2024 MINI Cooper SE review. With 218bhp & huge torque, is this the new EV hot-hatch king?

[@nickpage2949]

So desperate are we to feel some kind of involvement that we now applaud torque steer which we have been trying to eliminate for years. Great video as always.

[@MrFlyingguy]

well pointed out.

[@RGChandler]

I wonder if its real torque steer, or engineered in using the power steering.

[@SatanDotExe]

​@@RGChandler considering AFAIK it has an open differential and fairly high torque, it probably is real. Really not something to brag about though...

[@howarddavies136]

​@SatanDotExe I think you're right. I get dreadful torque steer on my x1. It seems BMW can't do FWD properly.

[@devaplan]

I drove my friends original Cooper S in the 70s. The engine had been tuned to make about 110 bhp and it had a LSD. The torque steer when you put your foot down made it squirm all over the road. Exciting in your teens and early twenties maybe.

[@crazyfroggie6546]

Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of EVERY journey going through menus turning loads of things to OFF.

[@thomasholdsworth2422]

That, unfortunately, seems to be the way with all new cars. I just couldn't live with it.

[@dave281193]

It’s a stupid EU requirement that we’re ludicrously still subject to.

[@sward5106]

Soulless.

[@dahorn100011]

@@thomasholdsworth2422 it's mandatory. All ADAS systems must be on by default unfortunately.

[@cbotten106]

@@dahorn100011 Yeah, the safety nannies figure that if you aren't sharp enough to turn them off you probably need them.

[@CleanFinish2023]

Those ridiculous sounds, it’s like a car for a bloody 5 year old.

[@djwarren5081]

When I was much younger, and quite foolish at times, my boss asked me if I was ever going to grow up. I replied that I hope not 😊

[@steve_troy]

So standard Mini then?

[@Hickalum]

What noise does it make when you run into a pedestrian ?

[@BV-co7hy]

The only noises my old mini used to make normally preceded a trip to the mechanic’s

[@jasonhearn987]

Great a bit of a laugh in this boring car life

[@johnhaynes9910]

£39k ! Nuff said, bloated in design and price :)

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Beloved Jeremy Clarkson, once noted that the Fiat Bravo shape, reminded him of a squashed baked potato, one could say the same about this Mini...

[@bloke755]

..... exactly , just like all other EVs , sales aimed at the working class / great unwashed ......... ( NOT !! ) .

[@Gmh6477]

Petrol like for like equivalent isn’t much cheaper 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Petrospect]

Huge drop in quality too, surprising that Harry didn't pick up on it but it's night and day compared to last gen. That felt like a prestige hatch, this has worse plastics than my mom's current gen Yaris Hybrid. Then again, I wouldn't want to be a dick to a car that's made not far from where I lived, real people are employed there and I'm still happy the Mini is with us. For how long with the direction they're going and their terrible ads, I dunno. It lost the cool factor it latched onto IMO and that makes me sad. The price is horrendous too.

[@foltan1]

Perfect for company car buyers though - cheap enough to fit within most people's spend limit and basically zero BIK tax. With chargepoints at the office, it's basically free motoring.

[@valtraone]

My wife's car : Skoda Rapid 1.0 tsi 115 Weight : 1200 kg Seats 5 in relative comfort Large boot 60+ mpg easily achievable Amazingly eager engine, which loves to rev; it's almost GTi'ish, and sounds gorgeous. £13,000 pre reg 5 years ago, and probably worth close to that now. Mini - 3 x the price, 50% heavier, half the interior space, dreadful artificial racket from the soundsystem, PlayStation dashboard. Think we'll keep the Skody

[@alarak2159]

I had a Rapid Spaceback SE (2017 model). Absolutely agree - brilliant, efficient car.

[@maxtorque2277]

er, 60 mpg is CATASTROPHICALLY INEFFICIENT! The game has changed, a typical BEV returns over 150mpg (equivalent) when driven hard, and can hit over 250mpg when driven carefully, and unlike a 1.0 ICE, can actually pull the sink off a ricepudding without sounding like it's going to explode..... The 1.0 TSI engine is totally gutless (when compared to the torque and instant response of any EV), is glacially slow (0-60 in 11 sec lol) and makes an awful racket if you try to drive it in any kind of sporting fashion. Honestly, take off your rose tinted specs for a second......

[@valtraone]

I've nothing against electric cars per se, when they are adaptable to the user's requirements, and are affordable. But I do have an issue with the self righteous BEV user who leaves inaccurate responses, and put sinks in their rice puddings doh.@maxtorque2277

[@julianevans9548]

@@maxtorque2277 And how much more money are you spending altogether (including purchase price) for this BEV compared with that Skoda? As for noise, as Harry points out, the decibels may be lower with an EV, but the noise (subjective - what you hear) is much greater because you notice so much more road noise, etc., whereas you don't notice the sound of an engine so much because it's more of a constant.

[@julianevans9548]

@@maxtorque2277 You'll find that for most people, cost is by far the biggest factor.

[@timday6087]

This car reinforces my decision to stick to older/classic cars for as long as I’m able to drive. Hideous, overweight, overpriced, and of zero interest to me. That being said, I still enjoy Harry’s videos, but I tend to prefer his reviews of classic cars and restorations.

[@ogribiker8535]

Agree 💯

[@TheTwilightBong]

You're so right. That's why i'll stand with my 2001 Toyota Corolla and drive it until it breaks completely 😁

[@markbrennan4693]

Very much agree with you.

