The Bite Sized EV | 2021 Mini Cooper SE

I know it sounds crazy, but the 2-door electric Mini Cooper might just be the best modern Mini. It's peppy, handles well, is incredibly well priced yet probably destined for incredibly slow sales. That means if you're shrewd, you might be in for some deals soon, as long as you're not looking for the one thing EV shoppers are clamoring for: range.
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[@zefram47]

I came from a Chevy Spark EV with around 75 mi of usable range. I bought the MINI about a month ago and LOVE it. I have 50% more battery and have been averaging 4.2 mi/kWh in normal driving, or around 120 mi of usable range. In the canyons this car is amazing fun and still gets around 4 mi/kWh thanks to regen coming back down the mountain. This past week I took the car from Denver up to Mt. Evans (Echo Lake) at 10k feet and did just shy of 100 miles at 5.2 mi/kWh returning with 41% of the battery remaining. Now that’s impressive. The handling and acceleration are fantastic. Especially given the $4k CO tax credit, this really is an affordable EV for anyone who doesn’t require a car for road trips. Charging every night means most people really don’t need more than this car’s range and many forget that. It’s not comparable to fueling up an ICE once a week.

[@papacos4745]

I thought Colorado only has a tax break of $2k not $4k?

[@zefram47]

@@papacos4745 in 2020 it was still $4k. For 2021 and 2022 it’s $2.5k and falls to $2k for 2023-2025 and disappears entirely in 2026.

[@papacos4745]

Ok thanks for the info. Enjoy your new Mini. My wife has a 2013 Cooper S and it's so much fun to drive. That's the whole reason I was thinking about a Mini for myself but would rather just go for the Cooper Se. I hope to see the roads with just electric cars instead of gasoline cars in the near future

[@inn0x]

This is one of the most comprehensive, informative, practical and relatively objective car review channels out there. Well done! 👍👍

[@afmx1]

Thank you Alex. Your review gave me the courage to go with the Mini despite the short range. I finally got my 2022 SE. I am so happy with it.

[@podatus1098]

This was a very helpful review. Since we are a multi-car family, and my wife would prefer to have something more like a minivan, I’m thinking the SE is just about perfect for my daily commuter (about 10 miles each way).

[@supraphonic88]

It's truly a shame Mini won't lease these out because it really is a perfect little city car. I had an early deposit in, went on the promo test drives, and even had an order placed, but when my dealer told me that Mini wouldn't be leasing these out I canceled and ordered a Model 3 instead. As nice as the Model 3 is, I really would have rather had the smaller package, but with its low range I just couldn't spend $500+ a month on this knowing I'd get only a small fraction of it back when it was time to move on.

[@supraphonic88]

@John Edwards You don't get the government incentives up front. With a March delivery date I'd still be on the hook for $500 monthly payments, and the $7,500 would come with my tax refund in 2021.

[@e-trippingwithadamgebbett8024]

Most detailed review of the mini I've seen. Great review Alex. Great fun car too, a modern British sportscar.

[@js-hl5hv]

In city driving, the mini is far more economical. I am currently averaging 11kWh/100km (5.6miles/kWh).This gives a theoretical city range of 267km (163 miles). Now if I really push hard and have fun, I managed to get up to 14.7kWh/100km (4.2miles/kWh). I don't do much high speed driving (yet), so I am guessing that is where the bulk of the difference lies. I also live in a warm climate (our current "spring" temperature is 26-30C), so no heater use. I loved your review - one of the best, and in depth reviews of the mini se out there. You captured the essence of the car, and hopefully gave people who haven't driven it a really good grounding of what to expect. The handling is superb, the acceleration is addictive, and the hard ride is tolerable (actually the roads are pretty good around here, so it is pretty comfortable). Keep up the good work.

[@davidcantu5923]

Thanks Alex. Ordered my Mini EV today. Great review...as always!

[@mswire1]

Best review I've seen on the SE. Great detail. Nice comparisons to competitors.

[@LightningJR]

Love love love the intro, well done! Much better imo.

[@GreenvilleGuy]

Thanks for this review. The walk through of the car’s actual interior features is particularly helpful.

[@Joshjames1234]

Love your EV reviews!

