Mini Cooper SE real world range test

Vik Braykov, 21 September 2024

Mini is among the most recognizable automotive lifestyle brands thanks to its long history of making small cars that are proper fun to drive. Of course, evolving the same recognizable and cute design over the years is a key factor that keeps the customers loyal to the brand. For 2024, the classic Mini hatch receives a major redesign, as well as new powertrains.

Mini Cooper SE real world range test

Today we are testing the Mini Cooper SE, which is the more powerful FWD electric version with a 218 hp motor, mated to a 54.2 kWh battery pack, which is 40% more than what the predecessor offered. This increase in the capacity should ensure that the new model gets much further on a single charge, which was one of the major weak points of the outgoing electric Mini. Our detailed review of the Mini Cooper SE will be out soon, revealing everything else you need to know about the compact model, but for now let's focus on how long it can travel per charge.

Mini Cooper SE real world range test

We drove our usual test routes, doing the same track both ways at constant speeds at the same place as with every other car we test. The ambient temperature while testing the Mini Cooper SE was 64°F, which is almost perfect, benefiting the Mini’s overall score.

Mini Cooper SE real world range test

At our lowest testing speed of 37 mph the Mini shows great efficiency of the motor and the on-board electronics. The result is still not amazing, as even with its increased capacity it still has one of the smallest batteries around - certainly the smallest in its price range.

Range test results

  • 37 mph
  • 56 mph
  • 81 mph
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
544 miles
5.1 mi/kWh 70°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
518 miles
5.1 mi/kWh 75°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
502 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 61°F
Tesla Model 3 LR Tesla Model 3 LR
488 miles
6.3 mi/kWh 90°F
Maserati Grecale Folgore Maserati Grecale Folgore
457 miles
4.8 mi/kWh 88°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
452 miles
6 mi/kWh 100°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
440 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 75°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
439 miles
4.6 mi/kWh 52°F
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Volkswagen ID.7 Pro
435 miles
5.6 mi/kWh 63°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
419 miles
5.5 mi/kWh 63°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
409 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 52°F
BMW iX2 xDrive30 BMW iX2 xDrive30
399 miles
6.2 mi/kWh 68°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
393 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 73°F
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Volkswagen ID.Buzz
383 miles
5 mi/kWh 68°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
379 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 82°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
378 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD
361 miles
4.8 mi/kWh 73°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
354 miles
4.9 mi/kWh 59°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
353 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 37°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
350 miles
5.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
343 miles
3.8 mi/kWh 77°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
336 miles
6.1 mi/kWh 86°F
Mini Cooper SE Mini Cooper SE
336 miles
6.8 mi/kWh 64°F
Peugeot e-2008 Peugeot e-2008
326 miles
6.4 mi/kWh 63°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
323 miles
6.3 mi/kWh 79°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
301 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 64°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
276 miles
7.4 mi/kWh 68°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
455 miles
4.2 mi/kWh 70°F
Tesla Model 3 LR Tesla Model 3 LR
371 miles
4.8 mi/kWh 90°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
350 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 75°F
Maserati Grecale Folgore Maserati Grecale Folgore
347 miles
3.7 mi/kWh 88°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
344 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 61°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
342 miles
3.9 mi/kWh 75°F
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Volkswagen ID.7 Pro
334 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 63°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
328 miles
4.4 mi/kWh 100°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
315 miles
4.1 mi/kWh 63°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
308 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 52°F
BMW iX2 xDrive30 BMW iX2 xDrive30
301 miles
4.6 mi/kWh 68°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
299 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD
299 miles
4 mi/kWh 73°F
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Volkswagen ID.Buzz
293 miles
3.8 mi/kWh 68°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
291 miles
3.6 mi/kWh 82°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
286 miles
3.5 mi/kWh 37°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
286 miles
4.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
286 miles
3.3 mi/kWh 52°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
275 miles
3 mi/kWh 77°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
265 miles
4 mi/kWh 73°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
255 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 86°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
241 miles
3.3 mi/kWh 59°F
Mini Cooper SE Mini Cooper SE
237 miles
4.8 mi/kWh 64°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
229 miles
3.6 mi/kWh 64°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
217 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 79°F
Peugeot e-2008 Peugeot e-2008
216 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 63°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
181 miles
4.9 mi/kWh 68°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
324 miles
3 mi/kWh 70°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
314 miles
3.1 mi/kWh 75°F
Tesla Model 3 LR Tesla Model 3 LR
263 miles
3.4 mi/kWh 90°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
254 miles
2.2 mi/kWh 61°F
Maserati Grecale Folgore Maserati Grecale Folgore
235 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 88°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
231 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 77°F
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Volkswagen ID.7 Pro
226 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 63°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
212 miles
3.2 mi/kWh 73°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
210 miles
2.7 mi/kWh 63°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
209 miles
2.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
209 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 75°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
208 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 100°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
204 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 37°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
204 miles
2.6 mi/kWh 82°F
Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD Hyundai Ioniq 5 77.4 kWh AWD
199 miles
2.7 mi/kWh 73°F
BMW iX2 xDrive30 BMW iX2 xDrive30
189 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 68°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
186 miles
2.6 mi/kWh 59°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
180 miles
1.9 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
175 miles
2.7 mi/kWh 52°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
170 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 86°F
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Volkswagen ID.Buzz
163 miles
2.1 mi/kWh 68°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
162 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 52°F
Mini Cooper SE Mini Cooper SE
157 miles
3.2 mi/kWh 64°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
156 miles
2.6 mi/kWh 64°F
Peugeot e-2008 Peugeot e-2008
144 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 63°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
142 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 79°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
119 miles
3.2 mi/kWh 68°F

Once we move on to the next speed of 56 mph the Cooper SE starts consuming a bit more, but remains frugal. Its results are almost identical to the Fiat 500e, which is not a bad feat for the Mini, considering it's more practical overall, but when you consider the price difference it's hard to get too excited about it.

At the highest testing speed of 81 mph the shape of the Mini and its short wheelbase naturally bump its consumption and its range drops to pretty low levels, even in the excellent weather we had. The highway is not the electric Mini’s forte - it's made for daily city commutes and occasional mountain passes, where you can enjoy its dynamic driving characteristics to the fullest extent.

The Mini Cooper SE demonstrated wonderful efficiency overall, but its results are close to the very bottom of our chart, held by its limited battery capacity.

Energy efficiency could still be a key factor for those relying on public charging stations, but if you plan on having frequent long communtes this one will need more than the occassional stop for recharging.

Mini Cooper SE real world range test

We now suggest you use the widget below to find out the Mini Cooper SE’s range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

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Reader comments

comment from an old cooper S owner. SE does not deserve "S" badge with those performance specs. top speed with 160kmh is a joke for the sportiest model of the lineup. this one sucks on straits. old cooper S can hit 240km/h with no stress. b...

  • Anonymous

ArenaEV Range test results (at 81mph) is my favorite!!! Is there a link I can bookmark that takes me to the latest updated comparison chart? ArenaEV's practical range at highway speeds for road-trip planning is more meaningful than EPA, WLTP, ...

  • Andra

Test results shows buying EV is useless. EV = wasting money.

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