MINI Cooper SE J01 - Buy Chinese (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

I have a 2023 JCW convertible. It's extremely well made with no quality control issues. Sad to see that Mini did all this cost cutting.

[@dadegroot]

We bought the SE about 2.5 months ago and have racked up 7500km on it in that time (it's my daily, and we've done a couple of 1,000+km each way roadtrips). My usual consumption is atound 14kWh/100km, with the highway (110kph) being 15-16kWh/100km. The "granny charger" supplied, is actually capable of a full 11kW charge rate with the right tail and electical supply (3phase 16amp in Australia). With some creative packing, you can get the charger and the type2 cable in the under-floor area, or without the charger in there, you can drop the floor on notch for a little extra cargo space, but given the back seats are really only there for emergency use, folding them down for quite a decent boot space is more likely. Of note, the Go-Kart mode is the only experience mode where you can turn of DSC and traction control, or modify the steering response (although these options are not obvious initially - press the cog on the experience selection screen when on go-kart mode). I will note, the stock tyres do seem to wear faster than I'd prefer, and I'll likely change them out for Pirellis sometime in the future.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I heard from a viewer on Polish channel the early cars in Poland came on Chinese tires, which indeed had to be quickly replaced. I did have the Go-Kart mode configured to full attack (no traction control, etc.), but it didn't do much for me. I think it's punchy enough in normal with all that instant torque. Especially after driving the petrol model, which felt thwarted due to emission regulations.

[@kevinn1158]

Go all Leyland on it!!! LOL. Classic! Happy New Year Marek!!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Happy new year!

[@ricardomartins1783]

Weather is looking fine this time of year in Poland :) Happy new year Marek!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Happy new year! Yes, it was a lovely day :)

[@Commentator541]

You are killing me with this. I already like it, and the price is right. Save money, think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts. Have been also eyeing an Abarth while there are some still left.

[@alioscopy-glasses-free-3D]

Hi Marek - I always enjoy your reviews… but the F66 (the ICE 3-door model you drove previously) looks to me like a true ‘Friday-afternoon' car! Otherwise, it might have been a pre-production car… perhaps? I visited the Oxford plant (with my dealer) on the day that my F66 came off the production line. (This was a happy coincidence!). Not only is the Oxford plant one of BMW's best performing factories in the world (including for quality-control) - I can honestly say that my F66 is easily the best of the 7 new MINIs I've bought. (I've owned every generation in the BMW era). Having watched your video, I examined my car for the manufacturing faults you highlighted - and none were present. As you can probably tell, I'm a very satisfied owner - and the people in your messages (who've never driven one of the current generation cars) need to visit a dealer to take a test drive… before they share their (currently) unqualified opinions! Keep the great content coming in 2025 - Happy New Year 🎉

[@jondonnelly3]

External Looks great, Internal is horrid I HATE the dinnerplate dash it makes me puke.

[@colinharvey1049]

Those alloys on the sport version very safe design 😂

[@vladdorel9081]

you must drive the combustion engine JCW , the new one, with 231 HP

[@MarekDrivesENG]

The mint green one had 204 hp. I don't think the extra 25 hp will make it much better.

[@harderos3]

Rather have the cheaper and more special R5. Its interior is way better than this.

[@marcd6897]

I like the new display and the fabric used on the dashboard and also the form is growing on me, but when I inquired about the price for a larger size battery equipped car with some needed options but far from fully equipped, even after some nice discount, it was an instant no-no. Even more after I learned that this is a fully Chinese built car …. BMW seriously? Charge prices as if the car has been built in Oxford UK but was in fact built by a Chinese car manufacturer on behalf of BMW?

[@zsoltmolnar1143]

The quality for such an expensive toy is just embarrassing

[@garymorris801]

The r56 is so so much better

[@michaelbarnard8116]

Not so mini anymore is it 😊 BMW's first attempt is the best mini 😮 and are becoming a modern classic 🤔

[@js-hl5hv]

It is just too heavy. It has the same pwr as the outgoing model, hence the same straight line performance (but faster top speed), worse economy, and worse handling. You can't hide 300kg no matter how tricky your electronics are. Granted, you probably won't notice the difference until you are going much faster then you really should :) I will wait for the j02 (or whatever the next version is) A solid state battery dropping most of the weight gain could make this a starter. The other thing I didn't like was the higher seating position (which you don't mention). As always, great review - probably the best on this little porker that I have seen.

[@dadegroot]

I had no trouble keeping up with a Golf R at "speeds you really shouldn't be doing" on windy roads in my SE. You'd have to be doing track work to really notice.

[@js-hl5hv]

@dadegroot don't get me wrong, the j01 is a good car. It is just not as good as the outgoing one except for one thing - range. Day to day, range is not a consideration, well for me at least, as I only need to charge once a week (f56 SE). Around the twisties, not much can compete with a MINI in any guise - including the j01.

[@OK-mb7zb]

100% agree build quality on this is top , everyone complaining about built in China . Oh look iPhone 📱

[@silvermovermedia9737]

As he forgotten, Mini is a German car - BMW 😅 that they can’t build cheap enough these days so they have to give it to the Chinese who we know have absolutely no standards when it comes to environmental and human rights. Apart from the ice car being a much better car than the EV I’d rather pay extra for a car made in Europe employee in Europeans.

[@dimjad7933]

50k for a toy. WoW. Better get used 500e for 15 - 20 k.

[@TEVAssociation]

Now that production plans for UK are cancelled, we may never see this generation here in North America ..Sadly

[@MarekDrivesENG]

What's the source of this information? I know Motoring File wrote about it last week, but I don't think anybody's picked it up.

[@TEVAssociation]

@MarekDrivesENG they re usually a very reliable source with inside contacts

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

@@MarekDrivesENGBMW Blog also reported on the matter.

