Mini Electric 2021 Review: Popular small car gets a facelift, but what about the range? | WhichEV

Video timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:27 Exterior Design and Options
00:02:24 Interior
00:05:25 Storage
00:06:26 Charging and Range
00:08:18 General Controls
00:10:15 Media Control Unit
00:11:42 Driving and Performance
00:13:01 Safety Features
00:13:44 Overall Thoughts and Pricing
00:14:49 Verdict

Follow us on social media:

Subscribe to see more videos from WhichEV!

[Sinrne]

I bought this to replace my Saab 9-3X. Main usage is around town, sometimes to summer cottage which is 160km from home. Took one for a test drive and fell in love, lovely to drive, compact enough and good tech. Sadly my car wont have HK speakers.

[YourMajestyTheKing]

Just picked up mine. They are all custom build now. They all can be so so gorgeous.

[TheTrueWelshIdiot]

Small note on the folding mirrors, you just need to press and hold the lock button on the key for 2 seconds when exiting the car to wind up the windows and fold in the mirrors.

[necromancer]

Great review 👍
As we got a (fully specced except glass roof) 2021 SE for my wife 2 weeks ago, i'd like to add some thoughts.
Having also a 2018 JCW 8AT, i can assure the 0-100kmh numbers are typically BMW, so worst case and lower in reality. Easily below 7 sec in all situations except very low battery, a tad slower than the 6 sec of the JCW, but in real life in/around town, it's as fast and nippy as the JCW.
We got ours with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 tires on nicely matching 17" Tentacle spoke wheels, which offer amazing grip&traction. Torque steering is not a topic in the slightest (except when going 0 compromise full throttle on bad/damaged/uneven roads), plus traction control is outright brilliant.
Which makes the SE the only relevant EV for us: lightweight (for beeing an EV, and ofcourse w/o glass roof which forbids itself in any car due to body stability, weight and high center of gravity), performance, handling&suspension, general quality of materials and making, design in general, frameless windows and an iconic shape, plus one of the best infotainment systems (regardless of car size) - and the perfect range for distances, where the JCW's or my diesel's engine won't even warm up properly to begin with (and the use of ICE's really is wrong, from an environmental AND technical pov)....
Additionally, we don't want a dull, oddly designed or outright ugly EV, filled with cheap plastics and uninspiring tones of mouse grey, lackluster engines, missing quality and design likewise, too much battery overweight and outright awfull handling, horrific steering made for beginners/untrained drivers, for a tiny bit more range and bigger but still unusefull space for beeing a true 5 seater, because still a small car - which essentially sums up all other EVs that size except the Honda e which is at least on par with the Mini in design, materials and quality (and of course price)....
Needless to say, the EV kind of lorry like 2500kg+ road monsters with consumption exceeding 25kwh/100km, touchpanels (in a moving car...probably the most intelligence freed invention since vacuum robots) the size of TV sets and similar, forbid itself too for us. If going ridicolous and "i dont care", there a certainly better (and more classy and fun) ways to do so with a decent I6 or V8...

So the Mini may be the "oldest" or "most less advanced" car currently, but truly is the only option for a car enthusiast looking for a well rounded package and a perfect mix in regard to beeing a quality, real life usable and true drivers car - that offers driving pleasure similar to cars worth double or more.
And it has a heat pump....something not too common in this car size.
Alongside certain Jag, RR, Morgan, TVR and Mc Laren models, the Mini truly is UK's best 👍
For going 700 miles on the Autobahn in one trip without stopping, cruising totally relaxed at an average 100-120mph (which is really not fast in regard to Autobahn): i take my BMW diesel, austrian made engine, Euro 6d rating. Cat, DPF and Adblue/NOx converter make it exhaust air similar to that taken in - so 0 regrets...
It will take EV/battery technology some more years (if ever) to reach that kind of practicality or appliance - but essentially doesn't need to anyway, as already now it's "perfect as is" for the right appliances. So basically 95% of average people's daily mobitlity needs (where diesel/petrol, wholeheartedly, even made little sense in the past).
And if i only have the SE available, and the need for a longer trip: the SE certainly has (alongside the i3) a truly excellent battery management, plenty of spare battery capacity (4kwh) and electronics to accompany - so it's real life capability to charge at/near the 50kw maximum basically from 0 to 80 makes recharging a quick breeze, and a lot faster/more practical than a lot of other EVs. Beeing a petrol head, admitting to be really content with the SE in any regard....i guess that alone tells it all.

