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2022 Mini SE review — pros and cons

Our Verdict

An outstanding appetizer to Mini's future EV endeavors. It'south sub-125 mile range doesn't diminish the around-town fun you have driving the Mini SE.

For

  • Incredibly fun to drive
  • The Mini experience in an EV
  • Inexpensive with incentives
  • Tight handling

Against

  • Not as quick every bit a Mini S
  • Driver aid features experience dated
  • Depression EV range

Tom's Guide Verdict

An outstanding titbit to Mini's future EV endeavors. It's sub-125 mile range doesn't diminish the effectually-town fun you take driving the Mini SE.

Pros

  • +

    Incredibly fun to bulldoze

  • +

    The Mini feel in an EV

  • +

    Inexpensive with incentives

  • +

    Tight handling

Cons

  • -

    Not as quick as a Mini S

  • -

    Commuter assist features feel dated

  • -

    Low EV range

2021 Mini SE: Specs

Release Date: Bachelor now
Price: Starts at $29,900 (MSRP); equally tested $38,250
Power: Single-motor forepart-wheel drive
Horsepower: 181hp
Bombardment range: 114 miles
Tiptop speed: 93 MPH
Smarts: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Mini Connect. No Android Auto

The term "compliance car" comes with a lot of baggage. For years, in order to gratify regulators, automakers would shove a bombardment pack and electrical motor in a gas-powered car and phone call it a day. Information technology wasn't ideal. So something weird happened: a few of those Frankenstein vehicles were actually good.

The VW E-Golf and Fiat 500e, turned out to be great electrical vehicles with less than great range. The Mini SE not only fits into that weird space, information technology's also the undisputed king of the compliance cars. That is, if fun and cost are your number one concerns.

Its 114 EPA-rated miles of range is easily dwarfed past the ID.iv, Chevy Bolt, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Nissan Leaf. Its only real range contemporary is the new Mazda MX-30 EV.

After a week behind the wheel of the Mini SE, we institute it to be one of the virtually enjoyable driving experiences available for nether $50,000. It actually might even be ameliorate than its gasoline-powered analogue. The front-wheel-bulldoze vehicle offers upwardly impressive handling both around boondocks and on tight mountain roads. Acceleration isn't as quick as the Mini Southward, but should appease those looking for EV torque bursts while driving.

That said, its 114-miles of range makes it a tough sell in a world where almost EVs are offering more 220 miles of range. During our tests of mixed driving environments including highways, urban settings, and curvy back roads, nosotros were able to squeeze 120 miles of range from the vehicle's 32.vi kWh capacity pack — of which 28.9 kWh is available to the vehicle at all times.

Overall, driving was an enjoyable feel, although the driver assistance tech is essentially just adaptive cruise control. The front seats are comfortable and even those six-human foot and taller will find no issue with head or leg room while driving or in the rider seat. The rear seats though are a tough sell to passengers unless they are yoga practitioners.

The in-vehicle tech is handled by Mini Connect, which is essentially a reskinned version of BMW's iDrive organisation placed behind an viii.eight-inch touchscreen. About tasks are easy to accomplish only the organization can exist hard to navigate when anything more than than the basics are needed. It does back up Apple tree Carplay but non Android Automobile. Even with its low range, alongside the noticeable lack of driving and Android Auto tech, it's difficult to drive this vehicle without cracking a smile.

Mini SE: Release appointment, pricing and trim levels

The 2022 Mini SE is available at present in three trim levels. All of the variants come with the same powertrain, bombardment pack, and range. Regardless of which version is purchased, all have the same 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, a 32.half dozen kWh capacity pack with 114 miles of range, and a charge rate of l kW.

With a starting cost of $29,900, the Mini SE'due south base-level Signature trim is ane of the to the lowest degree expensive electric vehicles on the market. It ships with heated seats, the 8.8-inch Mini Connect touchscreen system and LED cornering lights.

Throw an boosted $iv,000 at Mini and with a starting toll of $33,900, the Signature Plus trim level adds a moonroof, Harman/Kardon audio system, and an interior textile upgrade. If yous decide to go all out, the Iconic trim level starting at $36,900 adds adaptive cruise control and leather seats.

All of these vehicles have a delivery accuse of $850. They're likewise all eligible for the $seven,500 federal tax credit which, even without state and local credits, could nab a person a base level Signature Mini SE for $23,250. That is actually cheaper than the least expensive Mini Hardtop which costs $23,750, inclusive of delivery and charges.

Unfortunately, you lot tin can't lease a Mini SE.

Mini SE: Range, battery and charging

In a mixed driving environment of highways, urban, residential, and twisty backroads over the course of a calendar week, the EPA estimated range of 114 miles was generally met or exceeded.

Side view of Mini SE

(Image credit: Tom'south Guide)

While driving a predetermined range-examination road at night, the Mini SE posted a range of 120 miles. When the bulk of driving was on highways at an average of 70 miles per hour, and during very ambitious driving on the backroads of the hills about Oakland, California, equally expected the range suffered — as expected. But information technology wasn't enough to create a range feet situation that would preclude u.s.a. from getting back to our domicile base.

