Each week we pick a recently launched vehicle and find opinions on it from global experts.

The Mini Electric had its global launch in Miami. Priced from $59,900, a limited number of launch special First Edition variants will arrive in New Zealand dealerships from August 2020. This makes it one of the cheapest new electric vehicles available here.

Here are opinions from around the world about the Mini Electric.

Top Gear

The British magazine and website gave it 7/10.

“It’s the Mini Electric, if you’re buying one in Britain, where this car is built. If you’re hailing from anywhere else in the world then, confusingly, this is the Mini Cooper SE. And wherever you buy it, you still get a fluro green-tinted ‘Cooper S’ badge on the boot. What’s underneath, however, remains exactly the same. Welcome to the age of the fully electric Mini. This could be a big one.

While it’s hardly the most spacious car in its class to start with, Mini can and does proudly claim that the legroom and boot space hasn’t been swallowed in any way by pesky batteries.

A surprisingly rounded EV. Still fun to drive, and uncompromised inside, but it’s likely to be your second car.”

Carwow

An AutoMuse favourite from the UK gave it 8/10

“Just like the original Mini changed the way people thought about small cars back in the 1960s, the Mini Electric could change the way you think about electric cars today.

In size and shape it’s the same as any other three-door Mini hatchback, plus it has the look and badging of the sporty Cooper S model, but its 32kWh battery and electric motor help it travel up to 234km between charges. That’s a little further than a Honda e, but short of the cheaper Peugeot e-208 or Renault Zoe.

If you are not sure about EVs, Mini has tried to keep its design as ‘normal’ as possible. Sure, you can have eye-catching three-pin-plug style wheels and fluorescent accents if you wish, but if you don’t want to stand out, then you can have all the usual Mini wheels and paints instead.”

CarAdvice

The Aussies were at the launch too and gave it 7.9/10.

“With demand for zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles in the world’s most congested cities growing at pace – some are taxing or even banning combustion engines in certain areas – the obvious Mini to electrify was the signature three-door hatch.

Leveraging BMW’s experience, many i3 parts are used. The 135kW and 270Nm motor is the same, though in this application it has been turned 90 degrees and mounted at the front axle rather than the rear. Also carried over are the single-speed transmission, and the clever anti-slip controller mounted nearer the wheels so it can cut in faster.

The battery tech is the same, meaning Mini saved on development and got proven equipment, though the pack is T-shaped and has a smaller capacity of 32.6kWh compared to the i3. This smaller pack is lighter, meaning the EV weight impost over a petrol Cooper S is a reasonable 145kg.”

Car and Driver

“Most people don't need 320km of range. That's the essential premise of the 2020 Mini Cooper SE, which offers a mere 160km of EPA-rated range from its 32.6-kWh battery. Assuming your daily commute and charger access comport with that range, there are multiple benefits of the small-pack approach: lower weight, more cargo room, and, most important, a lower price.

It doesn't feel quite as quick as a Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf Plus, or the Kia Niro EV, but it's close. At your next dinner party, go ahead and regale your friends with the fact that the Cooper SE does 0-60km/h in 3.9 seconds. It's strong off the line, although there does seem to be some electronic torque cutting in effect until you're rolling. Even when you turn off the traction control, it refuses to fry its tires off the line. Yes, we tried.”