Mini Cooper SE 2024 review

‘Fun’ and ‘electric’ are two words that don’t always go hand in hand. But there are some notable exceptions to the rule. My first drive in an MG 4 and, later, an Abarth 500e, were defining moments that rammed home electric cars could indeed be fun. 

Around a similar time, an adventure through Sydney city in a 2023 Mini Cooper SE proved a breath of fresh air – its diminutive size ensuring the electric Mini retained the classic ‘go-kart’ feel of a feisty small hatch, even though it was plagued by limited electric range. 

Then last September, I saw the new-generation Mini Cooper Electric in the flesh at the car’s debut in Munich and I was blown away by its looks, its new circular screen tech, and the sustainable materials used in its interior. But we didn’t actually get a chance to drive it. 

Until now, that is.  

For 2024, the electric version of the Mini Cooper has been completely re-engineered. It now rides on its own bespoke electric platform – separating it from its combustion-engined cousin which carries over its circa-2014 body structure but shares the new Mini E’s front and rear styling details, and standout interior design.

To the uninitiated, both 2024 Minis essentially look the same, yet the electric version rides on a 31mm-longer wheelbase (at 2526mm), is slightly wider (by 12mm) and taller (by 28mm), and also slightly shorter (by 18mm, at 3858mm). The giveaway is the door handles – flush new-generation handles in the Electric; pull-out grab handles in the ICE Mini 3dr and 5dr.

With its subtly altered proportions, the new electric Mini is also more aesthetically appealing, and combines this visual class with the greatest electric range the model has ever had. But is it fun?

On a cold and rainy day in Melbourne, I set out to discover if the newest Mini Cooper E and SE are as involving to drive as the previous electrified Mini. Can this slightly larger version live up to the name? And with that extra range buffer, will it appeal to more buyers?

What are the Cooper SE’s features and options for the price?

The electric Mini Cooper we sampled at the Australian launch was the top-spec three-door SE, which is priced at $58,990 driveaway. Our test car was the Favoured trim grade, which includes the following features as standard:

• 240mm circular OLED display 
• Head-up display 
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
• Wireless phone charger
• Electric driver’s seat with massage function 
• JCW sport seats
• 18-inch ‘Night Flash Spoke’ alloy wheels
• USB-C charge ports
• Mini Experience modes
• LED headlights and daytime running lights
• Sport steering wheel with heating 
• Panoramic glass roof

As for options, five paint colours are available, including Nanuq White, Midnight Black, Chilli Red, Blazing Blue and British Racing Green.

Unlike previous Minis, there are far less options to choose from for the electric version. The SE variant gets one choice of alloy wheels, along with one upholstery choice – Nightshade Blue Vescin trim.

How does the Cooper SE drive?

Melbourne turned on the chilly, wet and windy weather for us at the launch of the 2024 Mini Cooper SE. With plenty of standing water, potholes and dodgy drivers, it was certainly not the ideal environment for the launch, however I set off for the road loop in a Blazing Blue SE. 

Powering this SE is a single electric motor mounted on the front axle that produces outputs of 160kW/330Nm. It’s fed via a 400-volt electrical system and a 49.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Mini says that the Cooper SE is able to travel up to 402km (WLTP). 

First impressions certainly convey a hot-hatch vibe – not unlike what you’d feel if you’ve ever driven a Volkswagen Golf GTI or Ford Focus ST. 

Despite having grown a bit, this electric Mini Cooper certainly delivers a darty, go-kart-like driving experience. Yet it’s still a small car, at least by modern standards. And I love it for that. At 3858mm long and 1756mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2526mm, the Cooper SE remains one of the smaller sporty hatches, with only the Abarth 500e’s tiny 2322mm wheelbase truly decimating the SE’s ‘mini’ credentials. 

While it’s no lightweight (weighing in at 1605kg, or several hundred kilos more than a three-door petrol S), the new Cooper SE still feels sprightly. With 160kW under your right foot, the Cooper SE will sprint to 100km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds. It’s not a rocketship by any means, but I think it’s the perfect amount for a zippy daily drive. 

Mini has been big on marketing its new Experience Modes, offering eight different ‘flavours’ and unique driving sounds for each. Go-kart mode puts the car in its most exciting state, while other modes are a little more chill and restrained. Although some of the sounds might be a touch zingy and over-the-top for some, I found that it adds to the promise of fun that Minis have always been known for. And while Hans Zimmer did not do the sounds for the new Mini Cooper SE, it certainly sounds a bit like it.

Getting out of the business of Melbourne and onto some back roads, this is where the Cooper SE shines. It’s agile and rapid through corners, and has very little body movement or roll. 

The Mini’s steering weighting is generally on the heavier side of things, while the wheel itself is a little too chunky and BMW-like for my personal preferences. The bulkiness is especially prevalent at the 10-to-2 points, where I actually struggled to get my hands comfortably around the rim. 

One of the glaring aspects of the SE’s driving experience, though, is certainly its firm ride. I feel that it’s actually stiffer than the outgoing SE Resolute Edition I drove in 2023. Sure, it feels sporty and has the best of intentions, but the stiffness overall is a bit of a let-down for general driver comfort. 

