The All-Electric 2020 MINI Cooper SE Is Perfect. Except For…

Electric cars are a blast to drive. The 2020 MINI Cooper SE is no exception. In fact, it might be the most engaging car the brand makes. But in a world full of electric cars that have over 200 miles of range, is the MINI’s 110 enough? Maybe. The price could make up for it, the SE can easily cost less than a gasoline powered MINI Cooper S. Does it REALLY go 110 miles? Tom Voelk finds out the real-world range driving all throughout Seattle.
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About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting). But really, all you need to know is in the videos. Watch a few and you'll subscribe.

[@maxwellmcdonough8322]

Production quality of these reviews are better than almost any other channel.

[@richdaley9982]

Seriously. I thought this was a big auto review channel until he said he writes, shoots, and edits the videos himself. Excellent work. I have a Chevy Volt and almost never exceed the 50 mile electric only range so I understand his point about range but it is nice to have the option to take it on a road trip, especially if this is a person's only car. An issue I have run into is that I like the Volt enough that I would prefer to take it on longer trips over my wife's gas engine car. The same would almost definitely be true of this Mini but it would not really be possible.

[@forrestsautoreviewsofficial]

Tom, though our styles are very different, I love your videos! I always appreciate a personable review! Great character! You AND that new Mini! 😃👍

[@DrivenCarReviews]

FYI, Dan Edmunds at Autoblog just tested this car and saw a range of 137.7 miles. I saw 122 with some hard driving here and there and around 50 miles of highway speed driving (Dan was moderate on throttle with little highway travel FWIW). Here's the article- www.autoblog.com/2020/04/14/mini-se-electric-car-range-test/

[@dunphyjp]

Hey Tom! I’m one of the BMW/MINI Geniuses at West German BMW. I can tell you that a hyper miler mentality has yielded 156.3 miles in green+ and eco nav routing in the SE. The main epa testing is done in mid which is the standard start up for the se, and is not the most efficient mode. But it’s more than possible to get fantastic longevity with a level 2 charger 240V/16amp/3.7kW as long as you select preconditioning, have a fully charged battery, and set your departure time at least 3 hours ahead of time for best possible battery conditioning. I also drive a 2018 Countryman SE ALL4, and with level 1 charging at home and level 2 at work, with battery preconditioned on the ride home I average almost 800 miles/9.5gal. 798.3 miles using 8.7gal to be precise.

[@dunphyjp]

Ps, love your footage! Keep up the great work!

[@cadriver2570]

I'd rather have 122 amazing miles than 250 crappy ones!

[@samlouie7854]

"It's a gas!"...great line. Btw, Tom I'm thrilled to see you doing this work as I was an intern at Evening Magazine and you were always obsessing about cars. You were also very kind to us so couldn't be more happy for you.

[@stephenhendricks103]

As "range wars" rage among most EV's MINI has chosen a different path. Living about 50 miles or so from Seattle, if I had to commute daily to the big city (as many of my neighbors do), the MINI EV wouldn't make the cut. But we've recently become a three driver family. (The daughter just turned 16.) And while we can certainly struggle on with "only" two vehicles, the EV MINI is a temptation, especially considering (a) its delightful driving characteristics, (b) the reduced wear and tear on the family SUV and my beloved GTI, and (c) most importantly the real world price with tax incentives and what I suspect are real world discounts from the dealer. I've lusted after MINI's for years but the premium price of almost any model has always been a barrier. The mid-trim Signature Plus EV has an MSRP (with incentives) of $25K, or so, making it a rather compelling value proposition. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. :) So if and when we're allowed to leave our home, I may well investigate the possibility.

[@TristanSilverwood]

Stephen Hendricks I may be misunderstanding and if I am I apologise, but you can’t be suggesting getting a 16 year old a brand new mini electric? I come from the UK where insuring a car over £5K is impossible for anyone under 18 so to me that seems extreme

[@chrisvanderstock]

Great job Tom! Well presented, excellent script and voice over, and b-roll on point.

[@tommihelich2613]

One of your best reviews Tom. Informative, witty. I really enjoyed hearing your argument for an automobile I normally wouldn’t consider. And I have to admit, even being out here on the edge of civilization (The Dalles) that I rarely drive more than 40 miles in a day.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Love the Dalles!

