2023 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop Review: Only Short On Range

The original Mini was designed to be the people's car, and the 2023 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop aims to continue that trend in a modern way. Developing an all-new model would have been too expensive, so the SE is built on the same BMW platform as the rest of the Mini range. As an additional cost-saving measure, Mini also uses the motor and battery pack from the now-defunct i3. You get 184 horsepower and 199 lb-ft, but only 114 miles of range.

The result is a car that is cheaper than the average EV, but since it wasn't designed to be an EV from the start, it is somewhat compromised. In essence, it's a two-door hatch adapted to be an EV, unlike the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf, which were built to be EVs from the ground up.

The 2023 Cooper SE will soldier on for at least another year until the debut of the all-new EV Mini in 2023, which will likely go on sale a year after that. Demand for the 2023 Cooper SE is slow as certain parts of the US are still hesitant to go EV. Being as flawed as it is, we don't see the current Mini EV as the car that will change that mindset.

What's the Price of the 2023 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop?

The price of the Mini Cooper electric starts at an MSRP of $30,750 with the top-end Iconic asking for $2,475 more. These prices exclude tax, registration, and an $850 handling fee. Pricing for the Resolute Edition was not released at the time of writing.

Being an EV, the Cooper Electric qualifies for a federal tax credit of $7,500. If combined with certain state-specific incentives, it's possible to drive off in a Cooper SE for under $20,000.

2023 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop Handling and Driving Impressions

The Mini EV has a single electric motor producing 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. Like every other EV out there, it feels faster than the figures suggest because all the power and torque are instantly delivered to the front wheels. Mini claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds, but it feels faster.

The EV is heavier than its ICE brethren, but it retains the inherent fun character most Minis tend to have. It's a short, stubby car with minimal overhangs, a wide track, and a low center of gravity. Some call the handling go-kart-like, but that's rubbish. This old automotive cliche is nothing more than clever marketing.

That doesn't mean it's not fun. You can chuck it into a corner with confidence, but you have to be careful on the way out. Because the power is delivered to the front wheels instantly, the nannies will interfere and cut the power if you get on it too early. The instant power delivery makes it feel quite old-school. Classic Minis relied on naturally aspirated four-cylinder gas engines, and the simple throttle linkage meant the response was also instantaneous.

We like the regenerative braking system. You can either set it on light or hard braking. The light braking is perfect for out-of-town driving, of which you won't be doing much. The compromised range will take care of that. The heavy setting is perfect for in-town driving. It's so perfectly tuned that you can drive around for miles without touching the brakes. You soon become accustomed to the regenerative braking taking you down to zero mph.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop A Good car?

The 2023 Mini Electric Hardtop review would have been more favorable if Mini had spent more time developing it. There are many things to like, but the EV technology here is outdated, and it's clear that this wasn't built on an EV-specific platform. It feels like a rush job, which is sad, as it could've been the most significant EV of the decade. We're massive fans of the original Mini - it's one of the most influential cars of all time and was launched just as Britain needed affordable, family-friendly transport. During the 1970s, you could throw a stone from any tower block in London, and you'd hit 100 Minis.

The Mini Electric Hardtop is also introduced at a turning point for the motoring industry. Whether we like it or not, the world is going EV. Mini could have created a car that hit all the targets as the original did, but instead, we got an EV with a disappointing range; a car with a 114-mile range is about as useful as a cocktail umbrella in a hurricane. Thankfully, Mini's next EV is being designed from the ground up to be electrified. If you like the idea of a Mini powered by electricity, we'd suggest going for another budget EV until the new model arrives in the USA - or just saving up, as Minis aren't the cheapest, either.

What Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop Model Should I Buy?

Mini knows its customers are younger at heart so there are several ways to customize the appearance of the Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop, be it via body stripes of a multi-tone roof. The Mini Electric Collection is a limited edition of the Cooper SE which includes Electric Collection wheels and graphics, Piano Black exterior detailing, a Nappa leather steering wheel, and interior surfaces in aluminum. It's only available for the Signature Plus model.

Most of the high-tech features like active cruise control and the parking assistant that are standard on the Iconic are available for the lower trims as well.