2021 Seat Mii Electric | A no-nonsense owner review

[@TanksRock]

I had one on lease and was gutted when it was time to hand it back. Drove nicely, was very economical and so easy to park. We need more simple EVs like this

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Yes it's a great little everyday workhorse

[@redjohn20001]

I test drove one of these just before the Covid restrictions and loved it. I couldn't get over the room inside for such a small car, it's the boxey shape. A used one of these makes the Dacia Spring look expensive.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

It really does eh, offers a lot more too.

[@AndrewCarter-b6r]

Really useful Jim and love the relaxed way you just chat away. Looking for an electric run around so this review is perfect.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thanks very much, I’m always worried I might be boring

[@greengoblin2347]

My wife and I test drove the id3 which she hated, we then tested the e-up, completely different cars but the up was so much fun, admittedly we still haven't taken the leap into an ev, great video

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I’m not a super fan of the ID3 to be honest, the first gen felt like it was a rush job.

[@adrianwalsh896]

Jim, you did a great job describing a wonderful little car and certainly do not knock yourself on your in-depth commentary..😊

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Very kind 🙏

[@chrisbailey1966]

I have had the same car for a few months now and find much to like as you have. I had a petrol VW UP! in the past so I knew the surprising amount of space available - a downside with petrol versions is the timing belt change costs especially looking at 3yr old cars, there is some controversy about when they actual need changing (some say 3, 4, or never). I looked at the Seat Mii Electric, Zoe 50, and Corsa-e in detail and found the Seat Mii to be the cheapest over a 3-5 year period to run including purchase price. It is compromised on longer trips in comparison, but I don't make that many of them. I regularly see 5.5 miles per kw and above even on main roads. I have an OBDII Bluetooth adapter plugged in to see real state of charge and 100% is actual 95%, low states are reasonably accurate with a built in safety margin so 15-20 miles of GOM is about 12-17% actual (I keep it between 80-20% normally) - when in pings at around 31 miles it is normally at 20% (that's of 32.3kWh I think). I have done a few long trips and most I have seen when charging is 35kw at low state for short time, then it tapers quickly and by 80% you are down to 10kw. I knew about this so it is not a surprise and for the few long trips I make I try to find a site to charge where I can do something while waiting, the extra time stopped adds the further your trip, so against a Corsa-e I may have saved 30 mins or more on a recent trip - but again I find something to do and it is not that bad as it a pleasure trip anyway. I feel the daily limit for me would be around 300 miles - assuming I could just plug in at home or destination charge at the end of it. Sensible buy for most that don't drive long distances.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

The fast charging won’t affect me but it sounds a bit disappointing. Otherwise though a great car, even though it is supremely sensible 😁👍

[@sipart]

Interesting to do a follow up on your overall costs and current market value (you know the'reality' of evs being given away!). From my basic research your E Mi is now being sold for more than you got yours for via retailers (I may be wrong as i don't have all the details to compare apples to apples). Cheers Did a bit of research after getting your reg: Sold around 28 June 2024 £9,500 (or maybe you bought for £9k?) 26,605 miles Registered 21 Jul 2021 It's now 3yrs 5mths old Current auto trader prices for similar age and mileage: £8.7k to £11.1k

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Funny thing is I have that video planned. I'm probably going to sell mine at some stage this year as I want to keep my second car as a "content car" so will probably chop and change quite regularly. I'd have done it already but I love thew Mii and, as you say, the value appears to be on the up.

[@DylanShahVlogs]

Great video and I enjoyed the review style. Really enjoying my first EV car and your code for ALA helped save some money.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Ah great, thanks Dylan 👍

[@richarddixon6354]

Great video, I like these car chat videos so please keep them coming.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thanks! Will do!

[@garyrudd5927]

Got to respect anyone with a ‘pie cupboard’, that’s me off to IKEA this weekend - good review of a simple-ish runabout…cheers Jim

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

It’s called a Pyeküldenn in there mate

[@ObiePaddles]

Loved the format and your comments on the car. Wonder if you could lease the car if you prepaid enough money. Maybe even the whole three year lease and so you overcome the lack of history issue and get the benefits of the lease you want.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

No, I offered to pay 100% up front but they want the monthlies to show you’re still around etc. the changes of a business going bust are way higher than a private individual failing to pay and I assume a repo from a private individual is perhaps easier. I feel that if the lease companies don’t want my business then sod ‘em.

[@DavidBoreham-kk9dx]

Cheers Jim nice that its worked out for you after all the s*** when you got it my wife shares a petrol one with her mum they both love it

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Cheers Dave, a mate of mine has the petrol Up and loves it.