[@derekchisholm972]

Only Tom could convince me to consider an 110 mile electric car. Great review! And thanks for the strong effort, walkers can be oblivious sometimes, and electric silence doesn't help. Stay safe!

[@alexjenkins1079]

No wonder over on this side of the Pond, pedestrian warning noises are now compulsory in both forward and reverse modes

[@BoopSnoot]

He said it best: Batteries are expensive, and oil is so cheap that countries are having to artificially limit their production and it even traded at negative 37 dollars a barrel recently as globally they ran out of room to store it crude. Considering that oilfield services is cancelling expensive contracts even years from being ready means that they expect oil prices to stay unprofitably low for a very long time. Electric doesn't make economic sense.

[@MAFion]

It can make economic sense considering the maintenance on an EV is so low. No more trips to the auto mechanic, no more oil changes, no more gas. I've had a Fiat 500e for two years and the only maintenance I've had was to get a couple of new tires.

[@Goliath7781]

@@MAFion we love our 2016 fiat 500e. Now we are thinking about getting the mini se too. No maintenance no gas .

[@toom00dy]

@@BoopSnoot This comment didn't age well! 🙂

[@michaelmckee1157]

I had the crawler. It was so much fun. I really like your mention of the old toys. Great memories to contrast with the new technology.

[@abdullahmubaideen807]

good job sir Great entro👌 I liked that you mention people who are walking around and the footage of your neighborhood along with bringing up some old memories of toys Wish you the best

[@vickibangsable]

We leased an 13 for 3 years and fell madly in love !!! This will most definitely be my next electric car. I just have to find a dealership that sells them.

[@craigw.scribner6490]

Love your Matt Mason and Hot Wheels toys, Tom! I'm 65 and my brother is 60; we had some of the toys in the Mini's trunk. Fun memories and thanks for another great video. Stay safe!

[@mortenmarcherhansen804]

Love your videos. Watch Them every time you test an EV. It’s Been a while since you published one of those. That just makes it more fun when you do get around to them. Greetings from Denmark

[@carolynward2271]

Great Review. You deserve more subs. Keep up the good work. Oh BRILLIANT car. Absolutely love the mini e

[@barryw9473]

I leased an 84 mile e-Golf for 3 years and felt a bit nervous at times about range- it had 25.000 miles after 3 years. I now own a 125 mile e-Golf and (until recently) put about 10,000 miles a year on it, with no range concerns. I agree with Tom that this Mini SE is a fine car for most Americans. Thanks for the great review. I love the clean air and lack of pollution, and shows how government regulation can restore our health and give us back the natural world we deserve. If only we all drove EVs. Be well, Tom. Thank you.

[@MiguelRodriguez-mj2ec]

True very true.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Yup, but people don't understand that until they experience the dynamic. I understand. When plunking down $30K + on a car, you don't want to screw up.

[@djejnyc]

Man, I remember Sizzlers! They were so fun, you could use them anywhere. My first electric car! Thanks for the memories, Tom.

[@notimetodie8919]

I already have this mini from Thailand Mini, Absolutely the best one-man drive for daily working in Bangkok where I always use about 50 kilometers per day which excess enough 80% remain among periodic traffic terrible.

[@cats.8129]

Thank you! Great review!..This was so helpful...looks like a perfect community driving car:)!

[@vladsaghin7644]

It's so refreshing to see someone understand the point of this car! Thanks Tom! And the fact that you get by in your Volt using mostly only the EV range (I assume) really goes to show you that 110 miles is more than enough for the daily commute. I prefer paying 23k (with the rebate) for 110 miles of usable range rather than 30k for 160-180 miles I wouldn't even use anyway! It's a shame it's so much more expensive here in Canada :/ It's considerably more than the E-Golf which has slightly better range but a lot more usability. For some reason that I cannot understand, the Cooper SE is a lot less expensive than the E-Golf. Anyway, keep up the good work and stay safe!

[@teddyforan]

This is the best review I’ve seen of the mini electric as my partner just picked this car on the nhs scheme thank you

[@n2b998]

Great review! Gives a great impression of what this car is all about. Frequently amusing too. Is this the best auto review channel on the internet?

