With the all-electric craze in full swing, more and more auto manufacturers are throwing their hats into the proverbial ring—including MINI. The MINI Cooper Electric (as it’s known across the pond in its home territory) has been available since the 2020 model year. Since its release, it’s established itself as one of the best small EVs on the market.
Now, MINI’s changing the game again by unveiling the world’s first ever fully electric convertible. We’re beyond amped up for its eventual introduction into the US market, so let’s have a rundown on why we think this MINI is destined to be the best electric convertible car for years to come.
Stunning Good Looks
It may look just like your classic MINI from a block away, but get up close, and you’ll notice a ton of MINI EV-specific features.
One major detail you’ll notice right away is the trademarked Power Spoke wheels, which have a playfully funky plus-sign design. Something you may not notice right off the bat, though, is the fact that the exterior dimensions have been tweaked, ensuring the best possible aerodynamics and improving the electric range. The current MINI EV is an inch shorter and a teensy bit taller than its gas-powered siblings, while still retaining the exact same deceptively spacious interior measurements.
Speaking of the interior, the MINI SE has a few awesome features worth noting: the steering wheel and dash display have been tweaked, and ambient lighting has been added to enhance the vibe.
Basically, once you step in, you’re gonna know you’re driving an SE.
Energizingly Cool Features
An all-electric powertrain isn’t the only way MINI is keeping up with the current standards. If it’s really gonna be the best small electric car, it has to have the latest in comfort, infotainment, and driver assistance features, too.
The 8.8-inch circular touchscreen display is the central feature of the cabin (literally and figuratively). The crisp display is encircled with customizable ambient light features, and all Cooper SEs come from the factory with wireless Apple CarPlay, Sirius XM, and navigation. If the stock sound system doesn’t thump enough for your liking, an upgraded Harmon/Kardon sound system is available.
The analog cluster behind the steering wheel has also been given the digitized treatment, with a 5-and-a-half-inch screen that displays pertinent battery, mileage, and navigation info. Dual climate control, heated steering wheel and front seats, and remote MINI App interfacing are all standard features as well.
Of course, safety is always priority number one, which is why the list of standard ADAS features includes an Active Driving Assistant, complete with frontal collision warning, pedestrian detection, city collision mitigation, and lane departure warning.
Powerful Performance
One of the main reasons to buy a MINI is so you can take advantage of that one-of-a-kind go-kart handling.
The MINI Cooper SE has been lauded by critics as being one of the most fun electric cars to drive, and when you look at the specs, it’s easy to see why. The 135-kilowatt electric motor puts out an impressive 181 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque, which puts it pretty much smack-dab in between the base Cooper model, and the almighty John Cooper Works performance edition. While MINI’s official site claims it can do zero to 60 in 6.9 seconds, some critics have gotten it to go even quicker, like the folks at Car and Driver, who got their 2024 Cooper SE up to 60 in just 6.1 seconds.
The new MINI Cooper Electric is not only one of the smallest electric cars but unsurprisingly, one of the quickest.
Lightning-Fast Charging
When designing a compact electric vehicle, perhaps the biggest hurdle is making sure the battery has enough oomph to get from A to B. Range anxiety is the main thing that keeps many Americans from joining the EV club.Utilizing a public level 3 DC fast charger, the Cooper SE can regain 80% of its total battery in about 36 minutes. This makes it a breeze to bring it back up to a full charge while you’re in the grocery store, out to dinner, seeing a movie, or bringing the family to the park.
Also, did you know that there are currently almost 40,000 compatible public charging stations? You can search public DCFC stations near you using the MINI App and find one lickety-split.
Level 2 home charging speeds are impressive as well. With the right setup, MINI estimates about 20% battery life for every hour of charging. If that seems somewhat slow, just remember, all you have to do is charge while you sleep, and you never have to visit a gas station again. Unless you have the munchies at 3 am, that is.
Some critics have pointed out that our smallest electric vehicle doesn’t exactly have the longest electric range. While it’s true that older MINI SE models have a modest range, their parent company the BMW Group recently announced that models released in the near future will have improved battery packs, with estimated ranges of around 250 miles, which will more than double the current standard.
Improved range with the same blink-and-you’ll-miss-it charging speeds? Yes, please.
Shocking Affordability
Since its humble beginnings in the late ‘50s, the MINI goal has always been to provide a posh luxury car experience that’s accessible to everybody.The MINI Cooper SE starts out at $30,900, which makes it one of the best compact EVs for economically-minded folks. What’s really exciting though, as with many EVs, is the potential for massive tax incentives. The federal government offers a credit of up to $7,500 for new cars manufactured in certain model years, and up to $4,000 for pre-owned vehicles.
If that wasn’t enough to make your checkbook sing, many states and local municipalities offer their own tax incentives, including funding for the installation of a level 2 charger in your home. Not sure if you qualify? That’s what we’re here for!
So… What About That MINI Electric Convertible?
Yes, it’s true: this year, they produced a limited run of an all-electric MINI Convertible. However, the emphasis should be placed on the word limited. Only 999 of them were manufactured, and they were all sold exclusively in Europe. Alexa, play While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
There’s still good news for all you MINI fanatics out there dreaming about an EV that lets you cruise with the wind in your hair. With their pledge to eventually become a 100% electric brand, it’s only a matter of time before we get a run of MINI Cooper Electric Convertibles stateside.
Ready to Join the Electric Revolution?
With their partnership with Polar Bears International, the MINI brand hopes to put itself front and center of the sustainability movement in the automotive world. If you want to join us, stop by and ask about an award-winning MINI Cooper Electric for sale near you.Still not totally sold on buying or leasing a full-on EV? Give us a call at (786) 374-2201 and ask about testing out a MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle, and see how you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Only at Braman MINI, your chosen electric car dealer in Miami.