[@MarkSmith-wc1ek]

Nice video jim and what a cracking little car

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Cheers Mark

[@cannygrowabeard]

I've had mine for three years, I have rapid charged it regularly, never seen the rapid charge speed exceed 32kW, even when connecting at a low SoC. It's the one thing I would change if I could - an upgrade to be able to take 50kW constantly from 10-80% would make a big difference on longer trips.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Oh really? Yes that would be a plus for sure, luckily I’ll probably never fast charge mine.

[@faheemshah195]

Great review mate. Very helpful 👍👍

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thank you

[@darwinsfish]

Comprehensive review - many thanks for an honest opinion. Wife is looking for a small runaround and this looks like it might be an option.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thanks 👍👍

[@JoosupUK]

Our MG ZS EV gets around 4.4 miles/kw in summer and as low as 3.4 miles/kw in winter. The wife drives it most of the week to work and back (35 mile round trip) and it's not very economical in truth. Our little ORA 03 is far better and is getting somewhere closer to your SEAT Mii's efficiency. The MG needs more charges each week than the GWM and takes longer (obviously). So bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to EV's. I'm a big convert to smaller EV's for everyday use.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍👍

[@superbock666]

I got to buy my 2 year old lease one for 10k. The 4sec 0-30 makes it abit of a sleeper aswell. Fantastic city car.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍👍

[@brianiswrong]

The efficiency is very good Our much heavier 2024 kona Ev is averaging 4.5 miles per kw/ hour over the last 1500 miles.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Which is very good too eh

[@gordonchallinor9156]

great video Jim and different from the norm

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thanks Gordon

[@nickhalluk]

My wife has the petrol Up and it's such a fun car

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Yes, funny how a little roller skate can make you feel free!

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍 Great review. Thank you Jim

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Thank you!

[@thomasflaherty476]

Hi just to say thanks for the video I would love a small e up but here in rip off Ireland my insurance would be €450 full compensation and tax €120 and my electric would not give me a good tariff so I'll stick with my petrol keep up the great work you do thanks

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Cars in general seem pretty pricey for you guys compared to here eh? I often get people messaging from Ireland who can’t believe our leasing prices. It’s not all bad though, you’ve got champ readily available in your restaurants.

[@stephen4518]

So, you're keeping it. Hadn't seen a follow up to the cinch saga. This is one that I'm considering along with its stable mates, but the e208 remains my fave, albeit still about 4grand more for better looks and tech. Prob better on motorway too. iPace possibly still has some decent depreciation left. Great review. Cheers.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I have done a follow up 👍 e208 is the best looking but this one ticked the value box in spades for me. The real world efficiency is great too - it just feels very sparse, a proper “first car” feeling.

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Will add this vehicle to our electric car article in the local newspaper.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

It’s worthy of its place 👍

[@NigelRudyard]

I think it's a cracking little thing - I like the Up, but there's something about the Mii variant that really works. In a way, the transition to EV from ICE in this class of car makes a lot of sense -- you don't need a huge range / battery, and the electric motor makes them refined enough, compared to the ICE.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I think the Up definitely has a nicer steering wheel but I prefer the dash in the Mii (as well as the price!) 👍

[@NigelRudyard]

@@DefinitelyNotAGuru I've been in both (ICE only) and like the Mii more, don't know why. Keep up the good work, Jim. The nice thing about reviewing a car you own is you have more knowledge of its long-term ownership qualities.

[@NickWinspear-tx2rj]

I have one , cheaper than CitiGo or UP for nothing really better .had front antroll bat bushes replaced on warranty . It’s a known problem. Great Car

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Weird how they’re so much cheaper eh? 👍

[@anthonybrown4874]

@DefinitelyNotAGuru I seem to remember some of the car sharing/ hire providers bought quite a lot of Mii's and their disposing of large numbers has probably had an effect.

[@colin13579]

So pleased you’re happy with it now after a slightly wobbly start. Sounds like a good all rounder for a second car.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Yeah it’s more than up to the job 👍

[@robsmith1a]

I like small cars despite being 6'2". I'm currently staying about sixty miles north of Newcastle with a friend, we drove up from North east Hampshire in a 2009 fiat Panda with great ease. I think the problem with small EVs is that the designers still assume that people only use them for town use, true for most people but the Seat Mii won't replace a petrol Panda for a long journey. Having said that I'd have the Mii over a Tesla any day, I think I'd enjoy it a lot more.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍

[@KokowaSarunoKuniDesu]

People who live near a mega-city think of "City Cars". Us normal just-plain-folk living in a small place like York can use the Mii as the "Yorkshire Car", as 50 miles each way gets us anywhere in Yorkshire: to the Coast, to the Dales, to the Moors. The Summer range of 160 plus gets us to Lancashire and back as well. So we reserve the gas guzzler for longer trips down South or up to Scotland. Which are far less frequent. It reminds me of the Mini I used to drive, 50 years ago!

