First Drive: 2020 Mini Cooper SE 3-Door

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MIAMI — Alec Issigonis, the genius behind the original 1959 Mini, would approve of the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. Once he had gotten over the grave-spinning notion that the spirit of his little-car-that-could lived on 60 years later — under BMW stewardship, no less.

With the Suez Canal oil crisis ramping up, British Motor Corporation (BMC) engineer Issigonis (later to become Sir Issigonis) was tasked with building a small, fuel efficient, inexpensive car that would accommodate a family of four and their luggage. The 850-cc Mini didn’t set out to become an icon or a giant-killing rally star, it was all about sipping the least amount of petrol. So yes, Sir Alec would surely give the 2020 Mini Cooper SE 3-Door two thumbs up on account of it consuming exactly zero dino-juice.

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The electric motor also imbues this little tyke with the responsiveness and zing that is totally in keeping with the Mini ethos. Driving a rural route from Miami up to Ft. Lauderdale Beach (and back) proved the SE to be a worthy urban warrior. A claimed zero-to-100 km dash of 7.3 seconds might not sound earth-shattering, but as is the case with all BEVs (battery electric vehicles), the instant torque underfoot has this thing bolting like a scalded ferret. No turbo-lag, no gear changes — such is the world of the electric car.

Another aspect of this new frontier is one-pedal driving. The Mini Cooper SE defaults to the higher of its two levels of regenerative braking, wherein the gas — err, throttle … no, accelerator pedal — works as a volume knob of sorts. Push down and you go, lift off and the electric motor retards progress at up to 0.19 G (yes, enough to illuminate the brake lights) and will bring you to a full stop. For most of the day, I barely touched the brake pedal. The other regeneration level has the Mini coasting more like its gas-powered stable mates when lifting off.

Corners in this part of Florida are about as rare as snowshoes, so I can’t really comment on the Cooper SE’s handling, other than it did attack a couple of on-ramps with aplomb. Maybe even two plombs. Steering is Mini-sharp, and suspension tuning Mini-firm.

The Cooper SE gets its electric drivetrain from the BMW i3, running with a 135 kW motor — good for 181 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque — that draws from a 32.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. With the T-shaped battery pack under floor, the SE also boasts a lower centre of gravity and better weight distribution than its gas-powered siblings. The only non-Mini thing about the SE is the extra weight it carries around — it weighs about 150 kilograms more than a Mini Cooper S with automatic transmission. You do feel that mass in the transitions, but while the Cooper SE rides slightly higher because of the battery pack, there’s no sacrifice in cargo or passenger space.

This Mini SE comes to market in March with three trim levels: the $39,990 Classic Line, the $44,990 Premier Line, and the $47,990 Premier+ Line. Knock $5,000 off of those prices for the federal rebate, and if you live in B.C. or Quebec, you’re doing even better. These indeed are trim levels, as mechanically, the cars are identical; Mini makes purchasing the Cooper SE easy, as there are no standalone options and the package prices are all-in. So, what are we getting?

Mini claims the Cooper SE has the highest level of standard equipment of any car in its lineup. The Classic Line gets 16-inch alloy wheels, driver assist systems, dual-zone climate control, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and GPS navigation, heated front seats, four drive modes (Sport, Mid, Green, Green+), and more. We drove the top-spec Premium+ Line rolling on 17-inch wheels and bragging leather seating, a dual sunroof, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, a Harman/Kardon sound system, and heads-up display. All SEs get a new oval digital instrument cluster, LED headlights, acoustic pedestrian protection, and super cool Union Jack taillights, along with yellow mirror caps and matching grille trim.

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Inside, the Mini is a quality piece sporting the expected funky toggle switches and pizza-sized centre display, with its lighted outer ring than changes colours depending on, well, just about anything you do, be it adjusting the audio, changing drive mode, or blasting past a doddering Miami senior in a landau-topped Camry. The cabin is heated by means of a heat pump that collects waste heat from the motor, drive control, battery pack, and outside air before feeding it into the cabin. It uses 75 percent less energy than a conventional electric heating system.

And to the all-important range: Natural Resources Canada pegs the Cooper SE at up to 177 kilometers. The more generous European rating is between 235 and 270 kilometers; make of that what you will. Nonetheless, we’re talking an urban runabout here, which again falls nicely into the Mini ethos. Mini says the average owner drives their car about 45 kilometres a day. Cramming a bigger, heavier battery pack into a Mini just to gain more range would be a pointless endeavour.

The Mini SE will handle a 50 kW Level 3 DC fast charger, giving a zero-to-80 per cent charging time of 35 minutes. A home-installed Level 2 unit does the deed in four hours. The battery is warrantied for eight years, or 160,000 kilometres.

Value? Let’s face it, the Mini has never been about great value — you’re buying into a premium funky lifestyle statement, and yes, there are other EVs out there for the same money with a lot more range and functionality. But they aren’t Minis, are they? You buy a Mini with your heart, not your head, and electrifying this wee icon turns out to be a pretty cool way to feel the love. As Sir Alec Issigonis once said, “the public don’t know what they want; it’s my job to tell them.” He’s probably rooting for this one.