[@edc1569]

For people who drive 15k miles and can make an EV work for them, these cars often pay for themselves in fuel savings. So they have a place for the people they work for, would much rather have a bunch of these driving past my kids school.

[@fragu123]

@@TheTwilightBong...sorry to hear...

[@Colesy110]

Enjoyed this video, I also think it’s a fair review. All of the people in the comments I would love to know how many have actually spent time with the vehicle or just casting judgement behind their keyboards.

[@alackofspeed]

I have a suspicion this car is not aimed at someone that subscribes to Harry's channel🤣

[@maxtorque2277]

this ^^ x10 They'll be hundreds of idiotic comments from the moron dinosaurs, but in reality, this car is absolutely perfect for the average mini buyer. Fast, quiet, comfy, extremely efficient, and literally no body give a shit whatsoever what their car weighs in this segment (go on, ask a mini driver what their car weighs....). It'll be a brilliant small car for general day to day duties! And BTW, if you ARE a car enthusiast, then just buy a second hand BMS i3s, which has RWD a carbon body and is the most fun EV ever made, by dint of having 185 section tyres so it can actually be driven to it's limits on the public road at sensible speeds 🙂

[@julianevans9548]

@@maxtorque2277 By 'moron dinosaurs', you mean people who have some knowledge about cars and who also want a car to perhaps be a bit practical: e.g., it would be far more efficient if it was lighter. It is singularly lacking in intelligence to describe anyone who doesn't agree with how cars are nowadays as 'moron dinosaurs' - your thinking seemingly being that it is intelligent to simply comply with whatever the present thinking is. This car will not be bought by those seeking practicality or fun or value. It'll be bought be people who are concerned with image, and who are therefore willing to spend far more than a car is worth for that image. Best of luck to you if that's your idea of not being a moron. Oh, and nothing more moronic than paying 25-40% more than the petrol Mini for a car which handles less well, is slower to 60, and is much less practical (all while deluding yourself that it's environmentally friendly). People who buy EVs are falling for the lies of politicians - but you tell yourselves that you are 'realists' and 'living in the modern world'.

[@maxtorque2277]

@@julianevans9548 "some knowlege of cars" OK before i start you might want to know that i have 35 years OEM and top level motorsports experience in the automotive industry, have worked for top tier consultancies such as Prodrive, Cosworth, for OE's like Mclaren, Porsche and many more, and have developed cars like the mclaren P1, Rimac Nevera, Aston Vanquish and many many more If you have "some knowledge of cars" then you might think that vehicle mass plays a large part in roadload (ie consumption) and for a ICE car, it can, because energy stored in the vehicles mass cannot be recaptured and is lost to heat when braking / coasting. But for an EVm, which has a bi-directional powertrain which can recapture KE (with a typical 70% round trip efficiency) addiotnal mass is now a rather small percentage factor in road load consumption. Once KE can be recaptured, then vehicle mass only drives increased rolling friction, and here the effects are rather small. The primary mechanism is tyre hysteretics, where as rolling friction in metalic elements (ie ball/roller bearings) is absolutely tiny (a few hundred watts at Vmax!) For a typical tyre, we would be looking at a 10% increase in hysteretic loss at a doubling of normal load! If an EV is say 20% heavier than an ICE, that's something like a 5% increased tyre loss. But tyre losses over a typical journey are only 5% of overal roadload, so 5% of 5% is clearly not a large factor. You can see this playing out in the real world if you look at say the mercedes EQXX, This is a fairly "heavy" car at 1,800kg, but returns 6ml/kWh, which is over 300mpge! This car has an ultra-low aero drag, and of course, the engineers that developed this car understand this complex physics, so spent their time and effort reducing aero drag as a priority, and didn't worry too much about mass, as it's effectively almost irrelevant. Ufortunately i see a lot of old knowledge and general missunderstanding on a daily basis, where people with "some knowlege of cars" simply don't actually understand the subject matter fully, and so are holding an eroneous (and easily proved to be false) opinion when it comes to EVs...... Worth noting that in the real world, the EV mini is easily faster than petrol minis, because it has no lag, no gears, no clutch, very fast traction control (controls torque 1,000 times a second, vs 3 times a sec for ICE models) and because it can use field weakening techniques to effectively make peak power at almost all road speeds!

[@Petrolhead912]

@@julianevans9548Ahmen 👍

[@silverghini2629]

@@julianevans9548Do you drive a car from the 80s? If not, why not? They were light back then even without advanced composites and light weight steel. Times change. Electric cars in the future will probably be lighter as technology improves and we move to solid state batteries. In the meantime, enjoy what is available, whether it’s ICE, EV or Hybrid.

[@Z-u-m-a]

Lot of negative comments on here... All of which I'm pretty much inclined to agree with! Good review though Harry.

[@paulallwood6033]

£39,000 and close to 1700kg......I hope they sell none of these ! That is an absolute disgrace

[@marwood1969]

My wife's Land Rover Sport isn't much heavier than that. Everything is insane.

[@Fernweh1965]

Its staggering isn't it ? Will probably sell on its monthly payment so nobody will ask the full price

[@marwood1969]

@@Fernweh1965 It is. And we all have to pretend that these things are 'green' as if a digital hummingbird somehow makes a thing like this a friend of the environment. Better not disagree through, because I might end up in jail for thinking the wrong thing. We truly live in an age of lunacy.

