MINI 3 Door 2024 Review

The B-segment electric vehicle market has been quite lively recently, with many brands showcasing their "fashionable + practical" combinations. The name MINI itself carries a lot of buzz - after all, its classic design is deeply ingrained in people's hearts. The 2024 MINI 3 Door Cooper SE, as a pure electric version, not only retains its iconic exterior but also significantly improves its range and configuration. With a price of over RM190,000, it is nearly RM80,000 cheaper than the fuel-powered Cooper S from the same series, making its value-for-money a direct focal point for consumers. During this test drive, I mainly wanted to see if its pure electric driving experience could still preserve the fun of driving a MINI, while assessing its practicality for everyday use.

Starting with the outside, the classic round headlights and trapezoidal front grille are still there, but the identity as an electric car means the grille is now a closed design. The LED ring around the edges is highly recognizable when lit. The body’s lines are smoother compared to the previous model, with a side profile beltline that extends from the doors all the way to the taillights. Paired with 18-inch wheels, the overall look appears more refined than the fuel-powered Cooper S. The circular taillights now feature an LED matrix inside, illuminating MINI's iconic "Union Jack" pattern, which is more delicate this time. This should garner quite some attention when driving at night. In terms of dimensions, it is 22mm longer, 29mm wider, and 46mm taller than the Cooper S, and its wheelbase has also increased by 31mm. Although these changes in numbers are not massive, the impact on interior space is quite noticeable.

Step into the cabin, and the most eye-catching feature is the 9.4-inch OLED round touchscreen on the center console, which almost entirely replaces physical buttons, including for air conditioning adjustments that now require screen operation. However, the system responds quickly, and the operation logic is simple, allowing users to get familiar in no time. The interior materials are sturdier than expected; the center console and the inside of the door panels are wrapped in soft-touch materials, complemented by silver trim for a much more luxurious feel compared to the Cooper S. The seats are leather-wrapped, with front seats being electrically adjustable and offering excellent lumbar support and leg support. Even after long drives, they remain comfortable. The rear seat space is a pleasant surprise; with a height of 175cm, my knees still had about a fist’s distance from the front seats when sitting in the back. This is significantly more spacious than the rear seats of the old MINI. However, the floor in the middle has a slight bump, making it a bit tight for three people. As for storage space, the front door panels can hold two bottles of water, the center armrest box is relatively small, but the wireless charging pad for phones is conveniently placed. The trunk has a capacity of 210L, the same as the Cooper S, which can fit two carry-on suitcases without issue. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-fold, which can handle longer items when needed.

In terms of power, the Cooper SE is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 160kW (218PS) and a peak torque of 330N·m, surpassing the parameters of the 2.0T engine in the Cooper S. During daily driving, the throttle response is especially quick, and a slight push on the accelerator gives a strong sense of acceleration. It officially goes from 0 to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds, though it feels even faster when driving. When overtaking, a deep press on the accelerator delivers instant power, with none of the turbo lag found in fuel-powered cars. It offers three driving modes to choose from: in ECO mode, the power output is softer, suitable for urban commuting; SPORT mode makes the throttle more responsive, and the steering wheel feels heavier, offering a more enjoyable driving experience. Regarding the chassis, the front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension are tuned with great resilience. It absorbs most bumps when passing over speed bumps without feeling too stiff but provides adequate support during cornering. The body leans very little, maintaining the signature handling feel of MINI cars.

Range and charging are core to electric vehicles. The official range of the Cooper SE is 402km. During this test drive, I mainly alternated between city roads and highways, with the air conditioning set at 24 degrees throughout. The final range achievement was around 85%. When cruising at 120km/h on the highway, the range dropped a bit faster, but for city commuting, charging once a week is absolutely sufficient. Fast charging takes just 0.5 hours to go from 10% to 80%. Usually, charging for a short while during a meal at the mall is enough. Noise control is well done; at low speeds in the city, the motor is almost inaudible. At 120km/h on the highway, there is some wind and tire noise, but it is completely acceptable, and much quieter compared to the engine noise of the Cooper S. The energy recovery has three adjustable levels. In the highest mode, releasing the accelerator noticeably slows the car down, almost eliminating the need to apply the brakes, which, once accustomed to, saves quite a bit of effort.

Overall, the 2024 MINI 3 Door Cooper SE has some very clear advantages: a cheaper price compared to the gasoline version, better power, a quieter driving experience, all while retaining MINI's signature design essence and driving fun. When compared to other mid-size electric vehicles in the same class, its configuration is also impressive — HUD head-up display, 360-degree panoramic view, and Harman Kardon sound system come as standard, and its safety features are comprehensive, including 6 airbags, active braking, and lane departure warning, ensuring peace of mind during daily driving. However, it does have some drawbacks, such as a relatively small trunk capacity and cramped space for three passengers in the rear. But considering that this is a three-door model, these shortcomings are within acceptable limits.

If you like MINI's design and want to switch to a pure electric car for daily commuting, the Cooper SE is definitely a great choice; if you're a small family with two regular passengers and occasionally take parents or kids on short trips, its space can also meet your needs. All in all, the Cooper SE is not a perfect car, but it strikes a great balance between "personality" and "practicality." At a price of around 190,000 MYR, you can get a branded, fun, and well-equipped pure electric MINI, which is indeed very appealing.