[@Jaymac720]

Mini has the right idea. BEVs shine as small runabout cars. Smaller batteries saves on raw materials, lower weight increases efficiency, and a smaller vehicle is just less expensive. I really wish people would stop seeing electric cars as needing to match the range of their gasoline counterparts. There are other ways to go about increasing usability too. Hydrogen is still on the table as alternative physical fuel and can hold its own on range. Also, a better and faster charging infrastructure would mitigate or even solve range anxiety.

[@afcgeo882]

John Edwards They do and no one is bullying anyone. Put your pacifier back in and calm down.

[@Jaymac720]

John Edwards First of all, I wasn’t comparing it to a Tesla. I just meant in general. Second of all, I was actually praising this car’s approach if you’d care to read my comment without a lens

[@1970351C2V]

Great video. I am looking at the Cooper SE and Ioniq (eliminated the Leaf already) as a third vehicle / commuter car myself. My office has free EV charging, commute is 60-70 miles per day.

[@ernestomatos8540]

loving the new intro

[@MiguelRodriguez-nt5eq]

I do too it has a retro feel to it..lol

[@josephppopp7493]

Great for a retired homebody. Just received mine yesterday 😊

[@francisarneau4429]

I would go with the mini cooper se for daily commute.great car to have.

[@nintendoatarikiller]

The alloys are supposed to look like a UK plug outlet

[@Chrisb8s]

I can't wait for mine to be delivered. We already have a model Y so this will be our (around town ) car. After 6 years of driving Eve. I know that 85% of my daily driving is less than 100miles. The Y will handle more range or more people and stuff perfect combo

[@julianmac]

Very solid review with ample info

[@collector8781]

I have owned 3 Mini's and the Mini hybrid was the last-It was a dog and I traded it for a 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. I swore Mini's off after my experience with the Hybrid, but I'm reconsidering after watching this-Great job on the vid. I may go for a test drive :-)

[@jbc5877]

Not sure if someone has already pointed it out, but at 9:10, you listed the Nero EV and Leaf+ beneath the Cooper Se in regards to 2nd Row Headroom. Thanks for the reviews, always enjoy watching them.

[@JerseyFlyGirl]

Really great, informative video!

[@LeoTheShortGuy]

Very excellent.

[@WFO.]

Mini EV is fun!!! Drove it at a BMW event at FedEx Field last week.

[@pdd3]

19:47 You're a master comedian, Alex.

[@Greggory1987]

Great video. I am a Mini loyalist. However, the range for the new SE is disappointing. I live in Northern CA where we generally drive a great deal, even during this pandemic.

[@mez8384]

On MINI Cooper SE's range, take a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maGVfahjbdBmhdk

[@Jemehl21]

100 mile range! That's hard to swallow.

[@p6x2]

100 mile range if you do not sit in traffic jams with AC on.

[@kiwiswede]

12 weeks to go before mine arrives here in Sweden. Should have been this week but they closed the factory in the UK due to Brexit. I guess good things are worth waiting for.

[@andrewbennett7987]

Also the $7500 Tax rebate is great!

[@radudeATL]

If I had what some people call “disposable income,” I’d get one.

[@afcgeo882]

I doubt it. You’d get something better, like a Miata.

[@jamellloydhampton7907]

@@afcgeo882 aaapaaaaaapa

[@jamellloydhampton7907]

@@afcgeo882 aaapaaaaaapa

[@jamellloydhampton7907]

@@afcgeo882 aaapaaaaaapa

[@jasongroves1111]

I can't wait for my brand new 2020 moonwalk gray with black roof being delivered from Germany September 1st for my birthday 🎂 😁🙏😘

[@mtumasz]

Drove it b2b with JCW and confirm your insight - the EV is even more fun❤️

[@Dad-vice]

I agree with the point that one pedal driving is t optimal for efficiency, though I think the difference isn’t really that big, and varies depending on your driving style and environment. The main reason I like it, though, is for the safety, in that the car starts braking as you are lifting off the accelerator. Some studies estimate it can take 3/4 second to move your foot from one pedal to the other, so depending on how fast you are driving you could easily shorten your effective braking distance by 10-20%, which is not nothing.

[@eminiman4393]

I didn't receive 2 EVSE cords with my 2021 MINI Cooper SE. I've never seen or read about the 3.8 kW EVSE turbo-cord Alex mentions. And I've read a lot about this car.

[@paulstein9258]

I agree with you. The low range will frustrate most people.