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Its the battery mate, next gens of that will be hopefully way lighter

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

@@marwood1969 Land Rover Sport?

[@davonpointer2310]

Crazy weight, crazy price. It’s a no from me.

[@JustAnoth3rHuman]

Minis have always been cool because they have character. This thing doesn’t.

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

Minis have always been rubbish.

[@1878EFC]

i think it has got character. The problem is that it's way too expensive, a bit overweight and in need of a facelift... a lot like my ex-wife! 😂

[@drfisheye]

Did you drive it, or how do you know it doesn't have character? Harry seems to enjoy it.

[@squaregaming8964]

​@@drfisheyeHe's probably talking about the design, which you can observe through your eyes

[@MadDaCube]

@@drfisheye Of course he hasn’t. It‘s an EV so he must hate it per definition.

[@evlo8059]

So it takes more then 30 seconds each time you want to use the car to turn off stuff before you can leave?

[@louKushh]

blame UK government.

[@jimpackard8059]

Complete deal breaker

[@wuchengranschiiet9992]

Welcome 2024 cars

[@ScottZ370]

Can’t even blame regulators for this, I get in my 2024 Polo GTI and takes 2 seconds to turn off the systems. Mini seems to have made it difficult.

[@funkyhouseman]

Nope, you just hold down a button on the steering wheel for 3 seconds in the mini, the dealer showed me on collection day.

[@alanzyoutube]

The problem with this Mini EV is the price, even if this car was the same price as the old EV at £23,000 it would be too expensive, you would be out of your mind to spend £40,000 (as tested) on a Mini EV!

[@louisholden5127]

£23k would not be the market correct price for this vehicle. Your head is stuck in 2010 pricing.

[@Stiggy767]

It’s the PCP and lease costs that are important to most potential buyers

[@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67]

I hope they sell…..0

[@nickbarton3527]

@@Stiggy767Correct, I’ve got one being delivered Friday, it’s all amount the lease / tax. Works out very cheap. I like the cleaner design, but get it isn’t for everyone.

[@RemoteViewr]

Spec sheet says 1680kg unladen! Not exactly a “mini”….

[@jackscott8931]

Both heavier & wider than a Freelander 1, not exactly 'mini' at all.

[@mickwrinkles2318]

More like 3 Minis in one 🤣 Joking aside the power to weight ratio is pretty awful compared to nonEV hot hatches. I'll soon buy a 2002 hot hatch with about 500-600kg less. I'd argue anything above circa 1300kg shouldn't even be called hot hatch. Very heavy hatches with powerful engines they all are. Too much inertia to be called hot.

[@GrahamJohnson-bc1nx]

Whaaat!!!? Ridiculous My Jaguar XJ Sport Premium 2.7V6 diesel clocks in at 1627kg. How times have changed

[@mra9085]

Almost the same weight as a new 2024 Tesla Model 3 and that’s a saloon with a much bigger battery 💀

[@RobG001]

Guess they thought that calling the porker, would not have been very catchy 😅 even if true.

[@richardmosley4549]

Those stupid and unnecessary noises would drive me nuts! To think someone got paid for thinking of that....

[@GeertBossaerts]

Hope you can turn them off.

[@bishopdredd5349]

They can be turned off

[@pb5x5]

@@bishopdredd5349 But do they stay off?

[@JohnnyZenith]

I love the noises. A lot of comments from people who won't be able to embrace change. You can always switch it off. I'd keep it on.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

​@@JohnnyZenith Why should people have to accept change if they consider something a change for the worse.

[@blackline66]

Omg. What have they done!!! 😢😢😢😢😢

[@ifyouarefeelingsinister]

Look how they massacred my boy

[@neillbutcher613]

Brand has been wrecked.

[@ripmax333]

Blame it to the British when they sold the rights to BMW years Ago.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@ripmax333 Yep. There was little appetite to sell to Honda instead of British Aerospace (and then BMW) for some reason. The Mini Cooper could be a neat little 850kg car riding on the Honda N-One platform, but it was not to be. Just think what Honda quality processes could have done for Land Rover too!

[@newtechgs7471]

40 grand for a mini is just insane

[@totalev9061]

They should cost £28k but you didn’t buy one years ago so the govt now adds loads of import tax so BMW doesn’t go bust.

[@cbotten106]

Mini has crossed that monetary bridge a long time ago. But 40 grand for one that will be worth 18 grand in a year is a bit nuts.

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

With crazy low range to boot!

[@jamesbaggaley1460]

@@totalev9061wtf are you on about?

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@jamesbaggaley1460 Since it's made in China and not in the EU, the Mini Cooper E and SE will attract a 10% import tariff. The Cooper E and SE are being made by a joint venture of Great Wall Motors and BMW.

[@andrehendrik]

the dinner plate screen ... just ghastly.

[@jondonnelly3]

I hate it so much. A small 7inch screen nicely fitted into the dash would be so much nicer, and some nice knurled knobs, maybe crystal glass.

[@worldofrandometry6912]

I agree. They seem obsessed with keeping that original mini speedo design but have made it look horrendous.

[@jimpackard8059]

Yes, looks cheap

[@robinkerr3373]

Why don’t they just stick it in the middle of the steering wheel. So dull

[@alexanderfoster3628]

Completely disagree, I think it is one of the best design aspects of the interior. Such a breath of fresh air compared to the expansive screens found in other models. Nice playful design that pays a nod to Mini design heritage.