[@PeteMulv]

Nice video, we like to hear a ramble sometimes. Have you still got the windscreen to change or has that been done?

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

All sorted locally and without drama in the end.

[@michaelgreen5515]

Great little 2nd car. Those pies where an investment 😂

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

😁👍

[@affordablevs]

Great little bus and a great review - we are looking at a doing something similar to replace my wife's 10 yr old Polo Tdi we have had for 10 years. What's your take on buying a 2 or 3 year old EV in regards to battery failure, warranty and the potential of them needing a replacement battery on 5 or so years time?

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Well I bought one without a care in the world. The chance of battery failure in 5 years is pretty much zero in my opinion.

[@Leonfr_2022]

Like i said to you at Goodwood, loved my Citigo, considering the size they're very practical, so easy to park and fun go cart feeling , cars like these are disappearing!! 😢

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Yeah it’s a great shame. The world seems to be lacking balance in many ways these days. 👍

[@anthonybrown4874]

Good choice Jim I assume a hire fleet disposed if a whole load of black ones hence so many my only caveat is that I would like to know how to interrogate the BMS for the SOH prior to buying as you seem to know the batteries need careful management to get the bedt out of it. How far are you going on your preferred 60% range use.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Probably. I haven’t done an exact 60% but calculated at my last charge that I’d have done 163 miles from 0-100% theoretically at the efficiency rate I was at. Thats with A/C on at all times. 163 is also the claimed range of a new one (or was at least).

[@anthonybrown4874]

@DefinitelyNotAGuru Cheers Jim how's the 7kw charging at home does it take the single phase 7kw or is it reduced?

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

@@anthonybrown4874 you have to set it on the app to take the max but it’s a one time thing. Yes it takes full 7.4

[@isackville]

Great little video

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Glad you enjoyed it mate 👍

[@mascness_gaming]

I have a eup! it has more head room than my VW Golf Mk7

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍

[@rahmann936]

I'm glad that you like your new EV purchase. But was it only black colour available? 🤔 Black shows all the dirt & scratches, plus it absorbs a lot of heat in the summer, making the inside of the car like an oven.♨️🔥 But it does make a car look stealthy thought, but still more cons than pro though.👎👍 Do you mind if I call you smiler? 🤔😁That name suits you to a tee! 👍

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I wanted black. Smiler Eh?? Whatever mate 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@pjmann1950]

Mrs has one of these she loves it

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍

[@Birmingham_racing]

If I was to ever buy a electric car that range won't be enough range but if it's not your only car it makes perfect sense

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Yep

[@Brian-om2hh]

It actually *is* enough range for most people's daily commute, which is typically around 20 miles per day - so appro 100 miles per week. So easily capable of weekday commuting. Any additional anticipated mileage could readily be addressed by a charge at home during the week..... Remember, 140 years ago you used a horse, and it needed feeding, resting and stabling at the end of each day on a long trip - so every 50 to 60 miles or so...... And guess what? People coped ok....

[@IrenESorius]

Cheers from Sweden,, 🍻🌟👍‍‍

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Cheers 🍻 🇸🇪

[@ianpies2498]

Pies and buttocks in 1 review. You are spoiling us! Looks like a great runaround , watched with interest as I’m looking for a smaller electric car and there’s just not much choice….

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I do try. Compared to mid size SUVs the choices are very few.

[@stephenpaintain6013]

Thanks for a very informative video can you tell me the dimensions of the boot. Regards

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I’m too busy I’m afraid mate, try Google 👍

[@richardpearson6329]

A used E corsa seems a good buy

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

It does 👍

[@mustafaassad2916]

👍

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍👍

[@andyrobertshaw9120]

Not sure why you would talk about putting a sandwich from your local petrol station in the boot of a car that you wouldn’t even take to a petrol station 😊

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Fantastic point, I clearly picked the wrong day to give up heroin

[@Sleepywhispers79]

Hi Jim is this Seat part Chinese brand Xiaomi

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Good effort 👏

[@Sleepywhispers79]

@@DefinitelyNotAGuru Having googled it, Xiaomi is mi not mii... I was thinking of the Nintendo 🤣🤣

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

I thought you’d gone for a cheeky pun! 😂

[@pauldevine5988]

It’s always mii mii mii mii 😂

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Taxi for Paul 😂

[@David-bl1bt]

Yes, these egotistical presenters eh! ...... sheeesh 😂

[@glengosling5636]

😊

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

👍👍

[@Szymek74]

There's a tree surgeon in Dorset who owes you a few quid for free advertising!

