MINI Electric (2019-2024) Review & Prices

Just like the original Mini changed the way people thought about small cars back in the ‘60s, the Mini Electric could change the way you think about electric cars today.

In size and shape it’s the same as any other three-door Mini hatchback, plus it has the look and badging of the sporty Cooper S model, but its 32.6 kWh battery and electric motor help it travel up to 145 miles between charges. That’s a little further than a Honda e, but well short of the cheaper Peugeot e-208 or Renault Zoe.

If you are not sure about EVs, Mini has tried to keep its design as ‘normal’ as possible. Sure, you can have eye-catching three-pin-plug style wheels and fluorescent accents if you wish, but if you don’t want to stand out, then you can have all the usual Mini wheels and paints instead.

Aside from a fluro starter button and drive selector, the only major giveaway that this Mini is a bit different inside are some fantastic new digital dials. They’re almost oval in shape and have a classy matte finish, displaying your range, power use and speed and trip info clearly.

Otherwise, you get the same funky design with Mini’s trademark circular centrepiece on the dash, plus a very good fit and finish. You’ll also find Mini’s usual infotainment system, that includes sat-nav with charging station info and Apple CarPlay. It’s controlled via touch or a rotary dial and menu shortcut buttons between the front seats. 

Space is unchanged, too, so although two adults will be able to stretch out in comfort upfront, another two adults in the back will feel pretty cramped. Its boot is also the same: a pretty average 211 litres, some of which accommodates the Electric’s charging cables. 

You can charge the Mini Electric’s battery from empty to full at home using a 7.4 kW wall box charger in a little over three hours. However, find a 50kW DC rapid charger out on the street and it will take just 36 minutes. 

And if you were worried about the Electric’s performance, you needn’t – it’ll crack 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds, which is nearly as quick as the turbocharged petrol Cooper S. In town, this translates to nippy darting in and out of traffic, while out on country roads the Electric feels outright fast, and fun, thanks to its good grip and quick, precise steering.

Spoiling things a little is the fact that the Electric feels firm over lumps and bumps, although this does get better once you’re on the motorway, where road and wind noise are also kept to a minimum. 

So, there are comfier EVs for similar money, and more practical options too, but if you can put up with both and love the MINI’s look, you’ll love the Mini Electric. Head over to our Mini deals page for the very best prices on one.

Just like its petrol-powered stablemates, the Mini Electric is pitched at the premium end of the small car segment. It costs more than the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa which both offer far longer ranges, but neither comes close on style and customisability. The stylish Honda e is arguably a more comparable alternative, it too offers eye-catching looks, has a similar range between charges and actually costs more than the Mini Electric in base trim.

With performance comparable to the sporty Cooper S, the Mini Electric is the speediest option in its class, but other EVs are more comfortable around town

In town

The Mini Electric feels like a big go kart from behind the wheel, it darts around town and can take advantage of the smallest gaps and tightest parking spots. The downside to its responsiveness and taught handling feel is a ride quality that can feel a tad too firm over bumps. 

The driving position is spot on, though, with good visibility out front and to the sides, although the standard rear parking sensors are useful when backing into parking bays due to the small rear window. The brake regeneration system has two settings, the more aggressive mode will brake the car enough around town that you hardly have to use the brake pedal.

On the motorway

It may be small but the Mini Electric is impressively refined at motorway speeds, it doesn’t lack for overtaking speed either, responding immediately to inputs. The front seats are comfortable for longer trips, although only younger children will enjoy being relegated to the small rear seats.

On a twisty road

The common misconception that all electric cars are soulless is quickly dismissed after just a few minutes behind the wheel of the Mini Electric. It takes the tried and tested formula of the sharp and engaging Mini driving experience and dials it up to 11 thanks to the immediacy of its electric motor.

It exhibits very little lean in corners, and blasts out of tight bends with surprising speed, feeling even quicker than its bare figures suggest.

Comfy for two but tight for four, the Mini Electric is definitely not aiming for the family market

The Electric’s cabin is cosy yet spacious up front. There’s enough adjustment in the seats and steering wheel to accommodate even the lankiest people, and you sit nice and low in the cockpit, accentuating the sportiness of the car.

There’s a pair of cupholders at the base of the dashboard, along with a space for your mobile plus 12-Volt and USB plug points. The door pockets are narrow and shallow, so larger items will have to fit under the centre armrest, which isn’t particularly generously sized either. The glovebox is not much better, so its best to travel light.