[@Fourwheeledfarming]

Probably worth noting that the 100% EV is made in China and the petrol is made at Oxford. Doesn’t change anything but we should be proud that Mini is still made in the UK

[@farmergeddon7527]

I believe J01 is moving to Plant Oxford for European sales in 26/27 or something. Sure I’ve read it somewhere but don’t quote me on it.

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

​@@farmergeddon7527 yes I think it is. The ICE version of this car is a different platform underneath. Its basically the previous mini chassis with a new body.

[@farmergeddon7527]

@@0tispunkm3y3r Yeah. Sorry didn’t make it clear I knew that, I was just referring to the comment there. F66 chassis designation code very much indicative of its F56 origins. Dimensions have changed a touch, but that’s obviously just outer panels. Modular 1.5 triple and 2.0 four banger seem to be as before but with a touch more grunt. Interior perceived quality well down on what seemed a fairly nice place in the vinegar strokes of the previous model post its final facelift. Normally takes them at least one LCI to sort everything out though!

[@julianevans9548]

Why would I be proud that a car is made near me?

[@farmergeddon7527]

@@julianevans9548 Well I wouldn’t say proud per se, but it’s nice that even though foreign owned a product could he bought and a greater amount of what you spend is pumped back into the British economy. And when it’s made in China, that obviously isn’t happening. Must admit it doesn’t bother me on an emotional level, but it would a bit on an economic one.

[@ViscountCharles]

Thank goodness! You're the first motoring journalist I have heard calling out the sounds and "modes" out for what they are - nonsense. As far as I can tell, these sort of features were designed to give lazy or inexperienced reviewers something to froth about, whereas living with it day-to-day you're either going to set it once and forget it, or be irritated by it. I'm about to put my name down for the JCW version for next year.

[@neillbutcher613]

I just had an electric courtesy one of these. All I can say is that I was glad to give it back. The ride is awful and pitches all the time on rougher roads. I actually felt sick. The dashboard cover is in your peripheral vision and play havoc with your eyes in some lighting situations.

[@mightyoss]

Looks like a Chinese copy

[@petemorbius3936]

it is from China

[@willum223]

That's precisely what it is.

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Like someone described a mini over the telephone

[@Zenvo-uu9tm]

It looks cool, copy or not

[@lebojay]

China is now the world’s biggest market for cars, so expect Chinese aesthetics to become more commonplace on our roads.

[@cadriver2570]

We have the first SE. Always loved it. We got like 120-130 miles on a charge fwiw. Driven all the EVs and never found them to be as fun.

[@mercedesw211classic]

Nothing interesting with this car...

[@davidk7262]

Yeah you have to drive it. It is like a go kart with instant torque on tap. Bags of fun.

[@ripmax333]

​@@davidk7262a 1.6 ton go cart 😅

[@Balsalmo]

@@davidk7262 I'm sorry, it is half a ton too heavy at the minimum to have any right to be called one.

[@intenzityd3181]

@@davidk7262 Golf carts are fun too. I wouldn't pay 40 grand for one...

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@davidk7262 I'd prefer the previous one on a mountain road with hairpin bends. I don't see how you can't feel the inertia of the extra 400kg compared of the previous model Mini Cooper SE? F=ma, it's not magic, heavy cars have a lot of inertia to try to change direction in tight corners.

[@geoffh2560]

A very fair review Harry, thanks. As with all EVs, I'll be waiting 2-3 years and considering buying used!

[@michaelarchangel1163]

As always, a superb review. Bloody awful car though. If I won one in a competition, it'd be for sale on eBay very soon afterwards.

[@jondonnelly3]

Nicer problems to have...

[@61mja]

We have the previous Mini SE and love it, it’s 32kw battery is t-shaped and is under the back seat and in the transmission tunnel, it isn’t too heavy and drives like a fast mini should. Range is north of 100 miles, absolutely fine as a 2nd car and costs peanuts to run. I spec’d a new one up with a salesperson and reckoned the smaller (lighter) battery version made the most sense for our use.

[@ohyesitsme]

I had a 38Kw Hyundai Ioniq and got well over 200 miles in good weather.

[@chrisclarke5040]

It costs about the same as a Model 3, weighs about the same, has less performance, less range, less space. The Model 3 is getting on a bit but is still ahead.

[@stco2426]

Good point.

[@rkan2]

This MINI has nothing on the Model 3/Y as most EVs don't. The 3/Y plarform is one of the most bespoke EV platforms so it is really diffucult to make better with something else.

[@718YellowSubmarine]

I rather walk than sponsor mister Narcissus Musk

[@whatthe6532]

@@718YellowSubmarinewhile you’re walking I’ll be driving by. Love me EV.

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

@@718YellowSubmarine At least Twitter is Based AF now 😀

[@matt1081]

I love Harry’s Garage. The thoroughness of his reviews and the details shared are extremely insightful for those considering the car in question. We’ve had a couple of weeks now of EV related topics and whilst I appreciate the relevance, these cars go out of date as quickly as the latest mobile phone……it’s all a bit of a yawn fest. One small request……when is the F40 drive coming!! 😂😂 Keep up the great work Harry!

[@WWarped1]

Great review, as always. Two people I knew thought about buying the Cooper SE, both opted for differant cars. They found the Mini full of too many gimmicks. One got the Smart #1 Brabus, and the other Cupra Born E-boost.

[@michaelkenny4124]

A panel of people agreed that those woo hoo sound effects were a good idea, shocking.

