• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Tesla Owners Stung by Capitalism
  • Mercedes Updates GLE Models for 2024 Model Year
  • First Look: Mazda’s Bigger, More Luxurious New CX-90
  • GM Net Income Rises for Q4 But Falls for Full Year 2022
  • GMC Launches Production of Hummer SUV; Needs Until 2024 to Fill Outstanding Orders
  • Vehicle Sales Up for January Despite Ongoing Challenges
  • Bidding Adieu to Bugatti’s W16 Engine
  • Ford “Significantly” Raising Production of Mustang Mach-E While Reducing Prices “Across the Board”
  • Week Ahead: Numbers, Numbers and More Numbers
  • The Rearview Mirror: All That the Name Implies
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4x4 Super Crew
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
    • A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
    • A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban Z71
    • A Week With: 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > A Week With: 2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV

        A Week With: 2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV

        Joseph Szczesny
        Joseph Szczesny , Executive Editor
        Feb. 22, 2022

        The shift towards battery electric vehicles is underway as new vehicles, such as the 2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV, attract more and more attention with good reason. While it is small and compact, it is an enormous amount of fun to drive. 

        2022 Mini Cooper SE EV red nose
        The 2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV is the best of the go-kart-like handling expected from a Mini and the instant torque of an EV.

        Overview

        The response when you put your foot on the throttle is instantaneous and the torque is very apparent with the very, very quick acceleration. The vehicle looks just like the popular Mini two door, which has been a hit with urban buyers for years. However, this car’s electric powertrain moves it into another dimension. 

        The Mini EV also is surprisingly well equipped with features such as heated seats and dual-zone climate control as well as a heated steering wheel. EVs are more expensive than vehicles with internal combustion engines. However, as EVs go, the Mini is very affordable. 

        The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price for the Mini EV I tested was $34,750 and buyers are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit. The Environmental Protection Agency estimate an owner of the Mini could save $3,500 in fuel cost over five years. 

        2022 Mini Cooper SE EV red rear
        The distinctive, two-door model is easy to recognize and served as Mini’s signature for years.

        Exterior 

        The Mini has a stylish, widely praised and iconic shape that has drawn praise from across the automotive and fashion industries. The distinctive, two-door model is easy to recognize and served as Mini’s signature for years. The vehicle’s wide stance adds to the Mini’s overall appeal. 

        For 2022, the front fascia of EV has been refined but the light fixtures are nicely tucked into the front corners of the Mini, while the liftgate also is cleanly integrated into the vehicle. The Mini doesn’t have a lot of badging. The only sign it’s an electric vehicle is the EV symbol is the lower corner of the liftgate. The exterior design is augmented by the 17-inch Tentacle Spoke wheels. 

        Interior

        2022 Mini Cooper SE EV red front seats
        The Mini EV offers plenty of space in the front seats as well as an excellent view.

        The cabin of the 2022 Mini EV has a familiar feel to it, but while the interior space is small by today’s standards, I found it to be relatively comfortable with ample head, leg and shoulder room for the driver and front seat passenger. The rear seat is cramped, and the two-door body style makes it more difficult to reach for most adult but is perfectly adequate for children. 

        The round center-stack display — Mini’s signature — offers the driver information on entertainment, navigation and, when necessary, guidance to a EV charger. The visibility from driver’s seat is excellent and there is space behind the rear seat there is room for groceries, a suitcase or some small packages.  

        Powertrain

        The 2022 Mini Cooper SE 2 Door is equipped with a 135-kilowatt electric motor with a single speed automatic transmission with two levels of two levels of power regeneration. The power comes with a 32.6-kilowatt lithium-ion battery as well as four different driving modes. AC and DC charging and 1.2 kilowatt charging cable that can be plugged into a wall socket for occasional use. The powertrain produces 181 horsepower and 199-foot pounds of torque. 

        2022 Mini Cooper SE EV center stack
        The round center-stack display — Mini’s signature — offers the driver information on entertainment, navigation and, when necessary, guidance to a EV charger.

        For the Mini EV, the equivalent combined fuel economy rating from the EPA is 110 miles per gallon, including 119 mpg in the city and 100 on the highway. The range is 110 miles and on a Level 3 charger the Mini can recharge up to 80% within 36 minutes. 

        Safety and Technology

        The Mini Cooper SE is equipped with eight airbags, including knee protection in the front seat and side curtains for protection in rollover accidents. It also comes with forward collision, pedestrian and lane departure warnings and high-beam assistance and rear-view camera. 

        It provides a center-stack touch screen with navigation and real-time traffic, as well as six-speaker Harmon-Kardon sound system, Bluetooth connectivity for telephone and audio streaming as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, high-beam assistance and rain-sensing windshield wipers.  

        Driving Impressions

        The Mini Cooper EV was a lot of fun to drive because of its nimble handling and quick acceleration since the power is delivered to the wheels instantly. It might be an electric vehicle, but it had very solid suspension and crisp steering. In addition, the regenerative braking system gives the Mini ample stopping power. 

        I also drove it into the teeth of a Michigan snowstorm on slick streets and the handling on the car was very impressive under adverse conditions. No slipping or sliding and the car’s low center of gravity and extra weight from the lithium-ion battery pack kept the car centered in snow. The downside of driving in tough winter weather, the temperature dropped into single digits overnight, meant the car’s range was sharply reduced since I also had to use the heater and defroster. 

        2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV specifications

        DimensionL: 150.7 inches/W: 68 inches/H: 55.7 inches/Wheelbase: 98.2 inches
        Weight3,145 pounds
        Powertrain135kW electric motor; 1-speed automatic transmission
        Fuel Economy119 eMPG city/100 eMPG highway/110 eMPG combined
        Performance Specs181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque
        PriceBase price: $29,900; As tested: $34,750 including $850 destination charge
        On-Sale DateAvailable now

        Wrap Up

        I was very impressed with 2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door electric vehicle. It does not have a lot of space, but it is a lot of fun for a solitary driver and will meet the needs for commuters or for someone who needs a vehicle for weekend errands. 

        It also is nicely equipped for the price, and I thought it was surprisingly affordable since it is priced well below the price of the average new vehicle sold in the United States and in addition to being eligible for the EV tax credit. However, I would recommend anyone buying the Mini Cooper install an electric charger at home because the car’s range is rather limited, and ready access to charger would increase the user’s overall satisfaction with the vehicle. 

        2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door EV ­— Frequently Asked Questions

        What is the range of the Mini Cooper SE EV?

        While the range may only be 110 miles officially, its ability to charge quickly helps ownership use-cases. The Cooper SE is based on, and dimensionally almost identical to the Mini Hardtop 2 Door launched in 2014. The Mini Cooper SE has been engineered to be an electric vehicle. 

        What trim level is the 2022 Mini Cooper electric?

        The Mini EV is currently available as the 2022 Mini Cooper Electric SE Hardtop 2 Door. It’s one of four available trim levels for the 2022 Mini Hardtop, but the only one available with an all-electric motor. 

        Is the Mini EV a four seater?

        I found it to be relatively comfortable with ample head, leg and shoulder room for the driver and front seat passenger. The rear seat is cramped, and the two-door body style makes it more difficult to reach for most adult but is perfectly adequate for children.  

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published

        A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

        Jan. 20, 2023
        2023 Genesis GV60 - nose

        A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance

        Jan. 17, 2023
        2023 Mercedes EQB front best

        A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4Matic

        Jan. 11, 2023

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Reviews and Resources When You Are Looking For a New Car
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: