The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New Mini engine, same fun
The Mini has always been one of the most fun cars to drive. Low slung and lightweight, it has a gokart-like feel to it.
How could an electric version possibly be as enjoyable? Surely the extra weight of the battery would spoil the fun?
I got to find out when I took the Mini Electric for a spin.
I’m pleased to report the battery-powered version is every bit as much of a lark as its petrol-fuelled counterpart.
A single electric motor drives the front wheels and dishes out 182bhp – around the same as a 2.0-litre petrol Mini Cooper S.
The Mini Electric does weigh 145kg more than its petrol stablemate.
However, a hefty 199lb ft of torque helps launch it quickly off the line.
And the batteries are located beneath the floor, meaning the Mini Electric has an even lower centre of gravity.
It zips from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and feels even faster than that figure suggests.
I had a terrific half hour dashing down some country lanes in it.
The Mini Electric’s handling is incredibly entertaining.
It grips nicely through corners and the body remains completely flat.
Because you’re so close to the road it feels like you’re going faster than you are.
You can have a lot of fun in the Mini Electric without breaking any speed limits.
Prices for the Mini Electric range from around £29,000 to £34,000.
That places it at the most affordable end of the EV spectrum.
Mini hasn’t loaded the Electric up with a big battery. It comes with a modest 32.6kwh battery, which is much smaller than most other EVS.
That means you’ll have to stop to charge more often than you will in most electric cars.
The Mini Electric has a range of about 145 miles.
That’s well short of the 200 miles-plus offered by similarly priced EVS such as the Vauxhall Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208.
The Mini clearly isn’t a car designed for long drives though. It’s perfect as a city car or as a second car for short journeys.
The small battery means the Mini Electric has as much head, legroom and boot space as any other Mini.
The electric version of the Mini is a very good car.
It keeps the most important thing any car with the Mini badge needs to have – the fun factor.