Great choice. Congratulations. Our second car is an Ioniq 28kWh which I imagine has similar range to the Mini. And covers about 95% of my wifes' driving without worry. Enjoy..
Nigel I have watched all your EV videos. I was surprised as anyone to discover you have chosen the Mini Electric. However what you have proved yet again is that buyers should do their research, and then purchase a vehicle that suits their needs. If they do that how can they possibly be disappointed - well done with the honest review. Good look with your channel. Brian
Cheers Brian. Comments like this keep me going. There's enough doom and gloomers who don't understand or see the bigger picture. I've said from the start this is a journey I'm sharing and it's people like you that have watched from the beginning who understand me best. Cheers👍
Congrats on your new EV, IMHO It doesn't matter what EV you go for, as long as its an EV :-). One great benefit is you can fill the car up in a shorter time frame.
I was right - thought it would be the Mini - enjoy. That view where it looks like you are driving facing backwards is freaky - very Thunderbirds. Nice that you sound really excited too. I am interested in what you actually get range wise in the winter - that's the real test of an EV in my opinion (my Zoe ZE40 used to get 140 miles - my minimum because of the 120 mile round trips I sometimes do - or did before we were in lockdown). I think as public chargers become more common place larger batteries will be less necessary.
New you’d go for it, enjoy. Your singing from a different hymn sheet in regards to range anxiety that’s where you sang the praise of the Kona. Interestingly the Kona now comes with Michelin tyres the same as the Kia I’ve ordered. I have to say in defence of the Kona that I didn’t have any of the rattling problems you encountered nor water ingress, but like you that’s history as I look forward to the Nero EV.
Really nice to see your new “set of wheels” Nigel. I’m sure it’ll be a hoot to drive around your local back roads and whilst I still love my Kona, it’s not a great drivers car. Competent, but I get the sense the Mini will be much more fun and engaging to drive. What I’ll be interested to see is how the much smaller battery influences your charging behaviour... Enjoy and stay safe!
Good Review Nigel : I have a 40kw Zoe Q90 and now find after 3 years ownership that there plenty more places to charge on route in the UK. And because it is cheaper to run a EV per mile , I find it's how far and how long you want to drive is the only question it really is that cheap 👍 When I owed a Ice car the cost to drive for days out where not cheap but now i don't worry about that.
You should always choose the car that suits your needs and the Mini looks a lot of fun, until you do your first long journey when perhaps the range limits will becoming annoying. The Mini wouldn’t work for us here in rural France where it is our only car and has to do everything from taking bulky stuff to the recycling and the occasional long journeys in this big old country . I grew up with Minis in the 60s and 70s but for some reason I never got into them, they just never appealed. My first car was a 1962 Cortina Mk1 !!..A classic even in the mid 70s when I bought it at age 18. After 20 months the e-Niro is still rattle free and no leaks, sorry to hear you had that problem with the Kona but I cannot fault Kia build quality so far. If I lived in a city I guess the Mini would be on my list but there is a lot of competition at that price with better range. Most important thing is that you enjoy the ownership experience!
As I said a while back I knew it was a mini as the delivery I was quoted was November. I also test drove the Corsa the mini and the Honda (a day after each other) I went for the Honda, down to things that suited me.
The best car I have ever owned was my 1000cc classic Mini. I have never liked the new Mini, because I think it goes against everything Mini. I would have purchased a classic Mini and got it converted to electric, now that would be a fun car :-)
Think you're just being a tad biased. Its a fantastic car just like the original. Small, impractical full of style just like the old one. Ok the sub frame won't rust and there's no quarter lights but German influence or not I think it's a cracking British car
I cannot imagine the going from a bigger range car to a shorter range car now. I had a 2012 Nissan Leaf from almost new and upgraded to a new Hyundai ioniq 6 weeks ago. I am unable to charge at home so it will be easier for you than a person in my situation. Ps why has someone thumbs downed the video lol
Interesting to listen to your reasoning behind the change in car. I watched your videos at the time I was searching for the right EV. I would have gone for the Kona at the time but a exdemo Ioniq came along and suites 95% of my driving requirements, I get around 150miles range and driving normaly shows 5m/kWh on the dash, I have excellent boot capacity and I have learnt that extra expense involved to get 300 miles etc just wouldn’t make sense for me as prices jump up and grants reduce. Also I could easily do a full charge within one overnight “low rate” charge. I will look forward to seeing your reviews on the emini. 😊
I purchased my ID.3 outright. I was looking into leasing, PCP and credit but the numbers did not work for me. The best thing about an outright purchase is I can sell my car tomorrow if I want to. I am now trying to save more each month to rebuild my savings, so I have a credit to myself :-)
Nigel for the intro the Kona driving out must be replaced with the Mini driving in. That will make a statement. Sounds like you will enjoy Mini and the Solar PV
They are not called ‘Corona’ wheels anymore, they are called ‘Power’ wheels. It is not called a Mini SE, that is a US denomination, in the UK it is Mini Electric Cooper S. My Mini Electric Level 2 has the Hankook tyres.