[@elliottharley1386]

Renault 5 vs MINI is going to be an interesting comparison

[@I-T-S-M-E]

That new R5 looks interesting

[@Polarskates]

Nope…both horrible.

[@annkaewpradit5692]

Both are shite.

[@jimmyjt16]

Both rubbish

[@fragu123]

@@Polarskates😂😂😂

[@panher]

Crazy the weight increased by almost 25%!

[@thedrivechannel83]

Exactly 100kg more than my Aston Martin v8 Vantage... that's a heavy mini!

[@maxtorque2277]

er, go and actually weigh your Vantage and get back to me.... (BTW, i developed the vantage for AML)

[@Coltnz1]

@@maxtorque2277 Curb Weight : 1705 kg / 3759 lbs

[@ACabral711]

I went to a launch event for the 2025 Countryman and got to ask some of the engineering folks about that weird heads up display, the rake and curvature of the windshield make it impossible to reliably project a HUD directly on to the glass which is why they have the secondary transparent panel sticking out of the dash for it. The circular OLED display is also an engineering highlight made by Samsung, it's paper thin and really a neat bit of tech. The rest of the car and the sound effects are a little fussy though.

[@mfshill]

very surprised at how slow that central display is at changing between settings.

[@local56]

£39k and vinyl seats, wow

[@o2i3u5klwerh8]

Vegan seats 😂

[@kkiwi54]

Glad to see them called what they are - vinyl 😉

[@whocares264]

you cant even open the back windows

[@tehmorbias]

@@o2i3u5klwerh8 if they were made from vegans it would almost justify the price

[@js-hl5hv]

​@@o2i3u5klwerh8cows are vegan, so does that make leather a vegan material ;)

[@anton3682]

What you don't mentioned is, that the Mini EVs are now on a different platform than the petrol ones. This J01 platform was developed with Great Wall and the cars are all build in China.

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

Did you even watch the video?

[@anton3682]

@@sq1rlsqu4d Sorry, my fault. I missed ist at 18:35 .

[@JoshuaKoerner]

The real problem with the original wasn’t the range, it was the price. $35k usd for 150 miles rated or whatever, and a mini. Should have been much cheaper.

[@bigjml]

Don’t live in America. Mini is a Premium Brand. Not a Kia

[@L0p3s]

It was both actually. Also because in EVs one is always connected to the other if the total range is not at least 250 miles (or 400km) in the real world. And the original Mini EV has a net pack of only 28 kWh, which is absurd for a super small car that cost €35k+. The proof of that is the used value of this Mini. With a mere 2/3 years and 20/30k miles they are trading for around €15k in many euro countries. And used with the degradation they are showing a 90-100miles of range. Let’s also not forget that small batteries are much faster reaching 500 circles for example.

[@componick6393]

Kia know vastly more about making good EV's than BMW.​@bigjml

[@bigjml]

@@componick6393 Lol Hilarious

[@bigjml]

@@L0p3s You do realise nobody is reading that diatribe?

[@mattheumattheu715]

Where i live in the uk its getting to the point that you need a big 4x4 just to handle the pot holes

[@OM61777]

I think they accidentally sent you the Playskool edition Mini.

[@JJVernig]

Playmobil?

[@OM61777]

@@JJVernig Mini wishes they had Playmobil fit and finish on their cars.

[@anthonyricci1205]

Definitely looks like those old Playskool plastic cruisers from 30yrs ago.

[@ccooper8785]

It should really be called "The Maxi"....

[@TassieLorenzo]

The Austin Maxi is an icon!

[@ccooper8785]

@@TassieLorenzo Absolutely, It was all the car most of us would have ever needed. I would love one now so long as it had a modern engine and rust proofing.

[@doderiolarkisso4038]

Is there a law who says that every EV on earth has to have the same wheel design?

[@8arcbal]

Good point 👍

[@BigFatSnorlax]

Yep, the laws of physics lol The big ugly flat surfaces reduce drag to improve the range

[@PsychedMedia]

Wheel design matters the most on an EV due to the range. Change to an aftermarket wheels and you can see a significant drop in driving range

[@neilrobson3064]

I’m trying to think of a motoring icon that’s become less faithful to its designers’ original concept - but I just can’t. From the purity of the original Mini - to this overpriced, bloated, compromised & pointless mess……

[@beatles4sale2007]

I think Ford are having a go with it the Capri….and as for Lotus….

[@ilya.b]

​@@beatles4sale2007 +1 for Mustang Mach-e and Puma...

[@richb326]

Any recent MG

[@jarokenny]

Mitsu Eclipse

[@lebojay]

This is #2 on the list. The 2500kg Lotus SUV sits at the top.

[@docgreen4934]

We’ve just bought the John Cooper Works Mini E and we love it. Still experimenting with the huge electronics package but the range appears pretty accurate and the overall design and finish are stunning. What fun there is to be had!

[@pb5x5]

In three years you'll be able to buy one for less than 15k second hand.

[@ianashton1593]

Just personal opinion but I think the front is downright ugly and the interior looks something from an Ikea showroom. Being an old geezer I’m clearly not the target market but I honestly think Mini have lost the plot with this iteration. Great review though as always from Harry 👍

[@stuartsmith5308]

Torque Steer is fantastic fun. And i'd rather drive an Aventador with it's gearbox that will throw me around, push me back in my seat - than a super smooth gearbox where i can't feel it changing gears.

