2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric
Other years
2020 Mini Hardtop 2 Door Electric Review
- Nimble size and handling makes it fun to drive
- One of the most affordable EVs you can buy
- Upscale cabin design
- Not as much range as other EVs
- Two-door layout and small backseat limit utility
- Choppy ride on bumpy roads
- New all-electric Cooper SE model
- New transmissions for gas-powered Hardtop
- Minor revisions to feature availability
- Part of the third Hardtop generation introduced for 2014
Mini has come out with a new battery-powered version of its Hardtop 2 Door: the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. With an as-new price tag under $30,000 (before potential tax credits and incentives) and a maximum range of just 110 miles, the Cooper SE is an electric vehicle that bets more on style and affordability than maximum range.
A handful of small design tweaks distinguish the Cooper SE from the regular gasoline Hardtop 2 Door. The asymmetrical wheels on the top Iconic trim level, which have holes that are styled to look like a British electrical plug, are the most obvious visual change. The interior receives a few changes as well, adding unique displays tailored to the needs of an EV. Otherwise, the cabin is pure Mini Cooper, including the cargo space, which remains unchanged.
Our verdict | |
The Mini Cooper SE, as you'd expect, is small. With the departure of the Fiat 500e, the SE is now the smallest EV you can buy, measuring more than a foot shorter than the next in line, Chevrolet's Bolt. This means less cargo room and a laughable amount of space for rear passengers. The diminutive size does provide some classic Mini benefits, however, such as quick acceleration and nimble handling. Overall, we like the Mini Cooper SE. Its modest range and two-door body style limit its appeal, but if you simply want a fun EV for commuting, it's worth checking out. | |
How does the Hardtop 2 Door drive? | |
The Cooper SE is fun to drive. It's small, quick and nimble. In our testing it covered 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That's quicker than other speedy EVs such as Hyundai Kona Electric (6.6 seconds) and Chevy Bolt (6.8 seconds). Braking and handling are also top-notch. The SE pivots on dime and is great for a curvy road as much as it is for negotiating narrow city streets. It offers two levels of regenerative braking to choose from. The highest setting allows you to drive solely using the accelerator pedal, while the other behaves more like a traditional car for those who aren't used to slowing rapidly without touching the brake pedal. We did notice that our test car reduced its available power by about half after one lap of hard driving on our test track. That's not something we typically experience with an EV. Full power was restored after we let the car cool down a bit. We don't expect you'll encounter this situation in real-world driving, but still it's a little disappointing for a Mini. | |
How comfortable is the Hardtop 2 Door? | |
The Mini SE's sporty slant unfortunately comes at the expense of comfort. The ride can get choppy on bumpy roads and undulating highways. The SE also wears summer tires, which are good for road grip but also generate a bit more road noise than the average EV. The front seats in the Mini are great, though. They provide plenty of cushion for comfort and support for spirited driving. Too bad the hard door-side armrests feel like they're made out of recycled tires. Rear-seat comfort is limited but mostly due to space. The Mini's climate control system is easy to adjust and provides effective cooling. You can set it to precondition the cabin before you get in. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Hardtop 2 Door has surprisingly large doors, which makes climbing in and out of the front seats a breeze. The driver's seat is pretty accommodating for both short or tall drivers, though those exceptionally long of leg might want a tad more steering extension. The cabin's boxy shape gives you ample headroom, and the generous glass space all around makes for excellent visibility. We especially like how the rear headrests fold down when not in use to leave the rear view completely unobstructed. But this Mini's rear seat is, unsurprisingly, less spacious than most other options. If you plan on taking more than one passenger, they better be kid-size. | |
How’s the tech? | |
Tech in the Mini SE doesn't break any new ground. The touchscreen navigation sits within a large circular central hub. This hub makes the screen seem bigger than it really is. Apple CarPlay hooks up wirelessly, but only spans about 75% of the full width of the screen. Android Auto isn't offered. CarPlay was our preferred map interface, but Mini's native system is fairly easy to use and features real-time traffic. The upgraded Harman Kardon audio system didn't impress us much. It lacked the full and textured sound we expect from a premium sound system. Additionally, many of the usual advanced driving aids, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, are absent. They aren't even optional at the moment. Some competitors such as Hyundai and Kia provide many of these aids as standard equipment. | |
How’s the storage? | |
You've mistaken the Hardtop 2 Door for another car if you were expecting great utility. That said, Mini has maximized what space there is to the fullest. The rear seats split 60/40 and fold completely flat. You can lower the cargo floor for a bit more room, but you're only going to get 8.7 cubic feet at best without folding the back seats — roughly half the volume of the next smallest vehicle in the class, the Chevy Bolt. The cabin is no better. The door pockets are too narrow to even accommodate a small bottle, and none of the cupholders have anti-tip features. Covered storage is sparse, limited essentially to the glovebox and the center armrest, which is dedicated to the wireless phone charger. There are easy-to-locate car seat anchors in the back, but you'll need to be pretty limber to install a small seat back there. | |
How economical is the Hardtop 2 Door? | |