The Mini SE contains a relatively pocket-size 32.6 kWh capacity pack (of which 28.ix kWh is available to the vehicle). When coupled with a DC fast charging charge per unit of upwardly to 50kW. Mini states that it tin can accuse upward to eighty-percent in 36 minutes.

Considering of its smaller bombardment and shorter range than other EVs, nosotros had the vehicle set to take a charge up to 100-percent. In fact, information technology was delivered with that choice turned on. When hooked up to a DC fast charging station while picking up food or shopping, we would usually come back out to a full or nearly full bombardment.

Mini SE charging port

(Epitome credit: Tom's Guide)

The vehicle supports regular abode outlet charging at 2 kW and level 2 charging speeds up to 7.4 kW. Both ended up beingness acceptable during the calendar week for daily drives.

Mini SE: Interior and cargo space

Minis are known for their small size, while even so offering roomy interiors for drivers. The Mini SE is no different. Information technology's the same size as the regular hardtop Mini and is capable of comfortably accepting both drivers and front end passengers taller than half dozen anxiety. With large windows all around, as long as you're in the front seat, the vehicle the Mini SE feels like a large mid-sized sedan.

Rear view of Mini SE

(Epitome credit: Tom'southward Guide)

The rear seats are some other issue. Medium to brusque adults and children should be fine in the back, simply tall folks should simply exist placed behind the commuter for short periods of time — lest the driver exist charged with violating the Geneva convention.

Comfort-wise, the front seats are a skilful mixture of sportiness and plushness. The side bolsters offering plenty of support while cornering, while the center of the seats conform enough to the driver and passenger'southward spine to make road tripping (with a lot of charging stops) an option. The rear seats are plush but don't offer the same degree of back up.

Mini SE interior dash

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

Nosotros had the Iconic trim with leather throughout, which bumped upwardly the interior a few notches over the base level trim. But the overall materials in the Mini is typically of a higher quality than that of other vehicles in the same price range. Most of that has to exercise with its parent company BMW bestowing its own luxury touches on the automaker.

Mini is known for its quirky interiors, which included early rebirth-era having the speedometer in the center console. Those "fun" throwbacks to the original vehicles have largely been replaced with the more traditional placement of information, simply not at the expense of losing the playful heritage of the brand.

Mini SE tail light

(Prototype credit: Tom'south Guide)

Argent toggle switches, a round frame for the infotainment organisation, and climate control knobs not only give the commuter tactile items to make adjustments but give the vehicle a certain flair. A flair that's largely disappearing in the automotive world at big as more than and more controls are migrated to touchscreens.

Mini SE infotainment system

(Image credit: Mini)

Some other Mini magic trick is that while the back seats might not brand friends happy to grab a ride, the squarish design of the motel makes for a substantial bit of cargo infinite when those seats are down.

Mini SE trunk space

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

The trunk has eight.7-cubic feet of cargo space available while the rear seats are up. Plenty for a few grocery bags or two smallish comport-on bags. Just put those seats down and the infinite increases to 34 cubic feet of space. That'southward more the Nissan Leafage with its rear seats folded down. It'southward not in the small SUV range when it comes to cargo, but y'all can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the back of the Mini SE.

Mini SE: Tech and safety features

An EV, past definition, is typically the more tech-rich vehicle in an automaker's lineup. Since the Mini SE is based on a gas vehicle platform, it'south non exactly bubbling over with EV-centric features or gimmicks. In nigh cases, that'southward really not a mark against the vehicle.

Unlike the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, and VW ID.iv, the Mini SE requires the driver to actually plough on the vehicle. Simply instead of a tiresome old button, Mini is using the aforementioned yellowish toggle starting time switch in the center console. It's more satisfying to employ this than to just sit down downward.

Mini SE safety settings

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

Meanwhile Mini is function of the growing trend of placing the dash cluster on the steering column itself instead of affixing it to the dash. While it's likely built that way to reduce the chances of the driver having the top of the cluster cut off while adjusting the steering, in our experience, tall drivers will still miss the very top of the gauges. The curse of driving while tall.

The dash cluster does non have a hood to cutting downwardly on glare, but instead uses a matte coating on the screen. Information technology does make the display await less rich than the touchscreen, only nosotros never encountered an consequence with the sun bravado out the information.

Mini SE dash screen

(Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

The viii.eight-inch center touchscreen houses the Mini infotainment organisation that'south really merely a reskinned version of BMW'south iDrive system. Similar to the organization establish in the gas Mini, information technology does have EV-centric data that wasn't besides difficult to become also. Like BMW's infotainment organization, the Mini SE has a controller knob in the heart console about the gear shifter. We establish ourselves using information technology more than we exercise in BMWs. Whether controlled with the dial or with our fingers, the infotainment system was quick with very little latency.

Mini SE shifter

(Prototype credit: Tom'southward Guide)

Information was presented in an piece of cake-to-read fashion. Home screens with most-used information were easy to swipe left and right on for boosted information and navigation was usually only a tap or swipe abroad if it wasn't already in the dwelling house screen.

