Skip to main content

Electric Mini Cooper SE will start at $30,750, hit dealerships in March 2020

The 2020 Mini Cooper SE, the brand’s first mass-market electric car, now has an official price and United States launch date. The electric Mini will arrive in dealerships in March 2020 with a base price of $30,750 (including a mandatory $850 destination charge). Mini said the car will be sold “across the U.S.,” implying that sales won’t be restricted to certain states, as is the case with some other automakers’ electric cars.

Pricing is a bit of a step up from a base Mini Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, which starts at $24,250, but is pretty close to the $28,250 base price of the Cooper S, which has a similar power output to the electric Mini. The Cooper SE is by no means the most expensive Mini. The John Cooper Works performance model starts at $34,250, and other body styles can reach higher than that.

Related Videos

When it goes on sale, the Cooper SE will likely qualify for the full $7,500 federal electric car tax credit. Mini parent BMW hasn’t reached the 2,000-unit limit that triggers a phaseout of the credit. That drops the Mini’s base price to $23,250. Mini even claims that state and local incentives will lower the price to $17,900 in some areas, although it didn’t specify where.

The Cooper SE is priced to undercut the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Tesla Model 3, and virtually match the base Nissan Leaf. However, the Mini will likely offer less range than many competitors. Mini estimates a range of 146 miles to 168 miles on the European testing cycle. Results from the stricter U.S. testing cycle will likely be on the lower end of that estimate. The Chevy, Hyundai, and Tesla all have more than 200 miles of range, as does the Nissan Leaf Plus, which sports a larger battery pack than the base model. The Mini’s range could match the base Leaf’s 150 miles, but the Nissan still has more passenger and cargo space.

Mini equipped the Cooper SE with an electric motor making 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to the front wheels. The electric car will do zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 93 mph, according to Mini. A full recharge of the 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack will take four hours from a 240-volt Level 2 AC source, Mini estimates. The Cooper SE is also equipped for DC fast charging using the Combined Charging Standard (CCS), allowing for an 80-percent charge in 35 minutes, according to Mini.

Standard equipment includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay compatibility (no Android Auto), LED headlights, forward collision warning, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leatherette upholstery.

Editors' Recommendations

Tesla Cybertruck prototype spotted with minor changes
A Tesla Cybertruck prototype.

What appears to be a new Tesla Cybertruck prototype has been spotted testing on public roads.

As relayed by Electrek, Twitter user Greg posted a photo Thursday showing a Cybertruck with a different front-end design from what we've seen previously. The front bumper has a more distinct rectangular opening, possibly for cooling. This prototype also has triangular side mirrors, as opposed to the squared-off ones seen previously.

Read more
Why you should consider a plug-in hybrid in 2023
2020 audi q5 tfsi e first drive review phev 19

EVs are all the rage — and it makes sense. Electric vehicles allow you to avoid high gas prices and feel good about not impacting the environment as much, plus they’re usually sleek, stylish, and fast.

But in 2023, owning an EV isn’t for everyone. After all, charging stations, while improving, still aren’t as common as they should be -- and depending on your car, they sometimes aren’t all that fast. If you’re worried about those issues, there’s an alternative — a plug-in hybrid (also known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV). These are cars that essentially offer the best of both worlds: A battery and electric motor for quick, clean trips around town, and a gas engine for longer road trips.
What makes a PHEV so great?

Read more
Tesla Destination Chargers vs. Superchargers: What’s the difference?
tesla starts opening its supercharger network to other evs

One of the best things about owning a Tesla is being able to take advantage of the massive network of chargers to quickly and easily charge up your car. Charging a Tesla is extremely easy — all you have to do is plug in your car, and all of the costs and payments are handled automatically.

But did you know there are actually different kinds of Tesla chargers? Tesla Destination Charging and Tesla Superchargers are the two main options, but there are some key differences between the two. Understanding these differences will help you make sure you’re taking advantage of the best charger for your needs.

Read more