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

😁

[@alanthomson1227]

Not many people can afford £9 k for a second car , and it’s not much good as an only . Then again quite fancy an Up! GTI .

[@davefitzpatrick4841]

Over the next few years as with other cars the price will drop . But if you often spend £6-7k on a second car ( quite a few people do ) then stretching to this because of the savings on running costs and maintenance and this is likely to last another 10-15 years of cheap motoring .

[@alanthomson1227]

@@davefitzpatrick4841 fair comment .

[@martintetlow8657]

upGTi = FUN and decent mpg

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Luckily I can but I work twice as many hours as most people. The Up GTI is awesome.

[@alanthomson1227]

@@DefinitelyNotAGuru I respect your comments re the Up GTI , and will get one when my 70+ knees fail to get me out of my current MX 5 .

[@mikejoseph425]

So l am a little confused about this min 20% and max 80% charge on an EV. I understand not running down too low for fear of running out of power, but the regular comments about battery integrity confuse me I now run a plug in Hybrid Toyota and left to its own devices it will run down to zero and then switch over to petrol, so the EV range is around 40 and if one were to operate between 20 and 80% that would only leave you with a 24 mile range, and if this were needed for the integrity of the battery, why is it that the car does not automatically switch over the petrol. Toyota give a 15 year warranty on the battery and with their reputation for reliability would leave themselves very vulnerable if the “rumour” of the 80/20 rule were true. Just to digress the other 80/20 rule about population ability is true. Anyway the criticism that Toyota have received for not jumping in a the deep end with EV is turning out to be very wise as PHEV sales rise and EV are starting to tail off, especially in the non Company market place and I do think that ANY government will have to back track on the on the 2035 now being talked about as 2030 as the cut off for non EV as it will either put a lot of car manufacturers out of business or make cars even more unaffordable

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

Different battery chemistries have different “rules”. All above my pay grade but I charge my Tesla (LFP) up to 100% every time, and this one to 100% only if I’m going to do - good 40-50 miles that day. I’m not sure it’s necessary but I’m listening to those that seem to.

[@davidspencer7254]

MG ZS EV 2 short range owner, lfp battery, charge to 100% except on public charger. Reason: charge speed drops off on DC after 85% so vacate after that. Lowest I run is 10% in case I need to find another rapid. However if I had a different chemistry in the battery I wouldn't charge to 100% unless it told me to to avoid degradation. Batteries tend to only balance on AC charging.

[@chrishanslip6443]

That bugs me quite a bit, I've got a ICE car, I always fill it up to the brim, drive it, till the red light ccomes on, then fill it up again, I can use the full 650 mile range of my car, but you can only use 60 % of your car, which is about 80 miles, that's not practical.

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

But I use about 3% every time I use it so super practical.

[@AndyPipkin-dj8sy]

battery degrading is what matters not if you can sit next to your mate without feeling your sat on top of each other - come back in 2 years and tell us battery health

[@crm114.]

It’s a non issue IMHO with thermally managed batteries. When I bought my model 3 4 years ago, a 100% charge gave a range (which is quite accurate) of 304 miles. Recently a 100% charge gave a range of 296 miles. So,

[@DefinitelyNotAGuru]

More chance of us no longer fitting in together due to our consumption that the battery going tits up. Top Tip : the Daily Mail and the like lie about things to get populist clicks. Currently outperforming claimed range at 3 years old so I’ll keep the voices in my head worrying about things that actually matter and are actually real…like Martians attacking.

[@AndyPipkin-dj8sy]

@@crm114. i want to buy a dacia spring but the battery will be dead just as warranty runs out - and see many videos of cars with loss of 50% battery

[@crm114.]

@@AndyPipkin-dj8syThe only cars with 50% loss that I know of are early Nissan Leafs which had poor battery thermal management. MGs are starting to offer lifetime warranties on their batteries and hopefully this will set a new standard. Cars with LFP batteries are even less likely to suffer from battery degradation. I wouldn’t worry.

[@ashb8572]

Our 10 year old Nissan Leaf is still fairing well with 90k miles. Given the battery is only air cooled, it has only lost 15% of its range. 70 miles still more any adequate for our needs 😊