The new all-electric Mini Cooper SE is coming next spring, and now we know exactly how much it will cost. When it does reach our shores in March 2020, prices will start at $30,750 (including $850 destination).
That does look expensive for a Mini off the bat, but bear in mind the car will be eligible for certain federal and state tax credits. Factor in a $7,500 federal credit, and the price actually isn’t too much more than a standard Mini Cooper. Mini says that “qualified consumers” can get the mini for as little as $17,900, though that will vary depending on where you live. Unlike some other electric cars, however, this one looks like it will actually go on sale nationwide.
The 2020 Mini Cooper SE looks nearly identical to its gasoline-powered counterpart, but there are a range of minor changes. Apart from the grille (or the lack of one), the electric Mini is actually 0.7 inches taller to accommodate the floor-mounted battery pack. That 32.6-kWh battery pack should charge in 4 hours on a Level 2 (7.4 kW) AC charger, according to Mini. It’s also capable of DC charging up to 50 kW, which should charge it up to 80 percent in 35 minutes using the SAE Combo fast charging standard.
Performance
On the performance front, the Mini Cooper SE is nearly as powerful as the standard Cooper S. The single, front-mounted electric motor generates 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. According to Mini, it can hit 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, on its way to a 93 mph top speed. Range figures aren’t available yet, but the consensus is that it should be somewhere in the 125 to 150 mile range.
Inside, the all-electric Mini Cooper SE should be familiar to the Mini faithful, with the exception of the digital instrument cluster. You get a standard 6.5-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay compatibility, as well as standard heated front seats, LED headlights and fog lights, rain-sensing wipers and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.