11 July 2023
Introduction
Growing up, most people would have known someone who owned a Mini. Or maybe, like me, you even owned one yourself. I have had the pleasure of owning a few Minis over the years, even being involved with the Goodbye Pork Pie charity run, driving a Mini from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South to raise funds for Starship Hospital. Now that the Mini is available as an EV, there are exciting journeys to be had for the next generation of Mini enthusiasts.
Exterior
You can’t beat a Mini in classic British Racing Green, and at first glance it is hard to determine whether this is a conventional ICE vehicle or an undercover EV.
Another key exterior feature is the 17-inch tentacle spoke wheels with run flat tyres which fill the wheel arches flawlessly.
Interior
The interior trim of the Mini Cooper EV was a traditional leather in Chester Malt Brown which at first I wasn’t a fan of, but the more I drove it the more it grew on me.
Performance
Once you get used to the particularly aggressive regenerative braking the Mini will put a smile on your face with an impressive 7.3 seconds to get from 0-100 km/h, powered by the 135kW 270Nm HV electric motor running through the single-speed automatic transmission.
Safety features
The Mini Cooper EV has both autonomous emergency braking and forward-collision warning.
Cost/affordability
With a recommended retail price of $70,155 plus ORC, the Mini Cooper EV is one to consider if you want to put a bit of excitement back into your daily routine.
If you are looking for a sporty hatch to drive within the city limits, then the Mini Cooper EV might be the vehicle for you.
Pros
- Smiles, smiles and even more smiles
- Fun to drive
- Classic MINI exterior
Cons
- Short EV range
- Some people may not like the wheels
- Expensive
Technical specifications
- Model: Mini COOPER SE 135KW/EV
- Engine: HV Electric motor
- Transmission: Single-speed automatic
- Power: 135kW
- Torque: 270Nm
- Fuel economy/CO2: N/A
- Price: $70,155 plus ORC