[@denault3985]

I love your old man humor and yes I'm an old retired man! I can see the EV as a good second car for errands but not for long trips...

[@arrowlogproductions2509]

denault3985 Tesla is the only EV that is good for long drives right now.

[@SteveBakerIsHere]

The MINI (at 120-ish miles) would indeed be horrible for road trips...and here in the USA, probably completely impossible to drive on some trips. We switched from life-long MINI owners to Tesla Model 3 and even with the base model (240 mile range) - you can go on long road trips with ease. There are Tesla superchargers every 80 to maybe 150 miles on all of the major roads - and they recharge it in 15 to 20 minutes. It's a breeze.

[@jaylevine1483]

Two things. I love your reviews-keep it up! So glad you moved to KZbin-NYTimes loss. Second is our children live on Mercer Island and are battling the pandemic in Seattle hospitals every day re: both are MDs, so feel for all in Seattle. Hang in there and be well!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Thanks Jay, I still write for them. Wishing the best to your family, it's an honorable thing their doing. Hero is a word that's over used, but it's fully applicable to them.

[@morgaj21]

loved the 2 mini's I had 50 odd years ago in the UK. Loved your review and I am sorely tempted again and it would be my first EV.

[@petegalindez9961]

OMG! The Time Machine!! WOW! That brings back some smells from the past…awesome touch!

[@theartboxprints]

Best review for Mini SE so far!

[@williamscott7763]

Great review Tom!

[@davidcantu5923]

Found out today that my Mini EV has been built. Waiting for it to be shipped to the USA.

[@RafaelCasemiro]

Great review, Tom!

[@michaelmecham6145]

Awesome review mate, I remember those hot wheels sets from the 70s! Have a petrol Cooper, this looks great, maybe version 2.0 will have more range. Well done and thanks a lot... from Australia

[@ecostud]

Good review, Tom. Love my Model 3, but I think my dad should upgrade his 10yo Leaf with 70-90mi of range for this!

[@raymondwong2521]

Great video! Thanks for the info. I drive only 23 miles per day on average. I am really intrigued by this Mini Cooper SE, especially after watching your video. Instant torque is great for red light to red light kind of traffic. Really want to try it out. My local Mini dealerships only let me put an order for one now. Should be shipped in town in a couple of months according to them.

[@nompoo3115]

thank you! fun video watched through it all!

[@CED99]

Excellent video Tom

[@MylesV]

I rarely drain my battery below half in my VW e-Golf with similar range. 100 miles really is more than most people initially realize, including myself initially. I bought a Chevy Volt a few years ago expecting to use the engine a lot, but the 40 miles of EV range that it had covered 95% of my driving so I bought the e-Golf instead of a longer range car like the Model 3. CCS charging has been great for the longer drives that I've taken, but I almost never drive far enough to need it. Limited range doesn't feel so limited when you wake up to a full charge every morning, assuming you have charging at home.

[@richardpatronik7358]

Those were my two favorite hot wheels, too. No wonder I enjoy your videos so much.

[@elrockerchido]

the selling point for me was how you can make it complete flat in the cargo space and that sweet expandabl seat... LOVE IT

[@pixkypix7071]

Thanks for doing this review! :D

[@cypvh74]

Lived with a 2014 Spark EV with several years. I bought it used for $9k and it had 80ish miles of range. Worked great for daily commuting in the Seattle area. Did Everett to Bellevue, and had charging access in Bellevue. Everett to Renton and back was a bit tight, especially in the winter months, if I needed to get the kids after school. There are a few chargers in Renton, but not super close to my work, and I couldn’t rely on being able to charge down there. Last fall, the range had a drop and i was only getting 65 miles range on a good day. So had to trade it in. (Got a Model 3). My advice is to Figure out your longest usual commute, and double those miles to consider winter range and buffer. For me that is about 150 miles. You can get away with a lot less, if you have regular access to charging at your destinations.

[@danhall3450]

Another great review. One of these days I'm gonna flag you down as you drive through my Blue Ridge 'hood!

