2026 Mini Cooper SE Specs, Dimensions, Engine – We won’t be especially reminded of our electric Mini’s limited range after a year in the city. The limited driving range of the electric Mini Cooper SE is a common grievance. However, you will miss out on this car’s best features if you only pay attention to that 114-mile EPA estimate. Neither gas nor electric Minis are being purchased for long-distance driving. You will be enamored with the Cooper SE’s charm if you often drive it in a crowded metropolis.
After a year with our long-term 2026 Cooper SE, we discovered that. Using the Mini in daily urban living was the main goal of CNET Cars’ year-long evaluation. We retained the Mini because we have the most employees and the biggest network of public charging stations in Southern California. We are still completely infatuated with our little Mini EV twelve months after it was first delivered. The Cooper SE’s limited range wasn’t as horrible as it would have seemed, even if we ran across a few issues along the way. 2026 Mini Cooper SE Specs
2026 Mini Cooper SE Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
For 2026, the whole array of Mini Cooper Hardtops was updated with new amenities and stylish elements that increase the car’s appeal. Our 2026 model costs $30,750 plus a destination fee of $850, excluding any possible tax savings. Mini has unveiled a convertible Cooper SE concept, despite the fact that the electric Cooper SE is only available as a two-door hardtop.
With features like LED lighting, heated seats, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the Mini performs better than any Cooper SE. Our tester acquired more piano black exterior features, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, a top-tier audio system, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors when we upgraded to the $7,000 Iconic pack. We had ours painted in Mini’s Enigmatic Black, which is actually more of a super-dark blue, and it came with a white top, yellow mirror caps, and the SE-only 17-inch Power Spoke wheels (the right wheels). The total sticker price of our Mini was $37,750 when it was delivered.
“Every trip is enjoyable thanks to the Cooper SE’s excellent steering, low center of gravity, and instant torque,” senior social media editor Daniel Golson noted. “It’s easily the most fun car that Mini makes, and an actual performance variant would be awesome.” Although some of our employees disagree, Golson also wanted a “artificial spaceship-y noise under acceleration,” similar to those seen in other EVs.
According to Kyle Hyatt, a former news and features editor, “The Mini SE is a great city car.” “Its small size and nimble handling make it a breeze to whip around in Los Angeles traffic, and it’s easy to park in tight city spaces.” “But it’s not overly bouncy or jarring,” Hyatt said, acknowledging that the Mini’s ride is a bit stiff.
Although no Mini is perfect for towing, the Cooper SE’s boxy design and low load-in height made it surprisingly practical, for the most part. “It’s great that the rear seats are able to fold pretty much flat,” Golson stated, “but if the front seats are even a little too far back then it’s not possible to fold the rears because space is so tight.” However, the Mini’s back can hold up to 34 cubic feet of baggage, which is enough to fit a pair of compact tires, a few hefty boxes, or two people’s worth of luggage.
Our Mini’s inside was in great condition after a year of use. Features that were always liked were the cool Harman Kardon sound, comfortable seats, and a sunroof cover that could be closed with the glass still open. The primary issue we have with the Cooper SE’s interior is that Mini’s too adorable appearance is getting dated.
Golson posted on his Facebook page, “As charming as the Mini’s interior is, I’m ready for the next-gen model to bring a cleaner setup.” “The toggle switches and other analog controls are strangely laid out, and the infotainment setup feels old and laggy.” Furthermore, almost every employee complained about the little digital gauge cluster’s tendency to fade in any type of sunlight. 2026 Mini Cooper SE Specs
2026 Mini Cooper SE Specs
Engine & Performance
A single electric motor positioned on the front axle and a 32.6 kW battery pack power the Cooper SE. Despite having a low overall output of 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, the Mini is incredibly quick off the mark thanks to its speedy electric propulsion.
Although the Mini’s estimated timing of 6.9 seconds from 0 to 60 mph isn’t very amazing, the initial rush from 0 to 30 mph sounds like an intriguing feeling. Additionally, we never saw the Mini’s lack of power when driving on the highway past slower-moving vehicles. Compared to rival EVs, it is far more enjoyable to drive and as fast as you may anticipate. 2026 Mini Cooper SE Specs
2026 Mini Cooper SE Fuel Economy
The 114-mile range isn’t as horrible as you may expect for everyday commuting tasks. The Mini’s tiny battery makes it simple to recharge it overnight, and the majority of EV owners have some sort of home charging equipment. When you have to rely on the public charging infrastructure, which Los Angeles does better than almost every other US city but still falls well short of expectations, the Mini’s construction becomes problematic.
You would imagine that charging the Mini would take relatively little time because of its small 32.6 kWh battery. Reaching 80% capacity may take up to 45 minutes, as the Mini can only be charged at a maximum speed of 50 kW. Larger EVs with quicker charging rates can handle that type of time suck because you’re gaining hundreds of miles of range every session. The Cooper SE would have a significant advantage if it could achieve higher speeds; in theory, it could go from 10% to 80% in 10 to 15 minutes.
The second problem is that we seldom ever observed anything approaching the claimed 50-kW speed. Even when we connected the Mini to 50-, 150-, and 350-kW chargers, its typical maximum input speed of just about 35 kW significantly shortened our charging periods. Although many of these accidents may have been caused by the chargers themselves, given America’s infamously poor public charging infrastructure, it was just uncomfortable that they couldn’t consistently reach even 50 kW.
We saw an average range of 117 miles per charge by the end of the year, which was three miles greater than what the EPA had predicted. We seldom, if ever, used Sport mode because the standard (what Mini refers to as “Mid”) option had sufficient power. However, using the Green setting significantly increased our overall range on many occasions. By utilizing the Mini in its Green mode, we were still able to enjoy the driving experience while going a few miles at a time.
In fact, by eliminating the need for regular recharging, a larger battery with a longer range might actually make lengthy pauses more bearable. However, none of us complained about how often we were charged. When we arrived, how long did it take to charge? If a Mini or comparable gadget could reach 80% full in 10 minutes, we wouldn’t mind spending that much time charging it. Regardless of battery size, however, sitting at chargers for thirty or forty minutes is a long time.
2026 Mini Cooper SE Release Date & Price
For the 2023 model year, the Cooper SE starts at $35,075 including destination and comes with additional standard equipment (though, oddly, the heated steering wheel that was formerly included now costs extra). A 2026 Mini Cooper SE equipped similarly to our long-termer costs just $50 more after destination and any tax savings are subtracted, and the Iconic trim level now only costs $2,475 more.
Conclusion
Despite its shortcomings, it’s difficult to find anything wrong with the 2026 Mini Cooper SE as a daily vehicle in Los Angeles. Whether it was its small size, its oddball look, or the fact that it’s a lot of fun to drive, it never failed to make us grin. “There isn’t a car I’d rather have for short trips in town,” stated Emme Hall, a former reviews editor.
After a year with the Cooper SE, we are eager for what lies ahead since Mini, like many other manufacturers, is set to switch to an all-EV lineup. Fun small vehicles like the Mini are great candidates for electrification, and the automaker will have more options to maximize interior space with new car platforms that offer superior battery capacity. We have no doubt that future battery technology will provide faster charging times and more capacity. Faster charging speeds will solve the limited range that minis and other tiny automobiles will always have.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
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