The Mini SE is a small car, and its battery is small relative to what other manufacturers are loading into their compact EVs. The EPA-estimated range is 110 miles with a consumption of 31 kWh/100 miles, which is a lot less range than class leaders but only slightly less efficient than popular players such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV and Nissan Leaf. In Edmunds' real-world testing, we managed a range of 150.1 miles (140.1 miles traveled with 10 miles of range left) on 30.5 kWh of power, which works out to a much more efficient 21.8 kWh/100 miles. The Mini's onboard charger is 7.4 kW AC (Level 2) and it comes with DC fast-charging capability standard. Mini says you can get to 80% capacity with fast charging in 36 minutes. | |
Is the Hardtop 2 Door a good value? | |
Value is the Mini SE's ace in the hole, assuming you can live with a couple caveats. The first is the absence of typical advanced driving aids and the second is range. The Mini SE is the only battery electric vehicle that starts at under $30K, yet it feels like one of the more expensive options in the class. Build quality is solid, and all the switchgear has smoother, more refined action than what's in most non-luxury makes. Everything just feels screwed together well. Mini keeps the packages simple and our tester, fully loaded, came to $37,750, not including any federal or state tax credits. For context, that's where the Kona Electric starts. Mini's warranty is also above average, with four years/50,000 miles for bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and eight years/100,000 miles for the battery. Though EVs need less in terms of maintenance, Mini still covers things such as inspections and cabin air filters for free for the first three years/36,000 miles. | |
Wildcard | |
One of the great things about the SE is that it still looks and drives like a Mini. Little has changed other than the powertrain, and that's a good thing for a brand that's often associated with fun at the wheel. Minis have been known to sacrifice practicality for individuality, and some of that still exists here. But Mini has gotten better at adding function to its cars without losing too much brand identity. There's nothing wrong with quirky as long as it's not a big inconvenience. | |
Which Hardtop 2 Door does Edmunds recommend?
Much of the Cooper SE's appeal comes from its low price, and the best way to take advantage of it is by going with the base Signature trim level. It still comes with enough convenience and technology features to likely keep you satisfied.
MINI Hardtop 2 Door models
The two-door Cooper SE is available in three trim levels: Signature, Signature Plus and Iconic. All come with a 181-horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels.
Save as much as $6,173 with Edmunds
2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Electric pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Cooper SE
electric DD
Edmunds Suggested Price$24,577
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Hardtop 2 Door safety features:
- Parking Assistant
- Finds an available parallel parking spot and guides the Hardtop into the space with minimal driver input.
- Front and Rear Park Distance Control
- Sounds an alert as the Hardtop approaches an object in front of or behind the vehicle.
- Active Driving Assistant
- Maintains a set distance between the Hardtop and the vehicle ahead while the cruise control system is active.
Mini Hardtop 2 Door vs. the competition
2020 Mini Hardtop 2 Door
2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Mini Hardtop 2 Door vs. Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Golf GTI is an excellent choice if you're looking for a practical hatchback that serves up a lot of performance for the money. Much like the Mini, the GTI offers a refined interior, impressive performance and a reasonable price. And with the Volkswagen, you also get a smooth ride quality and a roomier back seat.
Mini Hardtop 2 Door vs. Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster is one of our favorite small hatchbacks. It provides an excellent driving experience and impressive features for the money. And there's plenty of power if you go with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the Veloster N. The Veloster also offers a unique three-door setup that allows for easier access to the back seat.
Mini Hardtop 2 Door vs. Mini Hardtop 4 Door
You like the idea of owning a Mini Hardtop but you need a bit more space than the 2 Door offers. Take a look at the 4 Door version. It has the same engine lineup and is available with the same features. Mainly, you get the two extra doors and a little more rear legroom. The 4 Door is more expensive, but the extra usability is worth it.
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FAQ
Is the MINI Hardtop 2 Door a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2020 Hardtop 2 Door both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.8 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Hardtop 2 Door has 8.7 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a MINI Hardtop 2 Door. Learn more
What's new in the 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door:
- New all-electric Cooper SE model
- New transmissions for gas-powered Hardtop
- Minor revisions to feature availability
- Part of the third Hardtop generation introduced for 2014
Is the MINI Hardtop 2 Door reliable?
To determine whether the MINI Hardtop 2 Door is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Hardtop 2 Door. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Hardtop 2 Door's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2020 Hardtop 2 Door and gave it a 7.8 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2020 Hardtop 2 Door is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
The least-expensive 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door is the 2020 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper SE 2dr Hatchback (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $29,900.
Other versions include:
- Cooper SE 2dr Hatchback (electric DD) which starts at $29,900
What are the different models of MINI Hardtop 2 Door?
If you're interested in the MINI Hardtop 2 Door, the next question is, which Hardtop 2 Door model is right for you? Hardtop 2 Door variants include Cooper SE 2dr Hatchback (electric DD). For a full list of Hardtop 2 Door models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more