[@TheMacz69]

I don't know, in most cases people drive a lot less than the range of that car, and only occasionally drive further. As a second car for a family it sounds perfect, popping about locally or commuting to work. Sure if your driving long distance hop in the other car (ICE, Hybrid, or longer range ev)

[@johanbresky5418]

Not a problem for me. Use 44-50% going to work and back home and can get 40% charge for free at work. The distance I drive everyday is 100km.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I've wanted a Cooper mini for years. We have two Camrys. The older one may be coming to the end of its life. Coopers are so cute! I mostly need a car for errands and a weekly trip to a town nearby. I'm short. I don't have kids so a two door isn't a big deal. Is Colorado likely to keep its incentive in the next year or two? If so, that could be convenient.

[@josenegron9304]

I’m sold. My next car will be the Mini SE.

[@zachbackar5389]

Mini hands down.

[@bikingmoments]

The ventilation for wireless charging is a nice feature. Many cars don’t take this into consideration...A wired CarPlay + wireless charging is the most stupid combination I can imagine for many other models.

[@Estoooopid]

Does it take premium electrons??

[@hayyuencheng]

What does everyone decide that red turn signal light is a good idea ?!

[@afcgeo882]

What?!

[@Jaymac720]

US car lighting regulations are so garbage. Red turn signals are a-ok but we can’t have fancy matrix headlights that allow a brighter beam without blinding oncoming drivers

[@afcgeo882]

Jay Mac Red turn signals aren’t any less safe than amber ones. It’s been tested many, many times. People just have an aesthetic preference. I like the look of ambers too, but I have to be honest. There’s no real safety advantage.

[@MrYabusa]

I have been after someone who can clarify me on the following. Can an electric vehicle ,such as this ID4, bought here in the US be charged on an european charging network? I know about the different grid voltages (230V EU and 120/240V US) and frequencies (50Hz EU and 60Hz US) for AC systems. My real question is to know if the onboard charger accept both voltages and frequencies. When it comes to DC charging, frequency and voltage are not an issue. Thank you.

[@tbone9405]

Etron has a standard heat pump, was not listed with other cars on your size chart.

[@roberterickson6331]

I love mini getting into the ev game but can't think about it till they get much bigger battery

[@ChrisLawrenceRebel]

It looks a lot like a Honda e competitor... but Honda still says they're not bringing the e to North America.

[@eustonr]

Thanks for the review - for info, here in the UK, the yellow design on the passenger side dash is different - its a red stylised union jack instead. Which makes me think - what else is different? I've seen a few reviews now, and I'm a bit confused about the range. I've had my Mini Electric for about a month. Its fantastic - love it. But I'm getting significantly better range than what I've seen in these reviews. My economy is currently averaging 4.5 Mi/Kw - not your 3.8 as per this video. I last charged it on the weekend - its now Friday and I've driven just short of 100 miles since then, and I still have 36% left of my battery - and thats with a mix of city and motorway driving. I'm interested - is the American version different somehow? Or am I just an amazing driver... :) ... In US reviews, the Mini's range is quoted as 110 miles - but in Europe the WLTP quoted range is 145 Miles. Which I think is about right. I understand that the US has different standards, but thats a big difference... I wouldnt have bought it if 110 was the range, whereas 145 is just about right for me.

[@afcgeo882]

Ranges are measured differently everywhere. Read this interesting article on this topic to find out: insideevs.com/news/407807/eletric-car-real-world-range-tested/amp/ For those who hate reading: “NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) testing has been proven to provide range estimates that are around 30 percent higher than truly achievable distances. The WLTP procedure (world harmonized light-duty vehicles test procedure) is much better, but still more forgiving than the U.S. EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) standard due to different testing procedures.”

[@TheWhiteLife]

I do suspect there might be a difference in “tuning” for different markets. This is the second US review I’ve seen claiming 0-60 in 6.2/6.3s, whereas every UK review has 0-62 (100kph) in 7.3. That would need to be a hell of a flat spot in the acceleration to take a full second for the final 2 mph. Unless of course UK auto journos are lazily quoting published figures rather than testing these themselves. I also have a slight conspiracy theory that the Mini is so important in the UK that if they were to publish 0-60 quicker than petrol models it would cannibalise sales.