[@tonymcgenius1844]

Disappointing interior, great review 👍

[@MarthaMansbridge]

Looks like the 2015 Ssangyong Tivoli

[@petar_d488]

You have driven many cars, help me choose a new car under 30k , low road noise and comfortable suspension are priorities.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Assuming you're looking for a second hand car (because you won't find anything like that new below 60k these days) seek vehicles with optional acoustic windscreen and front side windows. Probably a high spec Passat. Road noise will depend on the surface and tires as well, so some experimenting to be done. Stay away from any remotely sporty trim, so no R-Lines, etc. The more rubber, the better.

[@BotsisAnargyros]

49.000 for this no way

[@djowen5192]

Oh dear 😢 John Cooper must be spinning in his grave to see his name on this clown car.

[@bokichko]

I feel like this interior is going to age terribly

[@takuan650]

I can't help feeling that electric cars are still very much in the testing stage and thrown onto the market while still in development. I'll come again when solid state battery cars have reached maturity. I'll never buy one of those half arsed constantly beeping computer games on wheels with lane keeping assistance. - Where are all the wild things is ?

[@lp3860]

Lane assist and overspeed warnings have nothing to do with EV's. I'm sure you knew this before trying to make some silly argument how EV's are bad.

[@takuan650]

@@lp3860 True I knew that, still think EV's are under cooked and overpriced sh!t, for now.

[@marcd6897]

@@takuan650overpriced, yes in many cases. Shit, no, EVs from a decent manufacturer are great cars and you’re just proving you have got zero clue about EVs and you’re just parroting some internet BS.

[@4bu53r]

This looks like a more rounded version of Suzuki Swift.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

It's true that since 2004 the Swift and the MINI Hatch had similar vibes.

[@wimcalant8425]

Hello. I test Drove recently the new country man need something better than our current f56 cooper. Man pff quality and finish is too poor for a 50.000 eur car. We were suffereing from abnormal windnoise at the doors and windscreen already at speeds of 50 kmh. Cause at the doors was a rubber seal that already was loose, windscreen i could not fix if course. Conclusion when i brought back the car, salesman: did you liked it? ANSWZR: Yes and no, drives well but quality is too low for this amount of money looks. are still nice. Screen i did not like , tiles are too small for using while riding. During our test drive suddenly the massage function started did not know why but i couldn't find how to stop it!. So conclusion is we will probably not buy it and go for a boring Audi Q2 or Q3 which is build rock solid and cost less money. A pitty but this brand will become under pressure. Btw the CM is build in Germany, the poor quality is due to the design ans selection of materials i think.

[@harveybirdman74]

Xinnie Cooper

[@DejanPerinovic]

50000 hahahahaahah

[@theprotagonist8988]

i would buy it if i could earn it in 7-10 months working 9-5, .. mmm no

[@jonathanmellish4439]

Sorry. BMW have strayed too far from the look of the original Mini. Same with the Countryman. The interior is too bland. I might buy a previous generation but not this ugly duckling.

[@js-hl5hv]

@jonathanmellish4439 I don't believe I am defending them, BUT, the original mini was a car, not a brand. The MINI (in caps) is a brand. They are two different things. Yes, any car with a MINI badge, is a MINI. Does the car stray from the original mini (lowercase)? Definitely. The original mini would not be allowed on the road today if it were a new design (safety). I dislike the look, inside and out, of the j01, and countryman - but they are still MINIs. Along with many others, I call the countryman a MAXI, but it is still a MINI. As an F56 SE owner, I won't be buying a j01 for the reasons you state - they have departed from the design ethos of the previous versions. They are still MINIs though, just not a very good mini.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

@ thanks Marek this is fair comment. I owned a 1968 Mini Cooper as a first car and it was great fun, especially in the snow. I look at them on the road and at shows and I am not sure I would want one on the roads now. Likewise my 1973 W Beetle which I sold 10 years ago.

[@koskos1971]

Overated. For this price i would go for other cars like id4 mercedes gla ,ford explorer.....

[@kennethgibson9527]

This by the way is not a Mini. It's a over priced BMW... It's not worth the money. It's a Maxi

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

It's Chinese? I am not interested. Simple as that. I will wait for some other video of you to watch. Happy 2025!

[@jonathanmellish4439]

@TheAllMightyGodofCod I visited the factory to see the cars being made a few years ago, alas the factory was not operating as it was early December for Christmas ! I was told the Mini electric was moving to China. I won't be buying that then and it honestly looks terrible.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@jonathanmellish4439 it does indeed. I have zero interest in Chinese cars and I think we should let Marek know it. Not because of cancel culture or anything but simply because it is in he's interest to know what he's audience is interested in, what works and what doesn't. Just that. I am not saying I won't randomly watch a video about a Chinese car, just out of curiosity but as a norm, I won't. Sending this from my ok but very rapidly ageing Chinese phone.

[@jonathanmellish4439]

​@TheAllMightyGodofCod I guess as most of the batteries and components for many vehicles come from China, the tail is now wagging the dog, if you get my meaning.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@jonathanmellish4439 probably... And some people forget there is a huge difference between "made in China" by a western company and "made in China by a Chinese company"....

[@lesklower7281]

I actually prefer the original Mooris mini minor simple carburatored and the Morris Cooper S ment something a petrol light car which is still around today over 60 years old will these soulless EV minis be around in 60 years time an EV is just an electric motor and a battery that's it and made in China that makes it worse everything that comes out of China is rubbish everything and that includes the petrol wannabe MGs infact there are 50 and 60 year old MGBs still driving around will these wannabe Chinese MGs petrol ones be driving around in 50 to 60 years time no any car that is 20 30 40 50 or 60 years old that is still running is so much better for the environment than any EV