[@xray111xxx]

I love your toys. Those were all my brother's and mine. Major Matt Mason especially. Hot Wheels. Lots of memories with that orange track too. Imagination folks. The Mini looks tasty. Only thing, living the carefree apartment life here at least, these are a bust. So I am not really convinced an EV will ever be for me, though I am a huge fan. ICE for the most part is dead to me. The instant torque, silence and cool factor of electric impress me. Like your videos Tom. Your video quality is so nicely done. I don't think I can remember a poor quality video from you. So in the times of Covid-19, and yeah I am paying dearly. I lost my job from lack of work Covid-19 created, so yeah it hurt me more than some others. But your videos bring light of hope and your pleasant manner makes it a joy to watch these. Keep up the great work Tom. I am a serious car fan, and I would never miss any of your reviews, and do share with others your reviews.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

Given its price I don’t see this selling when you can get a similar electric car with 200 mile range for a comparable price. Even if you don’t really need the extra range, range anxiety is a big deal.

[@bzdtemp]

I think it will sell, same reason that the normal Mini's sell since you can use the same argument against them. I must I have a personal dislike for the Minis, them and the new Bettle since I see both as marketing ploy that take advantage of the original ones except the original ones was affordable clever made cars. The current ones are styling exercises that doesn't really excel at anything except being fashion items.

[@edwinjimenez7609]

bartwaggoner2000 what electric cars can you get for the same price that offer more range?? The mini can be had for 20K or lower after incentives depending what state you live in.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

@@edwinjimenez7609 you may be right - I just checked Chevy bolt’s starting price and it is $7K more than the e-mini. Though maybe worth the extra price for 2x the range....

[@MikeCalhoun]

@@bartwaggoner2000 The Bolt also doesn't apply for the federal rebate anymore, so it's actually 14k more.

[@BoopSnoot]

Or, given the fact that we have a global massive overcapacity of oil, with ever increasing oil reserves discovered, how it even makes economic sense to buy expensive batteries over cheap fuel.

[@doogiemcdougster6740]

Great review, Tom. Thanks for all your effort. (And I like your choice in Hot Wheels cars. I had both of your favorites :-) )

[@zijadjasarspahic5275]

Love your videos man 👌💪

[@salemsouth]

Tom, when things clear up, I'd love you to randomly drive and report on an older car, a throw back of sorts for fun. 60's, 70's, 80's 90's 2000's could be a fun mix up. Just a thought.

[@veggiechowder8877]

That cargo was excellent! Thanks

[@TrainsFerriesFeet]

Nice review; I'll be replacing my plug-in hybrid with a fully electric vehicle in about a year. I like this vehicle, but that range would be a pain on a roadtrip.

[@mowcowbell]

This would be perfect for my 20 mile round trip daily commute. I could go several days between charges.

[@richdaley9982]

Great video. I would have believed you if you said you had a team of writers and editors helping you. Subscribed! The benefit of having the DC fast charge option on a car like this would be for people that cannot charge at home. If you live in apartment without a charging station, you could drive it to a DC fast charger and charge it from empty to full when needed in 30-45 minutes. That said, I have noticed in the Atlanta area where I live that a lot more apartments are providing charging stations to residents. I am one of those weird 275 lb 6 foot man that loves little cars (I loved my Fiat 500). I understand what you say about range but I know that I would love this car so much that I would want to take it on weekends away with my wife etc. That is the catch 22. Same is true with my Volt. It is so much more fun to drive that we take it on trips even though it is not as comfortable as her Tuscon.

[@danscar5277]

I appreciate the review, very good and I subscribed. What is the ride quality in the mini-e, do you feel every crack and bump on the road? A few years ago I rode in a mini clubman for about 700 miles and that just beat me up riding and I know I won’t be doing 700 miles in one day in this car. My father has the i3 and the ride can be a little harsh too, because they are narrow tires. I’m going from 2004 BMW 3 series Coupé to an electric someday, and before some says there’s tesla, I’m interest in a city and fun car.

[@dunphyjp]

I work as a BMW/MINI Genius in west Chester, Pa, driving this thing makes me want to get rid of my Type R! Tom, you forgot how the battery being low and being in a T shape has another added plus... nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Consider it mentioned then JP.

[@wandering_armadillo]

Tom I hope you wouldn't judge me if I called you a totally adorable nerd! Great review, and logically - this is a great car for me. Short commutes, and longer trips these days are on motorcycles so .... time to knock on the dealer's door!