[warnerswheelingabout]

Very good fair and balanced review, you represented the features and values extremely well. It’s the same with any new car choice, it’s designed for.a select group not everyman. The Mini has similar characteristics as a McLaren, only room for two full size adults, but fun to drive. It’s a good second car for Mum to take the kids to school, it’s an ideal starter car for a young driver, it’s a really great car for a couple with the back seats folded down it’s a good load carrier. It’s not a family car, or is it a long distance e commute vehicle. As for the range, it is a compromise, light weight good maneuverability and faster charging, replace long distance hauler. If like us the majority of your trips are short and, if when you’re doing long distance you have time to plan stops and wait for it to charge it’s not at all intimidating to take on a long journey.

[DominikZalewski]

Great review. Informative, short and got all the real life driving info I needed not just dry facts. We currently have Audi Etron and want a small EV for short distance city driving. Although the range isn’t great (so does in our Etron), I do like all the options in level 3. I’m seriously considering getting one in black shadow version :)

[YourMajestyTheKing]

I don’t understand why the black trim option do not blackout the chrome trim around the body waist

[chrismacdonald.]

Great review. I’m looking to get a Mini electric when I retire, not long. I live in Addlestone and, just as a benchmark, Brighton is 57 miles away via motorways. Be interesting to see if I could make it there and back without a charge, bringing into consideration the different driving modes.

[Sb]

The displays in the car look amazing, so pin sharp.

[YourMajestyTheKing]

Just figured out that two tone roof is actually an option. I thought that you HAVE to pick either White or Black roof.

[antonydanby]

It seems to be based on the BMW 94ah i3, which BTW I have driven up and down the motorways on. I can do East Yorkshire to London in 3 short charge stops... Not an issue for me, as it has a flat charging curve and doesn't rapidgate.. unlike another EV I can think of ... Would I take the mini EV on the motorway.... sure I would, but I'd keep the speed at bang on 70 mph the whole way ... You just have to have some faith in the decent chargers like Instavolt and just grow a pair and do it .... I have often seen 24kwh and 30kwh Leafs doing the same journey and they have less range than this

[Sb]

Is this the most use of the word "level" in any car review... ever? I think so! Love the chunky steering wheel in that mini.

[EverythingCarsandMoreECAM]

This is a great review. I have subscribed

[aidenwrenn]

Don’t drive to Scotland? What if you live in Cumbria?

[sapphirejunction]

Getting a level 3 company car thus have no choice as they are going full electric, the rest on my list are either French or Vauxhall and bit of Korean but chose the Mini due to quality and drivability (wife has a petrol Cooper) but yes I will fear the awful range with my lead foot...plus it's made in the UK.
Btw, how much does it actually cost to fully charge this car in the real world?
I had read it was about £4-£5 but digging a bit deeper it appears to be closer to £12 @35p kWh unless I'm completely mistaken?
If this is the case then it isn't that much cheaper to run than a petrol version based on like for like mileage.

[silvermovermedia]

Who’d of thought a Mini would have a small boot? Horses for courses some people don’t want 4 doors, single people and couples, it’s getting harder to find 2/3 door cars, for some of us the bigger front door opening is much more important than the rear door missing, thanks goodness Mini still make one. The 60/40 means you have a choice of larger or smaller 3rd seat when carrying ‘one’ passenger and luggage. Some pretty basic misconceptions in this review, cars are not all the same for a reason!

[rchatte]

Should have built it in the 5 door mini with a decent range. 90 miles is a deal breaker.

[tommykable]

Agree...Too expensive for the range, cheap screen display on the stearing without sun protection, no active AdAs, and in 2021 still not connected to android auto, for that price, another time, unacceptable.

[blueeyedboy]

If only the refresh included an extra 20kwh & RWD

[YourMajestyTheKing]

The gear stalk is the most upsetting thing.