As is the case with almost all EVs, the Mini Cooper SE uses regenerative braking, but in this case, it’s a bit of a strange set-up. To me, it felt like the regen braking was adaptive and would intensify based on how close you are to the car in front, rather than being a set mode. It was a little disconcerting to have the regenerative braking adapt on the fly, which I found somewhat difficult to drive around. 

As for electric driving range, Mini Australia confirmed that local-spec cars are higher spec than Europe and other markets and, because of that, real-world range would be closer to 387km. On the launch, I saw around 300km indicated on the Mini Cooper SE with almost 100 percent state of charge. 

The previous Cooper SE offered just 203km (WLTP) of range, so this new Cooper certainly makes way more sense for a broader span of buyers in 2024. 

All in all, the new SE is a punchy and enjoyable drive, and perfectly nails its brief as a warm/hot city hatchback. I just kinda wish it had a smoother ride quality. That being said, it’s always refreshing to get back into a small car as agile as this.

What is the Cooper SE’s interior and tech like?

When I first saw the Mini Cooper SE’s interior on display last year in Munich, I was pretty much blown away by it. And even now, I’m still impressed. The highlight of the cabin and arguably what Mini is most proud of is the brilliant 240mm OLED circular touchscreen – mounted dead-centre in the dashboard, just like an original Mini – that looks more like a watch face than something you’d see in a modern passenger vehicle. 

The touchscreen is a crisp and high-quality unit. It’s fast, too, and is the hub for almost all of the Cooper SE’s infotainment, navigation, climate control and experience modes. This system also runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however we found that Apple CarPlay projected on this circular display is not full screen and is instead a rectangular shape. And as we know, a square object doesn’t fit so well into a round space. 

Regardless, this is a great set-up and a unique take on infotainment in 2024. I am yet to see another screen like this in the car industry today. 

I also think the toggle switches front and centre are a nice touch. It’s somewhat satisfying to twist a toggle to start the SE, and use the remaining toggles for shuffling through the available experience modes. 

In terms of cabin materials, Mini again is changing the game somewhat, removing the use of hard plastics or leather inlays for the doors and dashboard, and instead using a woven material which feels rustic and a little firm to touch, but Mini says it’s very sustainable. Speaking of which, the vehicle floor, core surfaces, and floor mats are made from 90 percent recycled polyester. 

Mini has also removed leather products in its models, however I found that the seats in the SE felt very much like leather regardless. 

On the practicality front, there is plenty of centre storage space, USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and decently sized door bins.  

I didn’t spend much time in the Mini’s rear seat, however it’s just roomy enough for an adult for short trips, or better for kids on longer journeys.

In the boot, owners will gain 210 litres of space, which can expand to 800 litres with the rear seats folded flat. Again, this is most certainly a city car with easily enough room for a shopping run or school drop-off.  

Is the Cooper SE a safe car?

Mini’s Cooper SE is currently unrated by Australian safety body ANCAP. However, as standard, the Cooper SE is fitted with the following safety systems:

• 6 airbags 
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot warning 
• Exit warning 
• Rear collision prevention
• Rear cross-traffic warning and brake intervention 
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver attention monitoring 
• Automatic speed-limit assist
• High-beam assist
• Parking assistant plus 
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Speed limiter 
• Steering and lane control assistant 
• Tyre-pressure monitoring 

As for the safety assistance tuning, I think the Cooper SE hatch has well-calibrated safety systems. It certainly guided me in my driving, rather than feeling intrusive or poorly tuned. The lane-keep assistance does kick in from time to time, but only when I strayed towards the side of the lane.

What are the Cooper SE’s ownership costs?

For servicing, Mini Australia offers a four-year $1202 cover for the SE, or $1753 for a six-year package. Mini states that service intervals are conditional and based on driver behaviour, vehicle use and condition. 

As for warranty, Mini offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. 

The Mini Cooper SE has an official electric efficiency rating of 14.7kWh/100km, however during our road testing, we achieved between 18.0 and 20.0kWh/100km. 

We saw a range of around 300km indicated on the Mini’s trip computer, but we intend to get the car back soon for a full range and recharge test in the Chasing Cars garage.

The honest verdict on the Cooper SE

Back to my initial question posed at the beginning: is Mini’s new-generation Cooper Electric still as fun and charming as ever?

Well, I departed the Cooper SE electric hatch feeling like I wanted to get straight back in and keep on driving. 

In a 2024 context, the Mini is a charming car with plenty of youthful character. It makes cool sounds as you accelerate, it has a fast and responsive central OLED screen, a quirky yet really well-executed cabin, and a punchy electric drivetrain. 

But as much as I loved the Mini’s driving experience, there are things that could still be improved such as its firm urban ride quality, bulky steering-wheel design, and strange regenerative braking feel. 

Yet the Mini Cooper SE, in my opinion, remains one of the most fun and enjoyable electric cars available in Australia. While it’s not perfect, this new-generation version adds the right amount of zest to the Mini cocktail, as well as the electric car segment as a whole. 

While you could consider a Cupra Born, or an Abarth 500e, the Mini Cooper SE stands out with its smart looks, decent electric range and, most of all, its rewarding driving experience.

I can’t wait for the electric John Cooper Works version!