The new MINI Electric two-door (MINI Cooper SE), at a glance, looks the part of your standard MINI. But let’s get one thing straight: This EV is anything but standard. It’s the brand’s first pure electric car that can charge up to 80% in under 40 minutes via DC Fast Charging – it just so happens to vibrate with MINI Cooper charm, too. Pretty good for being the first-ever MINI EV.
Of course, the Cooper SE joins a growing list of electric cars that have already captured consumers’ trust. Take the Nissan LEAF, for instance. Having been around for a decade, LEAF ranks third in global sales, just behind Beijing’s BAIC ECs and Tesla Model 3. That’s quite an impressive feat, but how does the ‘20 Nissan LEAF stand up to the ’20 MINI Electric Hardtop and its city-car credentials?
MINI Electric vs. LEAF: Price
Let’s talk about objective value, shall we? Starting at $29,900*, the MINI Electric is more affordable on paper than the $31,600 Nissan LEAF. Calculating in the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the MINI Electric can be had for as little as $22,400 (vs. the LEAF’s final $24,100 price tag) – and that’s excluding any utility rebates, HOV opportunities, and state EV incentives available in your area. (So, it’s more affordable off paper, too.)
That value increases when factoring in the cost savings at the pump. With the EV MINI Cooper SE, you can save ~$600 annually over its gas-powered counterpart.
MINI Electric vs. LEAF: Features
In all, the MINI Electric 2-door is priced like a budget EV, but it offers more than you might expect. Just look at the list of standard features on the Cooper SE Signature trim:
- LED Headlights and Taillights
- A 6.5-inch touchscreen
- Heated Front Seats
- Apple CarPlay™
- MINI Navigation
- Active driving assistant
- Remote heating and cooling
- Remote charging
- Digital display cockpit
- Heated mirrors and washer jets
- Black leatherette upholstery
- Automatic emergency braking
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Automatic dual-zone climate
- Segment-exclusive heat pump HVAC system
Step up into the Signature Plus trim, and you get power-folding mirrors, a panoramic moonroof, Rear Park Distance Control, a swanky Harmon-Kardon audio system, and a universal garage door opener.
Put down another $3,000 for the Iconic trim and you’ll get features like Front and Rear Park Distance Control, a parking assistant, heads-up display, wireless device charging, a MINI Yours leather steering wheel, and an upgraded 8.8-inch touchscreen.
The 2020 LEAF has less trunk space than the MINI Electric (30 cu. ft. vs. 34 cu. ft.) and is missing out on some key standard features on its base S model, like heated front seats, navigation, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate controls.
Comparing range-topping LEAF and MINI models, and it’s clear that the Cooper SE has the upper hand. The LEAF SV doesn’t include features such as MINI’s 8.8” screen, wireless phone charging, heads-up display, moonroof, and garage door opener.
MINI Electric vs. LEAF: Charging
As mentioned previously, the MINI Electric can charge up to 80% in under 40 minutes – 36 minutes, to be exact – at a 50kW Quick Charging station. But for many of us who make the trek to and from Miami each weekday, the home AC charging option is more than sufficient; you can power up the 32.6-kWh battery pack with your standard AC home charger (7.4kW) in 4 hours.
Nissan LEAF can charge up to 80% in 40 minutes with a public DC Quick Charge, but it falls far short of matching MINI on a regular 240V Level 2 charger. LEAF’s 40-kWh battery takes 8 hours to power up to 100%. It doesn’t take a rocket magician to see that it takes double the time to charge up the LEAF vs. the MINI Cooper SE.
MINI Electric vs. LEAF: Performance
Although the LEAF outperforms the Cooper SE in range -- 149 miles vs 110 miles, respectively -- that’s not a surprise considering the MINI Electric is meant for inner-city spurts, like daily commutes to Miami from Hialeah, for instance. And what the MINI EV lacks in mile range it makes up for in sporty oomph.
The FWD MINI Electric is fitted with a battery-powertrain duo that produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Best of all, this small electric car has a max speed of 93 mph. By comparison, the 2020 Nissan LEAF EV, with its standard 147-hp motor that makes 236 lb.-ft. of torque, gets to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds.
MINI’s trademark – handling – is on full display with this Cooper EV. With a low curb weight and excellent center of gravity, the MINI takes on twisty-turnies with aplomb. Its stiff suspension takes on mostly anything, upping the car’s fun factor. Unlike the LEAF, this MINI EV equips ultra-high-performance all-season tires, ensuring drivers know this is a cousin to BMW. (And, yes, you get that other trademark “go-kart” feeling with this MINI.)
Even the folks at Car and Driver, left awestruck at the car’s cornering abilities, stated, “It wouldn't be a surprise if, in terms of sheer grip, this is the most capable Mini.” We concur. If you don’t have too far to go, the MINI Cooper SE may be the best electric car for you.
If you value a fun-to-drive car that just so happens to be efficient for city commuting, settle that derriere into the all-new MINI Cooper SE Electric, available soon at a MINI dealership near you. Should you happen to live in South Florida, contact Braman MINI of Miami to request more info about the Cooper Electric or to build and reserve yours. Call us at 786-577-5219 to speak with our Miami MINI sales team today.
Disclaimers:
*Model year 2021 MSRP does not include destination and handling charge of $850 and excludes license, registration, taxes and options and labor to install. Certain features may be optional. Actual price determined by your authorized MINI dealer.