Like the climate controls, book command is a knob that is ever a pleasant surprise. The round frame of the infotainment organisation had a fun glow that indicated your current driving situation. Meanwhile, voice controls, while backside some of the more robust systems from Mercedes, Volvo, and Polestar (the latter two using Android Automotive), worked well agreement our commands and directions.

Mini SE interior dash

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

For owners of Apple's iPhone, the vehicle supports wireless CarPlay. Some of the initial bug BMW and Mini had with keeping a solid wireless CarPlay connection seemed to accept been resolved and we had nil issues during our calendar week with the vehicle. Android Auto on the other hand? That's another story since the Mini SE does non support Android Auto right now. Just BMW has been working on adding back up to its vehicles, so hereafter support is expected.

Keeping those phones charged regardless of the platform is a wireless charging pad in the middle armrest and ii USB-A ports.

Safety and commuter assistance features include adaptive cruise control, lane divergence warning, pedestrian and front collision warning with city collision mitigation. All items that could be tested safely on public roads were put through their paces and functioned equally expected. One detail still missing is blind-spot monitoring which seems similar a major oversight on any modernistic vehicle.

Mini SE: The drive

During our week behind the bike, driving hundreds of miles, we found that we just couldn't get enough of Mini SE. Certain, the bombardment pack adds an additional 300 pounds to the electric Mini compared to its gas analogue, there'due south no denying that. Merely, while the heft is noticeable especially on such a pocket-sized car, it in no fashion diminished the Mini experience of driving the vehicle through the mountains.

Side view of Mini SE

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

What it lacks in range it makes up for in joy. The typical, "drives like a go-cart" feeling of driving a Mini is there forth with the joy of 199-human foot pounds of EV torque. While the power numbers equal a glacial zero to sixty time of 6.nine seconds, yous forget all near the slowish run to highway speed when y'all're on backroad linking corners.

The Mini SE is as at abode around town. Its pocket-sized stature makes it great for urban environments where smaller is better, especially when it comes to finding parking spaces. The cabin is quiet and for the most part, smooth while cruising effectually town.

On the highway though, the tight break could turn some people off. What's great on backroads might non translate to a fun fourth dimension on rough highways. It'southward not probable to be enough to plough off those looking for the Mini feel, but for anyone wanting something shine on long stretches of croaky cobblestone? Eventually, they'll notice that a small wheelbase and tight pause interpret to slightly jarring rides.

Front view of Mini SE

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Braking was adequate in all driving environments. Whether slowing quickly when beingness cut-off by another driver on the highway, or breaking heavily for extended periods of time on more ambitious backroad drives. The brakes held firm. We had an opportunity to drive the Mini SE on an autocross course a few weeks ahead of our review unit of measurement being delivered and even in that intense environment, the brakes continued to work every bit advertised later 5 very ambitious laps on the track.

Rear view of Mini SE

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The vehicle's steering is advisable for its lineage with tight steering that was quick to respond without any play in the steering wheel. Information technology accomplished this without whatsoever twitchiness that would outcome in a more than tense driving experience. While the Mini SE tin take on the twisties, it's not a track vehicle that requires millimeter adjustments every few seconds.

As anticipated its small stature and brusk wheelbase does make short work of u-turns, with the tight turning circumvolve also making parking lots a breeze to navigate.

Mini SE: Navigation and driver aid features

The Mini SE builds upon its parent visitor BMW's infotainment system and its navigation setup. It'due south an piece of cake-to-employ system that, thanks to voice recognition, can be controlled without taking your eyes off the road. Turn-past-turn directions are available both on the infotainment screen and in the dash cluster.

Where the Min SE feels dated is its lack of lane-keeping assistant. Instead, at that place is a warning arrangement when you're about to leave your lane. Its adaptive cruise control is a solid system. During our tests, information technology acted accordingly when either a vehicle merged into or out of the lane ahead of the automobile.

Mini SE lane assist

(Image credit: Mini)

During our week behind the wheel, it accelerated rapidly after a slow-moving vehicle moved out of its manner, speeding upward to the fix speed. It also didn't brake too harshly when some other car pulled in front end of information technology. Mini'due south arrangement won't help yous stay in your lane outside of warnings, it will assist lucifer the speed of vehicles in front of you during traffic.

After existence stopped for a few seconds in gridlock, the Mini SE did require the driver to depress the accelerator or press resume push to continue. Merely because the lack of lane-keeping assistance, we weren't too surprised past this.

Mini SE: Verdict

Mini has announced that it will be a full EV make past 2030. No more compliance cars, just full-on EVs built on dedicated platforms. The Mini SE is a bit of an appetizer of that electric-simply time to come. It's a fun-to-drive pocket-sized urban vehicle that'due south greater than it may seem at starting time glance, thanks to the disappointing range.

Yes, it would be a improve vehicle if it went longer between charges, just that small battery equates to a pocket-sized cost tag and but a nominal crash-land in weight over the gas-powered vehicle. For twenty-four hours-to-24-hour interval use, the Mini SE might exist the main vehicle for those in an urban surround but really a second vehicle for most. But while the other car would end upward being your main manner of getting effectually town, the Mini SE will still exist able to proceed you happy. Because driving should be fun, and the Mini SE certainly delivers.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/2022-mini-se

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