of its wraparound glass windows, floating roof, and pulled back two-box shape.
Still, while retaining a good number of MINI-hallmarks, the Cooper SE marks quite a significant visual evolution over its predecessor. The protruding plastic wheel arches of old have been dropped for fenders that sit flush with the rest of its body. Also flushed are its door handles - in place of the old car's chunky grab bars. The result: Extra emphasis on the car's paintwork, which works excellently for a colour as chirpy as this Sunny Side Yellow.
It's all part of MINI's latest design philosophy, named 'Charismatic Simplicity', which is not only reductive from a design standpoint, but also has sustainability in its sights. Chrome has been completely eliminated; the heavily slimmed-down grille, now octagonal in shape, is finished in a new 'Vibrant Silver' trim - or the gloss black seen on this particular car.
The biggest difference, of course, is at the rear, where triangular taillights, still sporting Union Jack motifs, make an appearance for the first time. Though slightly jarring at first, it doesn't take more than a few hours for the new rear to feel natural.
On the other hand, what may not strike initially is the Cooper SE's increased size. Though 8mm longer than its predecessor, being built atop of a dedicated electric platform has allowed MINI to stretch its wheelbase out by a sizable 31mm, thus reducing the car's front and rear overhang - and preserving the hatch's cutesy demeanour.
On the other hand, so much vibrancy has been injected into the new cabin of the Cooper Electric that any concept of simplicity might seem confounding at first.
Touched by the magic of MINI's tech team, the crowning piece here is a rounded, massive OLED touch display running MINI's Operating System 9. This new flair, interestingly, has arisen out of MINI's dogged pursuit of Sir Alec Issigonis' original three-element template: A sporty steering wheel, a rounded speedometer, and a toggle-switch bar.
Admittedly, the system's sheer expanse will force even more tech-savvy folks onto a learning curve. On the flip side, however, the screen's sharp, colourful graphics are hard to frown at, even as it boasts the sort of touch responsiveness rivalling today's best smartphone flagships.
Still, what's most impressive about this setup is how the user interface has been carefully calibrated for the shape. Your speed reading is permanently lodged centrally at the top, for instance, while temperature controls for the A/C - which require just light, single taps for adjustment - are curved into the four and eight o'clock positions.
Another entertaining touch: A total of eight 'Experience' modes, each with their own visual personalities, soundscapes, and unique quirks ('Timeless' notably teleports you back to the original Mini), out of which three are actual Drive Modes. No other infotainment system on the market is doing it like the one here.
Simplicity does indeed reign in the new cabin, in the form of the (reduction of) materials used. Chrome has been eliminated. Surfaces within the entire interior - down to the seats - are now vegan-friendly. And the dashboard has notably gotten a knitted fabric texture, built out of recycled polyester, whose look changes depending on which of the four trims you go for.
If this isn't enough, there's optional light projection too - running down the roof lines, and splashed across the dashboard. Sustainability may be at the forefront, but that doesn't mean that the Cooper SE has suffered losses in character and customisability.
An important part of this new generation is that MINI has made sure to translate the car's extra size into space gains on the inside too.
Manage your expectations; the Cooper Electric is a three-door hatch after all, and its boot space remains dismal at 210 litres. On the flip side, rear passengers certainly have it better now with extra head, leg, and shoulder room.
As mentioned, MINI is now offering not just one, but two variants of the Cooper Electric to customers. The base Cooper E nets you nearly the same sort of power that the original MINI Electric had, but gets a larger battery for extra range (more on that soon). The Cooper SE, on the other hand, steps things up even further, its single motor sending 215bhp and 330Nm of torque to the front wheels.
With the century sprint dispensed in 6.7 seconds, performance is best described as confidently brisk - though not nauseatingly ballistic. Which, to be clear, is an absolute positive.
Electric the Cooper SE may be, but sterile it is not. Most EVs today get a bad rep for removing much of the engagement out of driving, so it's both a relief and a joy to see that MINI has stuck to its guns, and not deferred to just playing up straight-line speed.
Instead, the car stays faithful to the nippy and responsive nature of its predecessor - and in fact, builds on it for an even better-rounded experience.
The underfloor mounted batteries give it a sweet, lowered centre of gravity that is fully palpable as it tackles the winding hill passes around Sitges with tireless eagerness. Those brakes, too, are wonderfully modulated and integrated with the regenerative system, to give a driver consistent confidence to shed speed.
Interestingly, the Cooper SE's steering feel is lighter than before - even in Go-Kart mode - even though it thankfully retains the alert accuracy loved in past MINIs. While suspension damping remains on the firmer side, it's perfectly in line with the car's hot-hatch identity, and does an excellent job managing weight shifts with the larger battery pack.
Impressively, with its longer wheelbase and wider tracks, the Cooper SE is also notably less fidgety than the MINI Electric that preceded it. The improvement is already apparent at lower speeds, but get it out onto open highways, and its composure is impressive for a machine with resolutely supermini-like proportions.
The bigger story has been centred around the righting of the MINI Electric's biggest flaw: Range.
The Cooper SE gets a significantly larger 54.2kWh battery, with a claimed range of 402km on a full charge; opt for the Cooper E, with its smaller 40.7kWh battery, and that figure drops to 305km. Yet even the latter posts a significant jump over the official 235km managed by the MINI Electric.
Battling not just the hill passes, but also the temperamental dry-wet-dry weather around Sitges (this meant fiddling with seat and steering wheel heating), our short drive would have returned more than 300km of range still with the Cooper SE. Though nothing to shout about by modern electric car standards, the extra range still provides a solid and welcome heapful of assurance when out on the road.
Putting charge back into the battery is a less tiresome affair, too, thanks to its ability to support DC charging at 95kW now (the Cooper E's smaller battery only supports up to 75kW, but the dip is inconsequential, since the 10 to 80% recharge duration is flat for both at under 30 minutes).
It speaks volumes of the singular, intangible identity that MINI has cultivated - that the Cooper SE can genuinely pull off the claim of being a reinvention, yet remains true and familiar to what we expect from the brand.
For such a tiny car, this is perhaps its largest achievement.
Considering how much has changed on both a technological and mechanical level, the Cooper SE could have well run the risk of feeling too distant from the car that preceded it. It doesn't. In fact, it goes beyond that, and flexes the improvements in practicality and driver engagement that only a committed plunge into full electrification can arguably achieve.
The combustion-versus-electric power debate may forever be interminable, but the new Cooper SE is also inarguably the machine that it is now - fun to look at; fun to drive - because of its dedicated platform. Beyond just reinvention, the icon has its oval-eyes firmly locked on longevity.
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- Looks
- Interior
- The Drive
- Conclusion