Is the MINI Cooper SE still the perfect “city EV” in 2026?

[marktuan]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here and seriously considering picking up a used 2022–2024 MINI Cooper SE as my first EV. I’ve been lurking through a lot of the threads here and it seems like owners absolutely love the driving dynamics and “go-kart” handling, even if the range is limited.

My situation:

• Mostly city/suburban driving
• Around 25–40 miles per day
• Home charging available
• Rarely do road trips longer than 150 miles

From what I’ve read, the biggest tradeoff is obviously range, but many owners seem to say the real-world experience is better than the numbers suggest for urban use.

A few questions for long-term owners:

1. After a couple years, how has battery degradation been?
2. Any recurring issues I should watch for when buying used? I’ve seen mentions of charge-port sensors and grill shutters.
3. Is the ride really as stiff as people say, or is it exaggerated?
4. Would you still buy the SE today, or would you jump to something with 250+ miles of range?

Honestly, the charm and compact size are what keep pulling me back toward the MINI instead of a more “logical” EV choice. Curious how many of you are still daily-driving yours as an only car in 2026.

 

[MacMini34]

Hello

A few questions for long-term owners:

1. After a couple years, how has battery degradation been?

Don't know, but it seems to charge to about 100 miles at the moment and as the weather warms I expect it will get to about 110. Best I've seen is 121 miles. Tires make a difference. I have 2 original Hankooks Evo 3 and 2 General As-07s on it at present - had to replace one of each - when the first Hankook wasn't repairable, I didn't want another as replacement as they seem to be wearing very fast.

1. Any recurring issues I should watch for when buying used? I’ve seen mentions of charge-port sensors and grill shutters.

All vehicles have their foibles so it's somewhat luck of the draw. The Cooper SE seems quite reliable probably due to an EV being worked into an existing, mature platform and MINI really had to up their game after the R series of vehicles.

1. Is the ride really as stiff as people say, or is it exaggerated?

It's a bit stiff. A test drive will show you if it works for you.

1. Would you still buy the SE today, or would you jump to something with 250+ miles of range?

Hmmm, interesting question. The J01 EV Cooper hasn't made it here (USA) and reviews have been mixed. It's quite a bit heavier which affects driving dynamics and the controls being all through the screen is a very big negative to many. We, in the US, miss out on a lot of smaller city type cars available in Europe; the Renault 5 being a prime example. The EV world has changed quite a bit in the last 3 years. I replaced my aging, busted Honda Pilot with a Honda Prologue to give us longer range and more space options, and to ditch the combustion engine world.

Honestly, the charm and compact size are what keep pulling me back toward the MINI instead of a more “logical” EV choice. Curious how many of you are still daily-driving yours as an only car in 2026.

My wife absolutely loves it due its nimbleness and compactness. I got it for all our local driving; 1-5 mile trips, 500-600 miles a month that produced terrible mileage in my Honda Pilot V6. It's been terrific for its role and has managed a couple of 160 mile round trips - with plenty of time available to L2 charge at the destination factored in. I've never L3 charged ours

Other points:
I'm a silly MINI fan having had a 2011 Cooper S 6MT and would like an R52 (1st gen convertible) or a 2nd gen roadster to add to the roster.
My lease deal was very good and we're buying it out, saved a decent amount off msrp.
Unlike other EVs where depreciation has been hard, the SE is holding up quite well.
I'd go for a 22-24 model for the facelift.

HTH
MacMini34

 

[insightman]

Hello


Don't know, but it seems to charge to about 100 miles at the moment and as the weather warms I expect it will get to about 110. Best I've seen is 121 miles. Tires make a difference. I have 2 original Hankooks Evo 3 and 2 General As-07s on it at present - had to replace one of each - when the first Hankook wasn't repairable, I didn't want another as replacement as they seem to be wearing very fast.



All vehicles have their foibles so it's somewhat luck of the draw. The Cooper SE seems quite reliable probably due to an EV being worked into an existing, mature platform and MINI really had to up their game after the R series of vehicles.


It's a bit stiff. A test drive will show you if it works for you.


Hmmm, interesting question. The J01 EV Cooper hasn't made it here (USA) and reviews have been mixed. It's quite a bit heavier which affects driving dynamics and the controls being all through the screen is a very big negative to many. We, in the US, miss out on a lot of smaller city type cars available in Europe; the Renault 5 being a prime example. The EV world has changed quite a bit in the last 3 years. I replaced my aging, busted Honda Pilot with a Honda Prologue to give us longer range and more space options, and to ditch the combustion engine world.



My wife absolutely loves it due its nimbleness and compactness. I got it for all our local driving; 1-5 mile trips, 500-600 miles a month that produced terrible mileage in my Honda Pilot V6. It's been terrific for its role and has managed a couple of 160 mile round trips - with plenty of time available to L2 charge at the destination factored in. I've never L3 charged ours

Other points:
I'm a silly MINI fan having had a 2011 Cooper S 6MT and would like an R52 (1st gen convertible) or a 2nd gen roadster to add to the roster.
My lease deal was very good and we're buying it out, saved a decent amount off msrp.
Unlike other EVs where depreciation has been hard, the SE is holding up quite well.
I'd go for a 22-24 model for the facelift.

HTH
MacMini34

I like the face of my 2021 SE because it's easier to identify as an electric MINI than the later F56 SEs. Also, MINI inexplicably took away the analog clock screen saver in 2022. I really like having nothing but that clock on my screen. However, no 2020/21 SE had a heated steering wheel, which would be nice.

Despite it's superior range, the 3,800-pound Chinese J01 is too heavy, IMO. As I always say, "Exchange the range for a ton of fun!"

 

[MacMini34]

I might add that a quick look at CarGurus seems to indicate that prices have firmed a bit on the SEs with a few '24s in the $22-24k range and a reduction in countrywide inventory. Higher gasoline prices are pushing some towards EVs but this is only sensible if one is in the market for a replacement vehicle.

 

[ghost]

I drove the new countryman EV on an autocross course during Mini's demo promo last fall: it's heavy! Definitely not in the same class/league. It feels like any other 4000+ lb compact suv w a 200+ mi range battery.

If something happened to my '22, I would jump all over the lowest mile Oxfordshire SE I could find in my area.

 

[goaheadbackup]

My wife and I have a 2022 F56 SE. A majority of charging is done at home for local driving. On occasion, we will take longer drives to fully enjoy the playful characteristics of the light, responsive EV. The ride is taught but the chosen 16-inch wheels/tires make for a reasonably comfortable ride. As the weather warms, we are still seeing 120+ miles of range when fully charged. The original Hankook summer tires are still in play from April to October. A second set of wheels with all-season (soon all-weather) tires carries us through the colder temperatures.

Our household also has a 2025 Countryman SE All4. It is definitely a very different kind of EV - more typical of those available in the constricted US market. It has some of the charm of past Mini vehicles and is fun to drive once you adjust to its weight and size (understand its limits). With a warm weather range of about 245 miles, it is the EV we take on longer trips.

The 2022 SE is probably the best car that we have owned - and we (collectively) have owned about 40. This has included a Volvo P1800, Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, Porsche 914, Mazda Miata, Honda CRX, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and many other smaller vehicles with fun-to-drive characteristics.

Go for it.