Mini Cooper Electric review

The Cooper Electric is an immediately interactive car to drive: communicative, lively and terrier-like. The new Minis get a bunch of ‘Experience’ modes - seven in all - accessed via the touchscreen or a switch in the toggle bar. ‘Go-kart’ mode stiffens the steering, sharpens throttle sensitivity, and enhances the soundtrack. 

There’s a ‘woo hoo’ sound reminiscent of Blur’s ‘Song 2’ when you select it, and a retro-futuristic whoosh if you give it the full beans. Back off abruptly and there’s another blast of sci-fi sonics. It’s possibly all a bit much, depending on your viewpoint (and age).

This sounds all very Gen Z...

You’re not wrong. The Cooper Electric risks feeling like a high-tech toy, designed to sit outside an artisanal coffee shop. But at heart it’s still a fizzy driving machine. The steering has 2.2 turns lock to lock and a fixed ratio, so you really can apex it. 

What’s particularly refreshing about the Cooper Electric is that it’s one of the few EVs around where you might want to just take it out for a drive for the sake of it. That’s as good a sign as any. 

It’s extremely grippy and interactive, especially in John Cooper Works guise, with all the weight down low in the battery pack. The downside – across the range here – is that the ride is very firm, something you’ll be very aware of with passengers onboard. You’re prepared to take the hit in the JCW, but lower down the range you surely want something more supple.

Where's the instrument panel?

The Cooper Electric has been somewhat Teslafied, relying on the central screen for all your driving information. The blend of infotainment and driving info isn’t especially well managed – you have to pick between a giant speedo, the satnav and the entertainment functions. Difficult to fit all that in a circle. You might get used to it once you've set all the configurable options to your liking.

There is a head-up display as standard on SE and up (it’s part of a £2k option pack on E models): this gets round the 'why the heck isn't the speedo in front of me?' issue, but it's over-designed and we'd prefer something simpler.

There are plenty of safety systems available with the electric Mini, mostly quite annoying (especially the speed limit assist), but mostly quite easy to turn off.

What about charging?

The bigger batteries will charge at up to 95kW on the right machine (75kW on the E models). Mini says 10 to 80 per cent takes under 30 minutes; slower charging is up to 11kW AC.

Official figures say you’ll get up to 4.5mi/kWh, which is heavily dependent on driving style. In the JCW we only managed 3.6mi/kWh - not quite 180 miles of range - but it’s definitely capable of better with lighter shoes on. But then why go JCW if you’re not going to enjoy the extra oomph?