[@richdaley9982]

I have discovered living in the greater Atlanta area that at times my range needs can be more than some of these lower range EVs can do. When I lived in Philly, this would have been a great car. BTW I have the same shoes. Bought them at Costco. I wish I had bought like 10 pairs because they are awesome.

[@Chef_doggo69]

Love the car! :)

[@andrewlilley3660]

Imagine buying a car with a three-gallon tank! that you need to fill up daily? and it takes you three hours to fill it up, then at some point in the future, you need to pay for that fuel again in the form of battery replacement, well, that's an electric car, hahaha.

[@Yihooni]

Imagine buying a car and installing a gas station in your house, and it fills up while you sleep. It costs me $3.55 to drive 100miles in my Mini SE.

[@alanhorn8253]

If the car does not have the (often wasted) range for a highway trip, why tune the suspension or quiet the cabin to make it comfy for one? It is optimized for a set of use cases and seems like it is good and cost-effective at those. Is the e-Golf a competitor?

[@afcgeo882]

Was. It is no longer made.

[@duddin12390]

I plan on buying one in 3.5 years after 65% depreciation

[@NegacionistaInconformado]

Beleza? Combinado com gasolina, ele faz quantos km por litro?

[@dzdz4497]

I wonder what the battery deg. will be.... 4% per year?

[@jonathanhidalgo4591]

This a hard pass at $37K. Like Alex said this would only make sense assuming you can take full advantage of tax credits and rebates which I’m willing to bet most people looking at this won’t qualify for all of it, and also this reliance on credits to make a sale viable is a poor strategy from Mini IMHO. Honda encountered similar criticism with the Honda E in Europe where its more of a lifestyle fashion vehicle. You really have to want an EV to spend $30K and have this type of range. Other hybrids and even some EVs mentioned in the video would make more financial sense at that point.

[@pambritz3166]

City girl. City driving. Commute 8 mi RT. US. $23250 after Federal tax credit for base model. Under 15,000 financed balance. Electric the future, like it or not. Next logical step after 8 year old Toyota Prius. Would work for me. Long road trip? Rent a car.

[@JonathanBergman2Go]

This is the ultimate second car if you want to spend near $20,000 and get something unique. Too bad the low range will scare lots of customers who would really enjoy this.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Here in Au all the Big Oils are building many big new petrol stations, and more in the middle of nowhere. None of which have rapid chargers. I can't help but wonder why when the gas pump is apparently going the way of the dinosaur. Makes me think that everyone driving an electric car is still a very long way off... 🤔

[@bmd794]

Nice video, but just a quick reminder, not everyone has an iPhone. I would have liked to know if this supports Android Auto.

[@mowcowbell]

Android phones dominate the market with a 73% market share. But for some reason, iPhones get more credit from reviewers.

[@erictorbet8104]

The official MINI website says the electric mini cooper charges 2%/hour at Level 1, which would mean it takes 50 hours from zero to full. But you said it takes about 24 hours (4%/hour)? Also, isn't the last 20% the slowest, so maybe 0 to 80% would be even faster than 4%/hour? Thank you for clarifying this point.

[@zoomer245]

Excellent review but take a breath. I had to keep stopping to take a breath for you. I wish I’d watch this before I purchased my mini it would have choice.

[@niffrig]

What about the 2020 e-Soul? I felt the Kia dominated the e-Mini when I was cross shopping.

[@afcgeo882]

Sort of... The Soul is much larger and the Mini handles far better.

[@RonaldCzik]

Alex, with all the new EVs out there now, how does this review hold up? Any changes to your comments or opinions?

[@limpunsing224]

Gute but the VW ID will give this a hard sale

[@idparkinson]

They are NOT in the same category of car.

[@johanbresky5418]

The mini is designed to give emotions and be fun. VW ID is designed to give no feelings at all like most VW cars.

[@cadriver2570]

@@johanbresky5418 exactly the ID3 is a boring people mover. I would be surprised if VW even disagreed with that statement. The mini is a blast.

[@davidroberts5600]

Can you cite the studies on regen you mentioned?

[@mikeshafer]

I would buy this tomorrow if it had 200+ mile range.... I know there's the limitation to how much battery capacity they can fit into a MINI frame, but as I own a Tesla now I know how important range is.... when these things get into the 200-250 mile range, I'm buying immediately.

[@gregnote8818]

Any thoughts on Mini SE reliability?