[@mitchkelleher7972]

I hate just about everything about this from the price, bland performance and range, cynical "It's British! No, really!" houndstooth dash pattern, cheap looking display with flat graphics, and horrible little kid video game noises. I'd rather set ignition timing, pull a choke, prime cylinders with ether, and hand crank an engine in the cold of winter than have to shut off all that wuss "safety" bullshit every time I got in. It's like everything is designed to infantilize people and annoy the shit out of those of us who recognize it. Must be why prices of even mediocre old cars have gotten so high.

[@ripmax333]

What's mind boggling is that people still buy them, people also complain about cars that don't have an automatic rear boot opening🤦🏻‍♂️because nowadays people as so lazy to stretch their arms to close the rear boot door.

[@edward1591]

Nailed. What a waste of time and money. Spend £40k on a '60s Cooper and really enjoy yourself

[@Atrail_Mckinley4786]

​​@ripmax333 Maybe people buy them because they like them. Gee, what a suprise that not everyone will have the same opinion of a car as you 🙄

[@ripmax333]

@@Atrail_Mckinley4786 gee did I surprised you that I don't have the same opinion as yours too?

[@rob_lightbody]

There's nothing British about it

[@stevie750iL]

A Mini looking less like a Mini with every incarnation 😢 Sad . And it's around 158% heavier that Alex's original Mini? 😅

[@jimmyh6601]

And at least 300% safer

[@IverKnackerov]

The original would be a death trap amongst todays ludicrous 4wd’s

[@JustMe-bx8gu]

Agree design is not a winner, imv.

[@dansutherland70]

I quite liked it until I heard the "it's a 2024 car" and watched him toggle through the turning off the safety crap. It's going to be a decade before I consider a new car again.

[@Auto_Funk]

£40k for a "Mini" that is worse in every measurable way than a 20 year old Cooper S which would have been circa £18k or circa £30k adjusted for inflation... No thanks.

[@Slarty_42]

£40k for a car with a halfords covered dash and a pizza nailed to it. I'll pass thanks.

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Looks like someone described a Mini over the telephone... to a man in a factory where Engrish wasn't his first language, if you know what I'm saying.

[@davidk7262]

Yes we do Jeremy.

[@bigjml]

No, not really. Please explain

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

Just like the first BMW mini then?

[@huwprice881]

Casual racism, very 2020.

[@PaulFellows3430]

That "parcel shelf" looks more like the moulded plastic tray from a chocolate box and is about as well made!

[@jeffharrison5265]

Thanks for this review Harry. My wife and I have a 2022 Cooper S (five door) and love it. It's the third Mini we have had over the years. Great cars. Assuming production is moved to GB when it comes time for our fourth, electric it will be.

[@pb5x5]

Money to burn by the sound of it. Buy it at 2 or more years old and it be less than half price.

[@communicatescience]

Just going to pop out to the drive and sit in my R53 for a few minutes till I feel better.

[@beatles4sale2007]

It’s strange how BMW and now Mini seem to be pumping out cars that keep getting heavier and heavier (EV or ICE ones)…..As for the Mini, when other manufacturers seem to be offering out “smaller” cars around the £25K mark, you get the feeling these are over priced. Mind you, 1+ year old and these will probably be a good second hand choice if you want a smaller EV. Good review as ever by Harry, and a positive one for a EV.

[@maxtorque2277]

this is because car mass is pretty much irrelevant! The only people who give any kind of shit about how much their car weighs are boring, sad, geeks who think that "lightweight" is still a thing (hint, it hasn't been for a least 20 years) and think that people won't buy a car because it's "too heavy". Honestly, it's irrelevant (and for an EV with a bi-directional powertrain that can recapture KE, it's doesn;t even make much difference to the vehicles consumption) Literally nobody in the market segment looking to buy this car even know what car weight is, what it means, how much a car weighs or even the units of measurement.

[@jonathangibson3786]

Looks like a cheap Chinese mini copy. Ruined.

[@petemorbius3936]

it is from China

[@alanzyoutube]

It's not very cheap though, that's the problem!

[@pd4165]

This one was made in China and future ones made near Oxford. Will the quality improve or is the xenophobia making it hard for you to see?

[@Andrea-yf3hu]

What a beauty! Especially the interior with that stunning big round screen, mesmerizing 😅

[@23gps]

That dash material....what's going on there?

[@michaelpaine9492]

Shocked at the range figures for the outgoing model, shows how far behind other cars are to the underated Renault Zoe. My wife's old 2016 22kw Zoe had 90 mile range, just swapped it for a 2023 50kw. Its a 240 mile range car that cost us £12.5k at 18 months old. Not quite as fast but punchy enough, still handles like a go kart and has loads of tech.

[@ETr4d3]

39k is insane, I can get a brand new electric Volvo C40 for 16-17k in Asia, that comes with 520-560km range.

[@pd4165]

How lovely for you.

[@WiseGuy02]

Don't get an electric anything unless you have money to waste. Get a diesel Volvo

[@ETr4d3]

@@WiseGuy02 we already have a T6 XC90, diesels are not sold here, only the 1.5 or 2.0 petrol, and for EV, we have a model 3 - cheaper than this, with 405 km range (smallest battery at the time)

[@rkan2]

Doesn't include VAT I a guessing...

[@karim111]

There is a reason BMW decided to still bring in the combustion engine version, marketing analysis speak volumes..

