Mini Cooper Electric long-term test: report 4

The car Mini Cooper SE Exclusive Run by Eleanor Cooper, news writer

Why it’s here To find out if this cutesy small electric car is more than just a pretty face

Needs to Absorb the stress of morning stop-start commutes, shrug off pangs of range anxiety and slot into small parking spaces with ease

Mileage 1531 miles List price £32,105 Price as tested £34,655 Official range 247 miles Test range 180 miles

27 February 2026 – Reunited and it feels so good

I was rear-ended recently while pulling off the motorway in my Mini Cooper SE, meaning it was off the road for repairs for a brief spell. However, my courtesy car was its petrol counterpart, the Cooper S. And that meant I had an opportunity to directly compare these two Minis.

Inside, for example, I discovered that they’re almost identical. You get the same huge, circular infotainment touchscreen, complemented by some physical controls. Plus, I’m a fan of the key-shaped switch you use to turn each car on; it feels more interactive than pressing an ‘on/off’ button, but it’s also easier than inserting an actual key.

I did appreciate the electric front seats in the S; my SE’s adjust manually. However, given that I rarely tweak my driving position once I’ve set it up, I wouldn’t pay extra for electric seats if I had a chance to spec my car again.

As for the driving experiences, while both cars have fairly firm suspension, I was more aware of imperfections in the road surface while behind the wheel of the petrol car. And I prefer the immediate acceleration I get in my electric Cooper SE; in the S, there’s a noticeable pause before its petrol engine responds.

Being an electric car, the Cooper SE has one feature that the Cooper S lacks altogether: a regenerative braking system. I’ve quickly got used to the way it dramatically slows you down when you lift off the accelerator. And, of course, it’s nice to know that some of the energy I’d normally lose through braking goes back into the battery to extend my range.

Then again, while the S’s official 45.6mpg fuel economy figure isn’t class-leading, I didn’t have to stop as often to fill up as I do in my SE. I’m still waiting for my home charger to be installed; I’m sure that’ll be a gamechanger for both ease of use and running costs.

While I enjoyed my time with the petrol model, then, I’m confident that I made the right decision in choosing the SE.

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