[@JuiceBoxScott]

From my experience in my i3, it's really really easy to find the coasting area while using one pedal driving. Seeing as how the Mini shares a lot of parts with the i3, I'd guess its very similar.

[@siyabongacele8049]

I get your point I believe you right because on locomotives(trains) when you using regen or any other electric brake system when the speed becomes Zero regen doesn't work so you have to apply brakes to keep it on a standstill

[@Meetoon733]

I don't see how 100 miles of range for 30k makes sense for anyone other than mini lovers with a garage. Until EVs can get down to 25k for 150 miles or so of range the market is super limited IMO

[@afcgeo882]

Absolutely right, but it’s a compliance vehicle, so who cares?!

[@acentre3202]

just ordered a new one, $21500 with fed and ny tax credits!

[@afcgeo882]

@@acentre3202 Lease or purchase?

[@acentre3202]

purchase, they have .9% financing

[@afcgeo882]

@@acentre3202 That’s a good price, but not a good decision, I think. Their resale values are horrific. We’re talking it being worth just $10-12k in 3 years.

[@p6x2]

Looking at what happened to the Fiat 500e, the Smart for2 ED which are no longer imported, I am afraid the Mini may follow suit into oblivion. In the kingdom of the F150 pickup truck, small cars are yet to impose themselves. I know, Texas is not the USA. The Mini may have a chance in California. But here in Houston, we are still a long way from small EVs.

[@Brian-om2hh]

Oil eventually running dry, or no longer being extracted and refined in it's present quantities might go some way towards changing mindsets.........

[@digitaldoc100]

Range is too limited for this Mini to be the best at anything.

[@josenegron9304]

What are the color choices?

[@acentre3202]

does anyone know if the SE comes with Summer or All Season Tires?

[@mez8384]

Run flat summer tires, at least those sold in Italy, All BMWs are equipped with run flat tires.

[@eminiman4393]

The 2020/2021 SEs have come with Hankook, Pirelli, or Goodyear Summer performance tires. This is the only MINI that doesn't come with run-flat tires. Instead, it comes with a tire-goo inflation kit.

[@MrMarkOlson]

I hope Mini develops an EV Mini this size -but from the ground up, not an ICE conversion.

[@james2042]

One small thing I wish you'd note, not everyone has iphones, so would you note if a vehicle does or does not have android auto as well? I know BMW doesn't (and by extension, mini), and many toyota models still don't

[@mowcowbell]

Actually, 78% of us have Android phones, according to current market share.

[@KPhun]

I own a 2017 Ioniq EV and can say that it is an excellent car. Practical, well built, Comfortable and very efficient. Mini Cooper sire sounds more fun but it can't beat the practicality and range of Ioniq or the Leaf. 2 door is a deal breaker for me.

[@afcgeo882]

Did you even watch the video? Why bother typing all that when Alex said it?

[@KPhun]

@@afcgeo882 I just wanted to annoy you and I think I have succeeded.

[@jaytate491]

Due to the range it will have INSANE depreciation. Especially because you know, Mini reliability.

[@jeffruebens8355]

The Mini gasoline engine is horribly unreliable, and hopefully the all-electric battery is similar to Prius battery reliability, a gamble at this time since no one has drove one of these 150 thousand miles yet.

[@jaytate491]

@John Edwards That's under the false assumption that everyone qualifies and does not take into account taxation or other charges. You will not walk out paying 19k if you know how it works. You will be paying 30k plus then you'll have to get it back at tax time. IF you qualify. Which I don't along with many others.

[@hogster5935]

I test drove a S and the moon roof slides rattled.

[@MythosGandaar]

My only car right now is a Bolt, if I could buy a second "fun car" it would be a Smart electric cabriolet

[@afcgeo882]

Are those even in sale in the US still? I though Smart closed up shop.

[@MythosGandaar]

@@afcgeo882 Nope! I'd have to buy one used. But no good reason to get a new one anyway

[@afcgeo882]

MythosGandaar If we’re talking used, my pick would be the eGolf, Niro or Bolt, but I’m guessing you will picked the Smart for the roof feature.

[@MythosGandaar]

@@afcgeo882 correct, for the convertible feature. Seems like a fun time

[@afcgeo882]

MythosGandaar lol A Smart is anything, but fun.

