2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric Review
Topic: 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric Review
Still small, today gas-free! Mini took its most iconic version, the Hardtop 2 Door, and substituted its selection of sporty motors with an electric powertrain. The result is a coupe that has not lost some of its design or exciting functionality but gained a great deal of eco-friendly.
The drawbacks are what you would expect. The inside is tight, both for passengers and cargo — we do not recommend this car for households. But if you can take care of the shortage of distance, this tiny EV functions excellent as a city runabout. Acceleration, handling, and especially braking are all high points. While we could do with more EV range, our real world tests readily exceeded Mini’s evaluation of 110 miles. Simply speaking, this auto oozes character at a cost which makes it worth a look.
Our Verdict on 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
With the passing of the Fiat 500e, the SE is now the smallest EV it is possible to buy, measuring more than a foot shorter than another in line, Chevrolet’s Bolt. This means less cargo space and a ridiculous quantity of room for rear passengers. However, the diminutive size does supply some classic Mini benefits, such as quick acceleration and easy handling. Overall, we like the Mini Cooper SE. Its small range and two-door body design restrict its appeal, but if you simply want a fun EV for commuting, it is worth checking out.
The Cooper SE is fun to drive. It’s small, quick, and nimble. In our testing, it coated 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That’s quicker than other speedy EVs like Hyundai Kona Electric (6.6 minutes ) and Chevy Bolt (6.8 seconds).
Braking and handling are also top-notch. The SE pivots on a dime and is great for a curvy street just as far as it’s for negotiating narrow city streets. It provides two levels of regenerative braking to choose from. The maximum setting permits you to drive only utilizing the accelerator pedal. The other acts more like a conventional car for those that aren’t utilized to reevaluate quickly without touching the brake pedal.
We noticed that our test car reduced its available electricity by about half after one lap of hard driving on our test track. That is not something we normally encounter with an EV. Total power was restored once we let the car cool down a little. We don’t expect you’ll encounter this scenario in real-world driving, but it’s a little disappointing for a Mini.
How comfy is the 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
The Mini SE’s sporty slant sadly comes at the cost of comfort. The ride could get choppy on bumpy roads and undulating highways. The SE also wears summer tires, which can be good for street grip and generate a bit more street noise than the ordinary EV.
They provide lots of cushion for comfort and support for spirited driving. Too bad the tricky door-side armrests feel as though they’re made from recycled tires. Rear-seat relaxation is limited, mostly due to space. The Mini’s climate control system is easy to fix and provides effective cooling. You can set it to precondition the cabin before you get in.
How’s the interior of 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
The Hardtop 2 Door has amazingly massive doorways, making climbing in and out of the front seats a breeze. The driver’s seat is pretty accommodating for both short or tall motorists, though those exceptionally long of the leg may want a bit more steering.
The cabin’s boxy shape gives you considerable headroom, and the generous glass area all around makes for excellent visibility. We especially like how the back headrests fold down when not in use to depart the rearview completely unobstructed. If you intend on taking more than one passenger, then they better be kid-size.
How’s the technology used in 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
Tech from the Mini SE does not break any new ground. The touchscreen navigation stays inside a large circular central hub. This hub makes the display look bigger than it is. Apple CarPlay hooks up, but it only spans about 75 percent of the full width of the screen. Android Auto is not offered. CarPlay was our favorite map port, but Mini’s native program is fairly easy to use and attributes real-time traffic.
The upgraded Harman Kardon audio system didn’t impress us much. It lacked the textured and full noise we expect from a superior sound system. Furthermore, many of the typical innovative driving aids, such as adaptive cruise control and lane maintaining aid, are absent. They aren’t even discretionary right now. Some competitions like Hyundai and Kia supply a number of these aids as conventional equipment.
How’s the storage in 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
You’ve confused the Hardtop 2 Door for another car if you were expecting good utility. That said, Mini has maximized what distance there’s to the fullest. You’re able to diminish the cargo floor for a little more room, but you will only get 8.7 cubic feet at best without folding the back seats — approximately half of the volume of the next smallest car in the course, the Chevy Bolt.
The cabin is no better. The door pockets are too narrow to accommodate a small jar, and none of these cupholders possess anti-tip features. Covered storage is lean, essentially limited to the glove box and the center armrest dedicated to the wireless phone charger. There are easy-to-locate vehicle seat anchors in the back, but you’ll need to be quite limber to put in a small seat back there.
How cheap is your 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric ?
The Mini SE is a small vehicle, and its battery is small relative to what other producers load into their streamlined EVs. The EPA-estimated range is 110 miles using 31 kWh/100 miles, which is a lot less range than class leaders but only marginally less efficient than popular players like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and Nissan Leaf.
In Techecars’ real-world testing, we handled a range of 140.1 kilometers (120.1 miles traveled with 10 miles of range rendered ) on 30.5 kWh of electricity, which turns out to a much more efficient 21.8 kWh/100 miles per hour The Mini’s onboard charger is 7.4 kW AC (Level 2). It comes with DC fast-charging capacity standard. Mini says you can reach 80% capacity using fast charging in 36 minutes.
Is your 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric a good value?
Worth is the Mini SE’s ace in the hole, assuming you can live with a couple of caveats. The first is the absence of typically advanced driving aids, and the next is range. The Mini SE is the only battery electric vehicle that starts under $30K, yet it feels like one of the more expensive choices from the course. Build quality is solid, and all the switchgear has smoother, more refined action than what’s in many non-luxury makes. Mini retains the packages easy and our tester, fully loaded, came to $37,750, not including any federal or state tax credits.
Mini’s warranty is also above average, with four years/50,000 miles for bumper-to-bumper and powertrain protection and eight years/100,000 miles for your battery. Though EVs need less maintenance, Mini still covers things such as reviews and cabin air filters for free for the first three years/36,000 miles.
One of the wonderful things about the SE is that it looks and drives like a Mini. Little has changed other than the powertrain, which is a good thing for a brand that’s frequently related to fun in the wheel. Minis have been proven to sacrifice practicality for individuality, and some of that still exists here. However, Mini has gotten better at incorporating function into its automobiles without sacrificing excessive brand identity. There’s nothing wrong with quirky as long as it is not a big annoyance.
Which Hardtop 2 Door does Techecar’s advocate?
Much of the Cooper SE’s allure comes from the low price, and the best way to make the most of it by simply going with the bottom Signature trim degree. It comes with enough convenience and technology attributes to probably keep you satisfied. Factoring in the national tax credit makes this a surprisingly inexpensive EV.
MINI Hardtop 2 Door versions
The 2021 Mini Cooper SE comes in three trim levels. Starting things off is the well-equipped Signature, followed by a more technologically impressive Signature Plus. Topping the range is the Iconic trim with an updated touchscreen and navigation as standard. It’s possible to add the 8.8-inch display to either of the first two trims, and roof rails are optional across the board.
Signature
Kicks things off with:
- 181-horsepower electric motor
- 16-inch wheels
- LED headlights
- Heated front seats
- Simulated leather upholstery
- 6.5-inch touchscreen navigation
- Digital instrument display
- DC fast-charging capability
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending crash and uses the brakes in certain scenarios)
Signature Plus
A midlevel trim that elevates the Cooper SE over its foundation model:
- 17-inch wheels
- Power-folding mirrors
- Upgraded Harman Kardon audio system
- Rear parking sensors
- Panoramic sunroof
Iconic
Requires everything from your Signature Plus and provides more updates, including:
- Unique 17-inch wheels
- Head-up screen
- Larger 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Front and rear parking sensors
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