The 2024 MINI Cooper SE: Extra Vary, Much less Enjoyable?

Once I drove the F56-based MINI Cooper SE a number of years in the past, it left me grinning nearly as a lot because the combustion engine Cooper S. You can flip off all of the traction and stability aids and have a superb time on a twisty street. If that twisty street was greater than 80 miles away, you’d must cease and cost the automobile on the best way there (and once more on the best way again), however while you ultimately arrived, all of it made sense.

Having just lately pushed the brand new 2024 MINI Cooper SE, which isn’t associated to the ICE mannequin, I solely skilled a part of the enjoyment I felt within the older model—a few of the enjoyable has been misplaced. The brand new automobile is a a lot better EV with extra vary, and it gained’t require charging en path to your favourite street, however when you get there, it’s not as a lot enjoyable because the outdated F56 EV. After spending a weekend with the J01 in Cooper SE trim and driving it briskly on numerous roads, I’ve quite a bit to unpack. The expertise left me torn between wanting the automobile to really feel extra like its predecessor and appreciating what it does higher now.

Extra Highly effective, Longer Vary

My tester was a 2024 MINI Cooper SE, so it had the extra highly effective motor and bigger battery. This gave it 218 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, but it surely additionally weighed nearly 1.7 tons, or about 3,700 kilos. The 2021 to 2024 Cooper SE borrowed its motor from the BMW i3S, making 184 hp and 199 lb-ft however weighing about 1.44 tons, or 3,175 kilos. Regardless of having much less energy, it felt faster to speed up, and in contrast to the brand new automobile, it allowed you to drive with out digital aids, which is invaluable for fans.

Setting off in each automobiles, the traction management mild will flash because the entrance wheels wrestle to place the ability down. Nonetheless, within the J01, it seems like energy is being held again at low speeds. Once you ground it, you get about 70% of what it may ship, and as velocity builds, the acceleration strengthens.

That is in all probability the extra wise and environment friendly strategy, translating right into a faster 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 6.7 seconds. But, the outdated automobile by some means felt faster and extra keen, regardless of its increased claimed time of seven.3 seconds. I’ll concede that accelerating at increased speeds feels faster within the new automobile, with a better prime velocity of 105 mph in comparison with 93 mph within the older mannequin.

Barely Larger

The 2024 MINI Cooper SE (J01) has a barely longer wheelbase (99.5 inches vs. 98.2 inches), however I didn’t discover it any extra comfy than the electrical F56. To MINI’s credit score, the suspension feels equally stiff and a bit bouncy, though the J01 is constructed on a totally totally different (and non-BMW) platform from China’s Nice Wall Motor (GWM).

This platform additionally underpins the Ora Cat, an electrical MINI rival out there in some European markets. Nonetheless, whereas the Ora has a beam connecting its two rear wheels, the MINI will get absolutely unbiased rear suspension, providing a extra refined journey befitting a premium automobile. It’s stiff however well-damped, very similar to different trendy BMW or MINI merchandise.

The Driving Expertise

The steering was a spotlight of the F56 Cooper SE for me, no matter powertrain. It was simply as sharp and responsive within the electrical mannequin, giving the automobile nearly telepathic steering—akin to some supercars on this respect. There was additionally loads of suggestions, permitting you to precisely gauge the entrance axle’s grip, letting you push the automobile proper to the sting of understeering however not past it. The J01’s steering was the most important disappointment for me. It’s nonetheless fast for a contemporary automobile, and there’s some suggestions, but it surely felt significantly extra inert. There may be loads of precision, and it’s correct, but it surely by some means makes the driving expertise really feel extra indifferent than within the F56. Drive the 2 automobiles again to again, and the distinction of their steering setups is night time and day.

Despite the fact that they appear comparable, these automobiles really feel fairly totally different. The J01 is certainly the higher EV, with about 70% extra vary per cost, faster charging, and an fascinating inside with one of many coolest infotainment screens within the business. You’ll love driving the J01, however in case you’ve pushed the electrical F56 and beloved it, you’ll really feel like one thing is lacking within the new automobile.

Not Coming To America. But

MINI nonetheless has time to enhance the J01 earlier than it reaches North America. With the mannequin being constructed solely in China by way of a three way partnership with GWM, importing it doesn’t make monetary sense proper now. Nonetheless, MINI has confirmed plans to begin manufacturing of the J01 at its UK plant in 2026, and by then, the mannequin will obtain a mid-lifecycle refresh that can hopefully restore a few of the driving enjoyable.

If there’s one space of the J01 that I can’t complain about, it’s the design. Its smoother, extra monolithic look is best than the F56 (and the brand new F66). With an extended wheelbase and roughly the identical total size as earlier than, in addition to a barely wider observe, the J01 has a greater stance and appears extra planted.

There’s one thing about its proportions and the simplicity of its design, which, other than the fake entrance grille, lacks any pointless particulars. The 18-inch wheels on my tester suited the automobile completely, and I’m keen on the brand new rear mild design—I do know it’s probably the most polarizing a part of the J01 and F66’s design.

General, I favored the 2024 MINI Cooper SE quite a bit, however for very totally different causes than the electrical F56. In order for you a extra usable, grown-up, tech-packed EV, the brand new automobile is the best way to go. It’s higher and simpler to stay with every day. Nonetheless, in case you’re a driving fanatic, there’s no substitute for the electrical F56, which stays probably the most participating front-wheel-drive EV ever made and one of the fun-to-drive EVs to at the present time.