[@barryw9473]

Good intro! Mini is not redesign but retrofit, thus motor is in front. We can only wish for a RWD Mini. And why didn’t BMW put the more energy dense cells in this car? It could have had almost 150 miles of range with better cells. I agree Ioniq BEV is better all around car.

[@whiteandnerdytuba]

Other people have Ferraris that they park and don't drive often. Only a select few choose a mini that they can't take anywhere

[@rmpumper]

Where are you getting the 110 mile range figure from? The official WLTP is listed as 203-234km (126-146 miles), while carwow managed 154 miles kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZWVcqWZms59mpI or is the US version gimped in some way?

[@Yihooni]

114 EPA. On a perfect day of driving, I got over 150. I have a 2023.

[@officialyasir]

Wait a year, buy used for half the price. All EVs except Tesla have poor resale value.

[@Anthony-ys4lp]

Biggest hack in the automotive world! EVs are sooooo cheap used and are great to drive

[@henrybrar]

Anthony Why is that so? Just wondering as EVs are not often run rough and still have full battery warranty left.

[@officialyasir]

Harbir Brar they don’t have enough range and most people don’t want to deal with charging or are just scared to change their habits. Most are actually more reliable than ice counterpart too.

[@Anthony-ys4lp]

@@henrybrar I mean hack as is "life hack". Used EVs are so cheap because most people don't understand them or are afraid of trying the "new" technology. They think of refueling them as a regular ICE car ("I have to wait 8 hours to charge this at a charging station?!") when in actuality its plug in at home and you're good. I have a 5 year old EV that has not lost any battery capacity at all. EVs are cheap to drive, cheap to maintain, and cheap to refuel. They are fun, quiet, smooth, and usually feature rich. I recommend EVs to anyone who asks what car they should get. If you are commuting to work, around town, or driving less than 100 miles a day, an EV is perfect for you. If you need to haul equipment, tow a heavy trailer, or drive around a lot of stuff or people, then an EV may not be the best choice.

[@Anthony-ys4lp]

@@officialyasir You hit it on the head, most people think of recharging them the same way as putting gas in their car, and then the 8-12 hour recharge time makes them believe they will be stuck at a recharging station for a full day, when in reality you simply plug in at home after work and its full in the morning. Even on a standard 120v outlet is enough to charge 60-100 miles of range overnight, so depending on the battery size, and your commute that could be all you need, skip level 2. I disagree about your point on range, but that is a personal choice that each buyer needs to consider themselves.

[@smartelectriccar]

5:00 ALL Teslas in 2022 have heat pumps. Tesla makes the most efficient EVs. The Model 3 is far more efficient than even the small mini. I love the Mini SE btw

[@hugdeath929]

Relative comfort but u just can’t lean back? 🤷‍♀️

[@silvergt4254]

I get 4.7-5.5 miles/kilowatt on my Fiat 500e

[@Jaymac720]

Are you using air con?

[@afcgeo882]

Jay Mac The heater is what really kills the range. Also... hills are a thing in the US.

[@bikebudha01]

No reason they couldn't stuff 4x the amount of batteries in this thing (under the seats). And give it a real usable range. Almost no one is going to spend $30k+ for a 3rd car so that they can save a few bucks in gas. My 2011 ford ranger only costs me $1,700 in gas a year (12k miles, $2.50/gallon). I could fill my tank for decades for the cost of this mini AAAAAAaaaannd I can drive my truck cross country if the mood so strikes...

[@afcgeo882]

You would also put $7k in repairs.

[@sofageek]

Buy the Ioniq

[@linusa2996]

Compliance car

[@rodhonco5681]

How is it possible the SE Mini qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit? It is over $25 ,000.00. Battery is not built in USA.

[@Yihooni]

The review was before the new EV regulations took effect.

[@TurfSurf]

I am waiting for the Mini Pro, Mini Pro Max, and Mini Ultra! With this range, it’s a weekend toy, but not too far or you will be out of juice. With AC, uphills, highway accelerations, and cold weathers, you will be lucky to get 90 miles out of it. If it can’t make it from OC to LA and back, then it won’t sell in CA. If an EV can’t sell in SoCal, it won’t sell anywhere in the US.

[@cadriver2570]

Noise: the Model 3 got 72 dB and was rated C-, the Mini got 73 dB and an A- rating. Just curious why?

[@afcgeo882]

Different classes of cars. His grades are comparative instead of ranged by decibels.