[@acchaladka]

Great review Tom, we have a Tesla 3 LR and though you’re right it’s about twice the price for twice the car, the Mini definitely fits as a second /commuter car if we needed one. We have two kids and need just a little more space than the Mini offers for the fam here (Canada). Now that COVID has us working at home all day and may continue in the future, this with a ski rack would be very very close; I’m looking forward to seeing what VW brings here next year

[@martialman.4563]

I have a model 3 long rang and fed up with the bad service. Might be picking up a mini next year.

[@johnlee5307]

Just picked one up last weekend in the Signature plus trim as the person that ordered the car is stuck in Hawaii till the end of the lock down in late June and he gave the dealer the okay to sell the car. I put in my reservation in January and was expecting to pick one up in April till the world came to a stop. Anyway, this is my first Mini and my first EV although I've driven my coworker's Tesla S, X and 3's before. The reason I got it is precisely because it's cheap( after the $7500 federal rebate), stylish and fun to drive. The interior feels a lot more premium than the bare Model3 and I like having buttons and switches for daily tasks rather than the Ipad and the cheap looking steering wheel in the Model 3. The 110 mile range( even with avg 80plus on hwy) is a nonissue for me as I have free Level 2 charging at work 30miles away and I can charge at 120v at home at 2% per hour overnight to get me to work if I run the battery down on the weekend. This is the perfect commuter and urban runabout. BTW this is not a slow car. I have a two other very fast ICE cars and this does not feel slow at all. I'm usually the first off the line at every stop or signal light by a very large margin. On the freeways this will keep up with anyting till it hits the limiter at 94mph(I think it's limited due to the poor aeroprofile and the excessive battery drain at higher speeds). Personally I don't see the appeal of a sub 4 sec 0-60 for your daily driver EV as it makes me nauseous and gives me a headache after more than a few launches at least when I experienced them in Tesla's due to the instant torque. This is the Goldilocks EV for the city or suburban dweller in larger cities with a good electric infrastructure. Why pay more to lug around a heavy battery which kills the fun if you can charge at home or at work everyday.

[@joshuabourgeois9734]

This is a great car for suburban drives ! It drives superb !

[@martinkleinman2522]

Well I love it. NYC apartment dweller that I am, it's just a pipe dream. But it looks way cool and fun to drive.

[@Chrisb8s]

I know that it's been awhile, but I love watching reviews of this car.. I haven't seen a bad one.. we have a long range ev and a gas car.. our gas car gets so few miles, but we do need a second car.. this is PERFECT.. we ordered one

[@abbaby555]

All the toys you showed and spoke of, I was very lucky to have as a child... I guess I never knew how well I had it growing up. Awesome mini, I'd really like one as a second car

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I had a friend who's parents gave him tons of toys. So I was kind of leasing them.

[@abbaby555]

@@DrivenCarReviews funny you say that my friends and I always shared our toys as kids, we traded a lot of hot wheels back then

[@DonFather]

News flash Tom. Big screen TV's aren't worth nearly as much money anymore. (I had to switch to stealing garden knomes. LOL) That Mini is one very nicely appointed EV. One of very few I'd want to buy. Thx for the nice review Tom.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I didn't know, there's QLED in Queen Anne that I have my eye on. Until now the people haven't been home much.... Could get a lot of garden gnomes in there though.

[@jamesvrooman]

how much will it regenerate/ miles gained.

[@elbowsout6301]

Great review! The short range is too short for me as I travel 177kms (110miles) highway each weekend. If only it had another 50 kms in range.... love the car though and I've always wanted a Mini. Well, by always I mean since 2003 when the Italian Job came out :)

[@notbatman1001]

Huh...New Jersey plates. Did you drive it or ship it to Seattle?

[@andrewkolb2527]

John Luke would love this review.

[@toronado455]

Nice video!

[@robertguzek7945]

I would get this but it doesn’t seem to be available

[@nickyb7266]

I drive a Mini Countryman S so not sure if I could handle only going 93 on Hwy.. and love road trips but I love it! Do you think it would be expensive to repair as they are so specialized? Great video and love your humour! ❤️

[@insightman]

Good news! Tech Forum (on KZbin) got his MINI Cooper SE up to 95 mph. Electric cars typically require much less maintenance than gas-powered cars.

