For years, the Mini Cooper has been known for its unique style, its impressive performance, and its surprisingly roomy interior. Mini Coopers are also loved for their above-average fuel efficiency. Today, the Mini Cooper can get an estimated fuel economy of anywhere between 28 miles per gallon and 38 miles per gallon. While its fuel consumption is impressive, the BMW-owned model has added a new trim level to the 2020 Mini Cooper lineup that includes an all-electric version that makes this remarkable vehicle even more eco-friendly.

With a lot of automobile manufacturers transforming their already popular cars into an all-electric vehicle, the Britsh automobile manufacturer had to design an electric vehicle that was innovative enough to be viewed as a worthy competitor. But has it achieved that goal?

Fast and efficient

This isn’t the first time that there has been an EV Mini Cooper on the road. The 2009 Mini E was a good first try for the British auto manufacturers, but the 2009 electric Cooper itself wasn’t much to write home about. It came with a bulky battery that took up too much room in the back seat and you could travel a little over 90 miles on a single charge. The Mini E also seemed a little sluggish, as it took it almost 9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. 

With the new 2020 Mini Cooper SE, all of the kinks have been worked out to give their drivers a faster and smoother ride. The battery has been replaced with a 32.6-kilowatt lithium-ion battery that is slightly smaller than the previous battery and sits in a T-shape under the floor beneath the back seat. This enables the car to have plenty of power without compromising any of its interior space.

The new battery also gives the new Cooper SE more get-up-and-go. The new powerful engine is able to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 7.3 seconds and also has an impressive towing capacity for its size. The 181 hp engine delivers 199 lb-ft of torque and is apparently capable of pulling a commercial jet down the runway. The motor is also more efficient than ever, while the battery should be capable of traveling between 115 and 135 miles on a single charge. 

Newly redesigned for better handling

One of the things that people love most about the Mini Cooper is the fact that it is so sporty and agile. In order to ensure that the new electric Cooper is even more graceful than its gas-powered predecessors, it has been redesigned to give it a lower center of gravity. When you combine that with the lightweight battery, the 2020 Mini Cooper SE should at least match, if not best, the gas version’s handling.

Innovative Technology

The new Mini Cooper SE comes equipped with several features that help it conserve energy. The automatic climate-control system comes with a specially designed heat pump that uses up to 75% less electricity than a traditional heat pump. In addition to the regenerative braking system, the car will also have a few different driving modes available that will also help to increase the Cooper’s range. Eco Mode gives the car a little more range, whereas Eco Plus automatically turns off the dual automatic climate control to help save electricity and give the car’s battery even more range.

Drivers can also make sure that they are always aware of how many miles they have left on their batter by simply glancing at the large 5.5-inch digital screen that displays the car’s speed, power supply, and how much range the car has left before it needs to be recharged.

All images provided by the manufacturer unless otherwise noted.