[@pachy444]

Well unfortunately there's still a lot daily mail readers who believe all the utter nonsense banded around about EVs

[@tomnewham1269]

@@pachy444 whats the utter nonsense? BEV's is just green washing. That is the fact. Majority of BEV's are charged using non renewable energy, lithium production is not environmentally friendly and when a BEV catches fire, they cannot be put out with conventional fire fighting protocols and the fumes are extremely toxic. Also a lithuim ion battery is not recyclable and an BEV is often written off after minor damage has occurred to the battery. In Australia, light vehicles contribute only 10% of CO2 emissions so I would assume the majority of the western world would be the same. So why the obsession on forcing the public to adopt BEV's when they are not a suitable vehicle for the majority of the population. Better outcomes for reducing CO2 would be better made by improving public transportation and reducing our reliance on non renewables such as coal for electricity generation.

[@morgman43]

The new Renault 5 has the purity of design that the new MINI had two decades ago. That's where my salary-sacrifice tax dodge would go.

[@ChrisHolland-kr6yc]

The Mini was an ideal second car, at this price point its trying to compete with the catergory above. Weight vrs range is difficult on this size of car, maybe a city car is better with less mass and a smaller battery with a lower prive start point. Ill stick to my old R50, it was made in the UK aswell.

[@Neil2022]

39k. I got a 6 month old bmw 235i gran coupe for 8k less. Madness. More space, more power, more fun.

If that's more fun, then the mini must be horrible. Because that bmw is 0% fun.

[@Neil2022]

What experience of it have you?

[@raphaelbilz3092]

Hi Harry, you can turn off the speed limiter by pressing the "Set"-button on the stearing wheel for 3 seconds. This also applies to other cars from the BMW Group.

[@SimonHarrisAdDope]

£39k not a Tesla fan but a RWD Model 3 is a much better car for the same money.

[@o2i3u5klwerh8]

39k is Tesla money

[@js-hl5hv]

A m3 is nowhere near as much fun to drive (I know). Big premium though for driving pleasure......

[@geoffchaplin2123]

Great video Harry, ordered the White JCW sport edition, think it looks great and as an experience electric car owner over 200 miles is more than enough. Thx again!

[@AxLWake]

What a ridiculous car. These noises, the weight, the price. Pfft.

[@final_mile_music9713]

I learned to drive in a 1986 manual Mini Mayfair. I bet this thing isn’t as much fun as that was.

[@leotac5737]

The gasoline powered new generation MINI has a quite different design. You might have noticed this one is missing the legendary upright windshield, the windshield on the SE is tilted to a lesser angle so less drag. Plastic around wheels is still present on the gas version as well as the bonnet which wraps around the round headlights, unlike here. Interior in the gas version is same as here but exterior is quite different and much more usual mini cooper looking, which is good. Anyway, at least they did not stop making the gasoline version.

[@frances7243]

Pity really, another electric MINI that is inferior to the BMW i3, apart from the price. And the i3 has four doors (of sorts). PS: my i3 was bloody brilliant.

[@ab7830]

Like all modern day Minis, this car is pure marketing BS (tart's handbag/Christmas bauble/style over function). It's great that it will be built in the UK, but sadly that's probably for marketing reasons too...

[@thisandthat1265]

The weight and price are huge....what is happening. Feel sorry for car manufacturers at the moment. The government are killing the industry

[@markbrennan4693]

As designed by The Early Learning centre, childish design and stupid sounds. Love to know what Issi. would have made of it. Luddite I may be but surely motoring cannot come to this. Thank you Harry, for the road test. Gawd help us.

[@xntrix]

I have a 2020 se electric, I have been lucky enough to be a P1 member, owned the odd nice vehicle over the years, but now I am a low mileage user, so range is irrelevant ( have Mrs M’s petrol if I need to) that said, done a few 300+ in it, no issues ( few more coffees 😂) have to say, I adore it, it’s quicker than they state, makes me smile every time I drive it and ( let’s ignore range ) is the sweet spot me thinks, interesting, fun, well made etc … driven that new one, keeping my old one, the new you have to switch off systems that do my head in 😎 - if you do under 100 a day, have off street parking to charge the original ev is the bargain to grab … my criticism is depreciation, but my car is honestly a hidden gem, so easy to live with and a pleasure to own in every aspect.

[@maxtorque2277]

^^ good to see an actual owner in the target segment's experience. People don't buy this sort of car to drive long distances, they don't care what their car weighs, they just want a decent, efficient and fun daily driver, and the Mini is exactly that!

[@benjibradshaw69]

I was in a BMW showroom the other day, with Mini next door. At first I thought the BMw styling was horrendous, then I went next door to Mini and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This did such a great job with the first one, I’m not sure how they’ve managed to evolve it to this thing.

[@pd4165]

Bangle?

[@-DC-]

First New Mini was a Pretty Much 100 Percent Rover Design, Vastly Underestimated what they did on a very limited budget .

[@phils2180]

Wow, 300Kg is a lot of weight to add on. It's like carrying two 24st passengers. That's quite a hefty weight penalty for the extra range. As an old analogue git I'm trying really hard to like these modern touch screen dashboards but I've failed hands down with this one. I think that huge screen and the sound effects will appeal more to the kids in the back than the driver! It's an Iconic British name and (to be) made in Britain so not all bad news, just a shame it's so expensive.

[@JustMe-bx8gu]

At 1660kg, more maxi than mini?

[@MrAntematkovic]

The sounds when accelerating reminds me how much i can hear the supercharger on my daily r53 cooper s.