You’re luck you don’t have the concentration of Murdoch misinformation media we have to put up with Nigel. You might be interested in mountain efficiency. We did a trip 87 kms over a 6000’ Mount Hotham (Vic) and found that the SR+ is just as energy efficient in the twisty climbs and descents as is in inner city traffic. The average was 115 wh/km @ 22-10C and some wet road travel . I had wondered if it might be a problem but not the least bit.
@@EVPuzzle with an aviation background many decades ago I now see EVs through the CDA aero efficiency plus factors such as density altitude and true airspeed because these are just so important in planning with limited total endurance.
Bad wording as always. There's the dash trip where the Speedo is and the trip on the media screen plus the on board computer which is sort of a trip. It's a mess. Just needs , trip, 1,2,3,4 etc. Poor design
@@EVPuzzle thanks that makes sense now. I discovered yesterday - my wife was on her (mobile) phone in the house, I went the garage, got the Mini out to charge on solar, but the moment I started it, her call was transferred to the car (BT) left me chatting to her friend, not seen that before, I think there must be a setting for it. When I switched the car off, it transferred the call back to her handset.
Lol No. I tried but they either didn't like me or didn't believe in their product enough to think I'd buy one🤭 It might be further away but I've very glad to have given Matt at Jardine Motors the business
30 kw battry not enough At 4 mpkw 10kw = 40 miles allways leave not runing to empty are you 10 kw 40 miles useable 80% 10 kw last 10 kw take 1 hr to do so only fill to 80% Only good for town driving
If I understand you correctly there are a few things wrong. Firstly, you don't get 4 miles/kWh unless you are going round a racing track. You get 5+ easily. Secondly, the mini can safely charge to 100% due to the 14% room at the top of the battery specifically to aid longevity. Thirdly, charge overnight from a standard plug to 100% - no problems. I recharge around 200-220km (125-135miles) when the battery gets to 15-20%. That is easily enough for a city car, and I would argue for virtually every journey the average person will take in their normal routine. If you go on a road trip, then plan ahead, or take a different car. Road trips are few and far between for me - at least currently.
I do applaud you for going electric, and for spreading the word on the joy of electric motoring. However, that car looks like a car from the last century (which is what it is), it’s just so old fashioned and dull compared to a Tesla model 3. Buying a petrol car with an electric drive train shoehorned in is not a great idea to my mind! Go with a company that designs an electric car from the ground up!
The efficiency of kWh per miles driven seems to be better than the Kona. Assuming that your daily driving stays the same as before, you should require less solar energy to top it off. This will leave you with more solar energy for house loads or a second electric car. You continue to surprise me with your never ending pursuit of doing more with less.. In terms of daily use, I find a smaller car is easier to maneuver and park. I wish you many happy miles with the new addition to your family.
My long term career was IT, performance, capacity, efficiency, problem solving etc. I think there's a hang over so yes efficiency is a common theme with me. Mentally , I'd struggle with a really inefficient car
Nice car but the range is not enough for me. Years ago I looked at a first generation Kia Soul Ev and the range on that was about the same as the mini. The good thing is there are more Ev chargers around now. Anyway enjoy the car and your like me keep away from idiots that thing COVID is a laugh. Let’s hope some sort of pill vaccine helps weaken it so we can all get back to doing what we enjoy talking and meeting at Ev events like fully charged. About the cars. Until that time stay safe. By the way love the colour combo.
You will not regret the silver colour over black, silver really hides the inevitable scratches etc, dirt also shows up less, in contrast my black Leaf shows up everything except when just cleaned!