[@cadriver2570]

@@afcgeo882 They're both premium vehicles - do you mean $? What is the Mini being compared to? Most of the noise tests I've seen rank Mini SE louder than Kona/Niro/Leaf/Bolt, etc.

[@afcgeo882]

Harvest First off, neither is a premium vehicle. Second, vehicles are categorized by size above all else. We don’t compare Acura ILX to Lincoln Navigators, right? Even though both are luxury brands? The model 3 is a mid-size family sedan. The Mini Cooper is a sub-compact 2-door hatch.

[@raymondadams6433]

All these Mini jokes are getting old. The reliability has improved tremendously. The gear shift is also in the other Minis as well.

[@audaciousifti]

Why do electric cars have those strange wheel and grille designs

[@afcgeo882]

Because they don’t have radiators and having a flat surface creates smoother air flow = efficiency and because flat wheel coverings create that too. EVs use brakes less, so ventilation is less important.

[@stevefu1737]

I would wait to see if Fiat brings the new 500e to US. That car looks way cooler 😎.

[@jeffruebens8355]

It seems they went with the small battery to fit into the space originally for the gas tank, and to keep the base price at 30 thousand. Good as a second car for 2 adults and 2 kids, or if you take a bus, train, plane or rental car for longer trips. I might buy a used one later with about 40 thousand miles to lower the price, and it is good for some snow with front wheel drive. I am close to retirement, so I am less concerned with its eventual battery replacement, maybe after 150 thousand miles if the battery reliability is similar to a Prius, with some going to 300 thousand miles with the original battery. Note Elon Musk did not mention a million mile battery, and he did mention the idea of making the battery box part of the frame like a plane wing, also maybe no cobalt, longer range and more power in 2 to 3 years, maybe, also a base model for 25 thousand in the same time frame.

[@afcgeo882]

The video clearly states they made room for the battery UNDER the car by lifting it 1”.

[@eminiman4393]

@@afcgeo882 Actually, the new CATL battery fits into the tunnel where the exhaust system used to be and under the rear seat where the gas tank used to be. MINI says they raised the car 18mm to offer more clearance in an effort to protect the battery. The small battery offers a major benefit for a sporty car like this: light weight. More weight hampers cornering and reduces acceleration. If MINI wanted to compete in the range game, they could simply have put a wimpy Leaf motor in the SE, but this car is a true MINI, so it's designed for fun.

[@afcgeo882]

eMINIman When you say “actually...” it should be to counter someone. You’re supporting my claim. The ground clearance remained the same. The 18mm (almost 1 inch) was to accommodate the battery and maintain the ground clearance. If you look under, you will see the battery stick out more than the exhaust does on a regular Coop. By the way, under the seat is mostly the electrical support for the battery, not the battery itself.

[@eminiman4393]

@@afcgeo882 The "actually" was to emphasize that the battery is NOT under the car. It actually sticks up into the cabin between the front seats and under the rear seat (which may help keep it warmer, explaining why MINI says the SE's battery is less susceptible to cold-weather range-reduction than the BMW i3's battery). MINI actually specifies that the ground clearance is 18 mm greater than that of a gas-powered MINI Cooper Hardtop..

[@seannotaro473]

That color....definitely a sinus infection cor scheme

[@MustPassTruck]

Range is too short. Not even enough for the average commuter.

[@kevinbarry71]

Any electric vehicle that is simply a converted gasoline powered vehicle has inherent design and engineer in compromises.

[@ALMX5DP]

Every vehicle has compromises, simply different depending on perspective.

[@kevinbarry71]

Alan Bowers that is not what I mean. An electric vehicle, has very different weight distribution. Therefore it is necessary to properly designed the suspension, including the pick up points for that. Additionally, the space required for components varies greatly between internal combustion and electric power trains. Sticking one sword into another is a bad compromise

[@ALMX5DP]

Kevin Barry that’s your perspective. There are others to consider depending on ones lens.

[@kevinbarry71]

Alan Bowers it is not my perspective; it is simply a statement of engineer in fact. facts, sorry to tell you, can not simply be dismissed as somebody's opinion

[@ALMX5DP]

Kevin Barry and what is an engineers job? Is it singularly faceted? I never said anything about opinion either, but perspective. There’s a difference.

[@stillplayswithcarss]

technically its the motor from the more powerful i3s :)

[@acche-rc]

Prefer the soul ev