[@justjoe7313]

Stitches on the steering wheel ar 6:44 are cosmetic, but done so badly it hurts! :)

[@motorv8N]

Ow - tough crowd- lol As usual, love the reviews, Harry - no matter the steed. So, classic car, boat, and tractor fan here who also happens to own the just-retired generation of the Mini SE, a 2021 model. The one that was basically the ICE version of the Cooper S but with the BMW i3 drivetrain and battery packs jammed up underneath where the greasy bits used to go and the charge port swapped in under the fuel filler door. Looks identical to the one Harry flashes at 00:36 Nice to see Harry can still find some personality under all that new, funky modern skin and recycled who-knows-what upholstery. While I’m jealous of the increased range (mine boasts a rather sad 180km on a summer day and more like 140 in a mid-winter Canadian blizzard.) I still like my design - flared and swooping bodywork, cockpit full of honest to god buttons, switches, knobs, and dials. And while mine does make a few annoying bings and bongs, in the new version it seems they went right over the top. Basically the 2021 is an EV well-disguised as a the ICE machine it used to be, although the tacked on digital display in front of the driver I grant is a human factors mess of poorly laid out blinking, glowing disorganized speed and range trivia). The car is an unmitigated blast to drive. It goes like stink (compared to our ICE cars anyway), sticks like snot, and puts a smile on my face every day. I need only half its available range to get to work and back plus run some errands in the evening so it is about the best city traffic slicer and dicer I’ve owned. It’s rare as a politician’s scruples in my part of the world - owing likely to its very limited range so it generates a lot of interest at public charging stations and of course I never lose it in a car park full of Teslas. Purchased used we dodged a little depreciation but it was still 15 grand more than the Mazda 3 it replaced if we had gone with the same again, which hurts, but is on track to eliminate that difference in fuel savings in another two years. Being a classic car guy I’ve surprised myself how much I like this thing and seeing where the current evolution of the Mini SE line is going I think I’m just going just justify it by deciding it’s going to be a “future classic” and be done with it.

[@jimmyjt16]

Near on 1700kg in a Mini! How is that a thing. Aren’t they supposed to be making them lighter?

[@cotswoldphotographers]

We have the previous version as a second car and agree the 90 mile range real world is limiting but it is only a second car and we use it for pottering about. Seems really daft to start up our main car when this is really usable for a vast amount of our needs. So much fun to drive as well and we love it. Also, much cheaper than the new one so happy to make do with the smaller battery and less weight which makes up for me! Imo more than adequate for plenty of uses.

[@anyau]

same weight as my mk7 transit

[@martinjones5560]

The most important thing to know about the latest cars is how to turn everything off!

[@garethdesborough7960]

Not your scene, Harry! Especially the silly noises. But at least they have given it decent range now 🙂

[@stco2426]

Good review but it shows how far we've shifted the dial when a Mini is ~£40k and 1.6T

[@h2o247]

Harry's Garage = A low-key watch channel

[@kennymuir8722]

Great review Harry, honest as ever and perfectly summed up. Not sure who the target buyer of this car is. £39K is a lot for a 3-door hatch and despite adding all that extra weight the range is still average at best. The petrol version looks a steal by comparison. Also, i know you briefly touched on the MY24 speed warning which looks a real faff to disable. I've recently bought a MY24 Defender and its easy to disable but having to do it on every journey is a real pain.

[@maxtorque2277]

have you considered instead just not speeding on every journey? 🙂 I guess you are lucky to live somewhere with less traffic than i, but i struggle to even get near to the limit on most drives these days....

[@rchatte100]

Petrol version much better & made in UK :)

[@pageant1fd]

Front end looks as if masking tape has not been removed. Priced itself out of the market for the sensible amongst us. Thanks for sharing.

[@daraghmorrissey]

Wouldn’t be my cup of tea but Harry seems to like it. I wonder if it’s better in the flesh, no one seems to like it in the comments

[@davidk7262]

People just dislike it because it is an EV. My mother has the previous gen Mini electric and it is an absolute blast to drive. It is her 5 or 6th Mini and her favourite by some way.

[@tomnewham1269]

@@davidk7262 there is a big difference between this Mini and the one that your mother drives.

[@davidk7262]

@@tomnewham1269 I guess that is in the eye of the beholder. Still very much Mini DNA running through this one imo. Love it, particularly the interior.

[@michaelyounes29]

I love how it looks, just mental prices on cars new and second hand...How much margin are in new vehicles or is all the money made on the finance?

[@steenkigerrider5340]

"1680 kg unladen" About the same as a Jaguar XJ.🤯

[@Coolcmsc]

Is that a digital kitchen wall clock or an oversized wrist watch? Not sure…

[@Coolcmsc]

FFS! 300Kg heavier… that’s like having a decent sized pony in the back…

[@robertmarsh3588]

As EVs go, this is about as practical and desirable as it gets...but 1.67 ton, £40k and a 200 mile range all for a small supermini aren't green credentials. For all the silly modes and new materials it can't hide the fact that an old school hot hatch will be more fun, far cheaper, more practical and likely no worse for the environment when the true impact of manufacturing and fuelling is accounted for. I'm not against EVs and they have a role to play in urban air quality but all embracing ZEV mandates in an age of poor and expensive charging infrastructure are madness, and the disparity in cost with the ICE Mini Cooper clearly shows how much we'll all paying for the vanity of our politicians.