You might miss the range of the Kona but a good idea to release some equity from it; still have a brand new EV and some cash left over to enhance your solar PV/battery capability - nice one Nigel.
Great video Nigel and congrats on the new car. I've just leased a Skoda Citigo-e which has similar range to your mini, around 150-ish miles to a full charge. I only do a couple of hundred miles a week so am only plugging it in twice at home, and I find the battery is more than sufficient for what I need. Looking forward to more videos. Enjoy your new toy
@@EVPuzzle I'm loving it. It's my first BEV, but I now finally understand why so many ev drivers say they'll never go back to driving an ICE car. Max regen and one pedal driving is a revelation. It's just on lease for two years, but expect to buy the next one. I'll be looking for something with better software integration though as the Skoda apps are pretty rubbish
Nice car Nigel, did not take that much thought to see this was going to be your next car. My Ioniq lease is up in April next year, I am looking at other EV's. I was looking for one with lot more range, but after 2 years with 28kw Ioniq, I can cope with all my drives. I have put 32k miles in my 2 years with no problems, so New 38kw Ioniq is proving hard to find a better EV, but I will test drive a few just to see. Happy safe driving with your Mini EV Nigel.
My Mini Cooper SE keeps shutting off of me in red lights in traffic last time it happened in the middle of the highway in traffic and I got in into an accident this will be the fourth time that I bring the car in for the same problem and you will think that BMW corporate the main concern will be safety first. But they keep giving me this car back telling me that the car is fixed and we're going into two months and my car is in the shop right now for the same problem I requested for my car to be replaced or to replace everything batteries cables but they keep using my family as guinea pigs. horrible customer service from corporate is all I have to say when it comes to BMW corporates and I said BMW corporate because the dealer is willing to replace my car. Glad to see that your car is working properly.
Sorry to hear of your problems. Sadly all car manufacturers work similarly. They avoid swapping the car unless they're forced to. Not sure what your legal rights are where you live but here in the UK I've heard of a few people having to assert them, especially when the car is leased.
A good looking fun car :-) I am extremely interested in on how you get on with the lower range. Do you plan to charge the Mini to 100% often? In my ID.3 I am trying to keep the car between 20% to 80% to help avoid battery degradation.
The MINI BMS has carried over from the i3s, and you don't need to charge to 80%. The battery won't physically charge beyond 86% anyway (28.9 of 33.6). It is a good idea to charge when you get to around 20% though. I charge about once a week after 200-220km (124-136 miles) at around 15-20%. A quick burst of fast charge can go between 20 and 60 percent in just a few minutes if you need a quick top up. In fact up to 85% is still at full whack, past 90 it is a bit slow, and the last 5% takes almost as long as the charge up to 95%.
Good to hear your thoughts on the level 2 mini electric especially as I have just ordered this very same car but in green. I will not get it till next March but as you say the test drive did it for me. I was a little disappointed that you did not let us see your charging you were going to test out your local EV charging station. It looked as if you had just reversed up to it. Great video will be watching for the next.
I suppose when you made your choice so obvious it was easy to then believe that you'd go a completely different direction! I do recall that Mrs Puzzle also really liked the Mini EV. Good that the Kona sold for so much meaning less, if anything extra, to shell out in the new car. Enjoy :-)
A good choice, Nigel! We could see you really liked the size/range/comfort/weight of this car, and it still has great efficiency for your drive cycle. Your daily use case seems to be ideal for the 140-150 mile battery, so you’re a good example for a lot of us, and can demonstrate how many days per year that you’ll be perfectly happy with this package. Now for the true test - the 350+ mile road trip.
Can't wait for that too. Will I hate it or love it. Definitely makes me recall my Brighton journey in the Kona my first trip where i needed a public charge. The anxiety was real. How do I get back???😬🤦 Laughable now 🤣 so hopefully I'll be chilled in the Mini. Time will tell
Australian BMW i3s BEV owner for just under 2.5 years, with the same battery as your mini, I’ve done just over 105,000KM now. No issues, Zappi to charge nearly all from solar. Go, go, go, you’ll love it.