[@davidkaminski615]

The air would be clear here, except for all the tree pollen. Achoo!

[@coltonsworld9402]

Great video Tom! I’m moving to Tacoma and work downtown Seattle, would the 70 mile round trip a day commute be doable if I get a level 2 charger and can use level 1 while at work?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Seems to me it would be no problem round trip with no charging at work, even in our colder months. But if work give you free electricity, then go for it.

[@sergest-pierre6160]

Good review as always. No enough range for Quebec weather and few people will buy such an expensive car for just city driving. Mini should offer the bigger Mini (Clubman) with a 60 KWH battery for a little bit more money and they would have a winner.

[@tedunguent156]

Thanks for another great review. You are among the best and your production value is top notch. One thing that puts me off electric cars is the styling. It's not the unique styling cues, like those cool wheels, but it's the excessive number and placement of badges and the loud dayglo color choices. I guess the makers of electric cars think that people want that stuff but I think it hurts sales.

[@alexjenkins1079]

At least here in the UK, there are other, more conventional alloy options available

[@RobG001]

Think you can have it de-badged, so it looks normal, at least you can here from all the reviews I've seen. They always glam all the press cars to the max in options to show what you can get on the top model.

[@StevenLucasMarketing]

When you don't have engine noise, you gotta have some way to shout 'here I am'. LOL.

[@VideoSmirf]

I know that in some countries it is mandatory by law for electric and hybrid cars to have clear visual badges on all four sides. This is so rescue personel/firefighters will know not to pour water on it in case of a fire. You can have all the neon colors removed from the mirrors, wheels etc., but not the small badges.

[@tedunguent156]

@@VideoSmirf Ah, good info. Didn't think of that.

[@YLeon-zt9ei]

I drive about 50 miles a day...40 on the highway. I have never owned an EV but am interested in one. Thoughts on buying the MINI SE given my highway driving distance?

[@petegalindez9961]

+1 on the range, or lack of range…it’s not as big a deal as some think…I owned a Long Range Tesla 3 and Y and now own a Kia Niro EV that is rated at 240 miles (though we easily get closer to 300). We charge it once every two weeks on a 110/115 volt outlet and it’s charged back to 80% (220 miles) by the time Monday comes around….If you need a dual commuter/road tripper, it’s not your car…get a TESLA. They are the only ones that have the long range charging infrastructure figured out…the others are unreliable unfortunately…but, if you need a commuter, don’t overlook this one! My current commuter is a Mini Countryman (ICE), but the SE is next on my list when my Niro EV lease expires!

[@Sanpedranoazul]

It would be pretty interesting to compare the cost maintaince of a gasoline operated car Vs an electric battery cost in a 10 year span, to see wether it`s cost saving to won an electric car

[@patmoitry4397]

Great toy collection, Tom! How is Mr Campbell doing these days?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

He's doing very well, just talked to him yesterday. He's an IT guy and swamped with keeping people working from home online.

[@dodgy1954]

UK viewer immediately subscribed. Excellent review....maybe the Hotwheels references did it :-)

[@farcinue]

Unless I’m on a road trip, I really don’t put that many miles in my car on a daily basis. My weekday commute is about 12 miles round trip (in LA traffic it feels like eternity). An EV is starting to make more and more sense for city dwellers.

[@ChicagoBob123]

12 miles, ride an electric assisted bike in LA. No need for a car.

[@pogo1140]

I live in Los Angeles and I put about 110 miles a day on my car. And most folks don't have a 2nd car, not even in Los Angeles. Most households have 2 cars but that's mom, dad and 1.8 kids with both parents working. So both cars are full duty cars that do everything from commutes to school runs to carrying large objects.

[@CED99]

@@pogo1140 In LA isn't that like 10hr of commuting per day? Or are there areas you can actually go at a decent speed?

[@B-rad1]

In Oregon the total maximum tax rebate that can be applied at the time of lease amounts to $12,500, which lowers the base model price to $18,500 and the midlevel trim to about $21,000. If the lease rates match other cars in that price range such as the Corolla Hatch SE, this might just be my first car out of college. I can imagine people buying this as a fun commuter car as well, given its interior and driving characteristics far exceed its price.