Space in the back seats

The lack of rear doors makes accessing the small rear seats a bit of a contortionist’s workout, especially if you are tall. The front seats tilt and slide back easily, but once in there, the lack of opening rear windows can make it a bit claustrophobic on longer trips.

Two ISOFIX mountings are provided, although getting the baby seat and actual baby back there requires some patience. Two children will fit fine, though, and there’s a small cupholder for each passenger, as well as a third one in the centre.

Boot space

With a snug 211 litres of boot space on offer, the Mini electric trails the Peugeot e-208 by a full 100 litres, although it trumps the Honda-e’s tiny 171 litre effort. It’s still not exactly generous back there but it should be enough for shopping trips or a couple of medium-sized bags. If you need the space, then a Renault Zoe (338 litres) or the larger Nissan Leaf (435 litres) are the way to go.

With the rear seats down, you get 731 litres of space in total, enough for some large boxes but a bicycle will be a very tight fit, even with a wheel removed.

The funky interior sets the Mini apart from most alternatives, it’s well-built too and feels like a premium piece of kit, although keep an eye on option cost

The centrepiece of the interior is the quirky circular central infotainment system that you also find on the regular models. A recent update means that the larger 8.8-inch touchscreen is now standard, it uses a version of BMW’s iDrive which makes it intuitive to use, whether via the touchscreen or through the physical buttons and rotary controller.

You get sat nav, a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as standard, although you’ll need to pick the Level 3 trim to get the advanced nav, head-up display and wireless phone charging features. A panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and advanced park assist are also offered in higher trims. The digital driver dials are a cool touch – although these are now standard on regular Minis as well. 

Aside from the aircraft-like toggles and circular infotainment setup, the Mini sets itself apart from other small hatchbacks thanks to its superb build quality and high quality of materials throughout the cabin. Cloth leatherette is standard with leather available on higher trims, and there are soft touch fabrics and materials on all touchpoints like the steering wheel and armrests. The overall effect is a cut above most alternatives, and we would recommend opting for the mid-range Level 3 trim which offers the best cost/features balance.

The Mini electric is offered with a 181hp electric motor which powers the front wheels. Like most electric cars, it is fitted with a single-gear transmission which adds to the seamless surge of acceleration with 62mph arriving in just 7.3-seconds.

This is appreciably quicker than the Honda e - which takes a second longer - and it also outsprints nippier alternatives like the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e as well. 

A range of up to 145 miles is claimed between charges, this is well below the Peugeot e-208’s 217 miles and the Renault Zoe’s 238-mile effort. The Honda e is more comparable, at 131 miles.

Those figures may seem paltry, but Mini says that a typical owner will cover far fewer miles each day, and a lighter battery equates to lower weight, lower costs and quicker charging times. A 7.4kW wallbox should see you fully charged from empty in three hours and 12 minutes, it’s worth noting that a 7kW charger will cost more to install. 

Even if you only have access to a three-pin wall socket you can recharge the battery in 12 hours. A 50kW public rapid charger will do the job in only 36 minutes, making longer journeys a possibility as long as you plan your route to take these chargers into account. The Mini Electric is also one of the most efficient electric cars in its class, managing 4.1 miles/kWh compared to the Peugeot e-208’s 3.9 miles/kWh and the Renault Zoe’s 3.5 miles/kWh. 

This efficiency means that, in real-world testing, we actually managed to go further than the official range figures suggested. Sticking mostly to the motorway we went 154 miles, which is reassuring if you're planning a longer trip.

Being electric means no road tax or congestion charge fees in low emissions zones. The low company car Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rate also means big savings compared to the petrol models.

The Mini Electric has not been put through the Euro NCAP safety assessment yet, however it comes with a comprehensive list of active and passive safety features such as rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, six airbags and LED headlights all as standard. The Driving Assistant pack is also part of the basic package, it offers pedestrian warning with autonomous braking and a camera-based system that detects speed limits.

Higher trims get adaptive LED headlights, a head-up display, an advanced parking aid and keyless entry as well.

The Mini Electric is a relatively new model; however, it uses proven technology with the drivetrain sourced from the BMW i3 and the majority of its architecture shared with the rest of the Mini range. While there have been a handful of recalls for the petrol-powered Minis, the electric version has been recall-free so far.

This should translate into the same sort of solid reliability and customer satisfaction results that the regular Mini models enjoy.  A three-year/unlimited mileage warranty is standard with the option to extend cover for an additional period as long as the mileage has not exceeded 100,000-miles after three years. Servicing plans are available, costing much less than they do on a petrol Mini hatch.