Ccspack how much vampire drain do you notice? I've never experienced it as the Kona was offline but the mini is online with 3G and GPS etc so seems to drop a % a day roughly. I added 0.2kwh of sunshine yesterday and it went down a %. Not a big deal but nice to know if the mini is better or worse than the i3s. I was tempted with a nearly new i3s
@@EVPuzzle i3 owners see very little vampire drain. Pre late 2017 is 3G and post refresh is 4G. I've gone away for a fortnight and might only have lost half a percent, I usually don't notice. Surprised about the Mini.
@@EVPuzzle The longest I’ve left the car while on international holiday is 16 days. I left it unplugged and On 79%, when I got back I couldn’t believe, but it was still on 79% on my return. So no issue at all. It is 3G connected down here in Australia.
The batteries are not the same. The i3 has a Korean Samsung battery vs the MNI Cooper SE's Chinese CATL battery. MINI says the SE's battery suffers less cold-weather range-reduction than the i3's battery.
Would love an electric Mini but it’s not enough range for me. I have owned old Minis and loved them. Always been put off the BMW gas Mini due to expensive maintenance but I think the electric mini is the solution for that. In the USA though 100 miles is not that far. Would be ok for basic commuting but would be impractical for a road trip
You've got to love charging for lots of really long trips. It's catered for our needs so far up to 220 miles, which needs just one charge, 120 to 140 is easily comfortable In summer with some contingency but no it won't suit everyone range wise. It's a compromise. Get more range, get a duller car to drive unless you spend masses more
@@EVPuzzle yeah I would have to keep a gas car too if I had the Mini electric but it’s certainly good value. In the US they are $30k but there’s a $7500 tax credit.
Congratulations on the new car Nigel. Will you be keeping the charge between 30-80? to prolong battery health and wont that therefore reduce your usable range even more, making it more likely that you will have to charge to 100 much more often to get a reasonable range especially in winter.I will be fascinated to see how this works for you in the real world.we need more people doing tests like this to show us all what the answer is between big/small battery. Enjoy.
The MINI has a fair bit of head room at the top. 100% charge is only 86% physically, so taking it to 100 is fine. I wouldn't empty it completely if you can avoid it - charge at 15-20% will give a long battery life. I am lucky to live in a hot climate - I charge at around 200-220km with 15-20% left. You should be able to get 250-270km from an exhausted battery (155-165 miles) if you really need it. UK winter might be a little below that, however MINI make a big deal about the battery losing far less range than the i3 in winter due to its heating/cooling and the new CAT-L batteries.
We have had five MINI’s currently have two with a third on factory order being a Clubman probably the last fossil one we will see. The other more special MINI was factory ordered too and will be kept a lot longer than any of my Cars to put miles on it and because there is no EV option or Tesla Berlin is not producing yet. Would love a EV MINI as I enjoy the drive but that range is a non starter. Both MINI’s are not second Cars one does silly miles the Nov16 car currently (clubman will replace it) is on 120k miles and the other MINI does road trips and holidays. So anything less than 250 miles would just be a hassle. The second gen EV MINI actually built as a EV say in 2024 will be a huge improvement.
@@EVPuzzle I was one of the first to see this Car when MINI did its tour of the U.K. 2019 in that container thing, strangely where I went to see the SE as it was called they had a Model 3 and a leaf on show outside in the dealership Car park. I hadn’t seen the model 3 at this time and the guy from Tesla Edinburgh let me sit in it. Always thought what a strange thing for a proper Mini only dealership to have done let a competitor have a car sitting as because we know the MINI’s Like the back of our hands there was not a lot to new see apart from the new dash and wheels etc and came away more interested that I’d sat in a model 3. Probably would have taken one out for a try before all this lockdown thing. I was in getting a new fob battery for the spare key as I was driving from Glasgow to Duxford and back over a long weekend a few months back and I always take the spare with me when I’m down south just to leave in my travel bag ( and yes I take both keys on my person when driving up and down if I leave the car so it can’t be nicked). Two SE’s were sitting plugged in at the dealership but not available for a test drive due to COVID. But I’ve seen what looks three or four out on the road in what looks like private ownership. While the current MINI EV is not what we want or need right now I appreciate the people that are the early adopters to point out - yes there is demand for full EV’s. Many happy safe miles in it.