[@marshmallowpuff4899]

I'm so olde that the Original Mini was my first car . It looks like it's still a hoot 😂 if still a little small . 100 miles man you would have have a good charging network.

[@williamzhaohargis9384]

You made me want to get this car so bad now !!! Haha

[@mroaquin]

+1 for the Picard reference!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Make it so

[@pdlynch4330]

Lovely!

[@rob.halpin]

Another great review, Tom. Cheers. Think they'll offer this as a convertible?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I was wondering the same thing. No plans at the moment.

[@rob.halpin]

@@DrivenCarReviews Too bad. I think the market deserves a convertible EV. Wish Mazda would get on board the EV boat; an eMiata would be a hoot.

[@insightman]

The problem is making a BEV convertible safe in a roll-over accident without having to add a full roll-cage.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Hi, Tom. The toys were cooler than the Mini. Do you remember the Hot Wheels Thundershift 500? I had that and wish I kept it.

[@keithtaylor5156]

I know this is a car review channel so may I recommend a new channel of simply Tom driving round Seattle in the Mini? Highlights would be getting to see beautiful Seattle, sneaking up on the locals (I wonder if the Mini has a stealth mode?), his views on life and old toys, and getting his wife in the videos. Niche but I think popular.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

My wife won't go for it and we don't want any more people in Seattle. So I'm shooting that one down Keith.

[@spacedevice47]

That really looks like it was filmed in the UK with the narrow roads and overgrown bushes and trees everywhere. What area of Seattle is it?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Blue Ridge

[@mletouutube]

At the speed you were driving, of course you will fit the spec...

[@smilingsatan]

A great 4th car.

[@mfuller1093]

Good review, interesting to see the US version still has the Union jack (British flag) rear light units, nice.

[@Themayseffect]

why wouldn't it lol? This isn't the 1800's.

[@will4may175]

Thing is that range is knocked down bigtime in winter time, the colder the worse it is, in UK winter you will expect around 75miles range, which is terrible, even in UK thats bad.

[@jeffreysegal2065]

I like it, and since there's no BMW engine it should technically be more reliable. Honda and Mini have the right idea with their more sensible ranges. The high mileage EVs quickly inform the owners that mileage costs, whether its gas or electricity.

[@mikef4077]

Why is drive with NJ plate in California?

[@laka6723]

A beautiful neighborhood you' re living at

[@kevins718]

I’m distracted with the silver/Greenish Volt at around 13:23. Is that yours?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

My wife's.

[@dunphyjp]

A little after the fact… But technically it’s the first mass market sold Ev from MINI… Don’t forget MINI had the R56 based MINI E that was leased in California only back in 2008 and 2009… That pioneered the i3 and was the test bed for it… So technically speaking is the second full electric mini is ever sold

[@rbrucepeterson]

My cargo test: Can I get my upright bass to gigs? In a chevy spark I can SQUEEZE two passengers, my upright bass, a guitar (under), banjo, and mandolin (with the passenger seat far forward). If you don't have a passenger, you can put an upright bass inside a Think City or Smart car. With both rear seats down, a gas Mini will transport an upright bass (armrest up so the headstock clears the shifter. My mini is fun to drive. I use it as a second car for distance trips.

[@katsnow9256]

Great video thanks, but why doesn't anyone do a review on the base model that most people will be getting?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Typically automakers supply loaded models to show off advance features. Often there’s no difference on base models other than lack of features and upholstery.

[@tonydemore1280]

You also have to consider that here in the relatively mild pacific northwest winters (Portland, OR) EV range drops 30-35%. That's fine for my Chevy Bolt as I can usually count on about 160-170 miles on the colder days.But the Mini EV would drop to below 80 miles. But I would love to retrofit those Mini seats into my Bolt :-)

[@insightman]

MINI claims the advanced design of the MINI Cooper SE's battery makes it less prone to cold-weather range-reduction than the i3. Also, mild winters mean you can take advantage of the range-conserving heat pump in the SE.

[@VerryJerry90]

If your work is under a 30 minute commute this is perfect 2nd vehicle

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

I'm roughly mid-point between Detroit, Chicago, and Grand Rapids, MI and I like going to concerts. Sure, this car would be fine driving back & forth from work (as long as one remembers to charge it every night). But going any further, I'd need to rent a gas-powered car.