Got my mini ordered for 19th November can’t wait.Range no problem in last 4 years never done more than 100 in a day. Now on Octopus Go 4 hrs electric at 5p instead or 15p could get 1p mile on green + summer time.
Just in time for spring weather perfect. I was tempted to wait for a 2021 registration but couldn't wait that long in the end . I'm sure you'll love it
You were dismissive of the Honda e with 'only' 5 miles per kwh efficiency, yet the Mini is the same and will be significantly worse presumably if you're tempted by the performance. Also the Honda has 5-door practicality.
@@EVPuzzle we had to get BMW not Mini to register the car with the App, and now that’s working are learning more about the car. We have the same colour BTW😀 The Union Jack rear lights are very cool.
@@EVPuzzle There are some features, that made me think 'I didn't know it did that', but I haven't read the manual fully yet! I've found the camera and sensors think I'm about to hit the car behind when parking, only to find it's about 1M away when I get out.
I can understand why you bought it but for most people it doesn't make sense over a petrol mini. This car is £27k after the grant vs starting prices of 15 to 17k for pre reg petrols. At 8,000 miles a year you might save £2000 in fuel over 3 years which is neglible vs the depreciation. I know electric cars are in short supply and used prices are artificially high at present but PCPs are still based on 50% depreciation over 3 years. Thus an Ev will cost more. By the way, isnt it bit cramped after the Kona?
I understand the enthusiasm on EV channels because a lot of tech and gadget loving guys watch them. However, a balanced view versus ICE should also be presented - this is not a criticism of your channel but just a general observation.
True but there's no room for balance in the argument that we need to reduce emissions, reduce pollution and improve air quality and even restore tranquility. EVs are an important step hence even where ICE might be better, we need to move forward and not look back. I don't go on about it much as I'd rather influence by encouraging the smoother, cheaper, better (in my view) driving characteristics of EVs but .. Not being able to walk down a bust street without breathing in dense diesel fumes is just hard to understand how we got here. Once you've owned an EV I think it clears your view and the environmental benefits become more relevant. In truth, I still appreciate the noise of a good engine note but part of me thinks it's as childish as a boy taping playing cards on the spokes of his bicycle. Where EVs suffer currently is weight. Cars like the Mini help but the smaller battery is currently the comprise. It'll improve as battery density improves of course
@@EVPuzzle These are all valid points but the majority of people cant afford to buy new cars and they buy used ones which has already suffered heavy depreciation . I personally buy 2 to 3 old german premium cars at 40 to 50% of new price. I would buy used Ev but they are not very good compared to current models.I appreciate its the way forward but we have accept reality on the ground. Also the lifetime emissions equation between Ev and ICE is not straightforward. For example in Asian countries modern effecient petrol cars can be almost as climate friendly as EV because most power generation is mostly from fossil fuels. Even in the Uk, fossil accounts for 33% power and if the battery is sourced from Asia then that is a detriment to lifetime emissions savings.
Yet lots of people spend £50 or note on phone contract and the same on Sky. EVs are affordable if we choose them. On many cases when you add it all up the high cost car can actually be cheaper hence it's worth highlighting the benefits to at least encourage others to look
Nice review thanks . Looks a nice car , if we had the money for second car it would be that or Honda e. But for us the Zoe is good enough, yer we don’t need the range every day but at one time we did 5000 miles in 2 months! And now nearly 8000 miles in 5 months and like you said evs are just some much fun .but it’s there for when Covid goes away and we can go away on the spur of the moment again and dont have to worry about range for the most part. But like you said everyone different. Stay safe and enjoy your new car and safe travels.
Thankyou Nigel and congratulations for the new car,it looks really nice,it's a long while since I have been in a Mini,in my teens I had an old 64 model ,the one with rotting subframes 😥😥 I shall look forward to seeing more of your vids on the new car.I hope you will be be very happy with it ATB Alan
Great review Nigel, as always. I remember the look of satisfaction on Susan’s face as you test drove the Mini EV back in the summer .... the contentment said it all to me - “This is the one”. A great car but let’s see how you manage first haha.
..most importantly I think your wife preferred the mini Cooper aswel... You have obviously researched it for yourself and your a more experienced EV driver now. As a TH-camr 'showing off' a lower range EV will be an interesting 🤔 story. It also give you alot of new content ! ..if all else fails. I think your probably the kind of person that will change the car again in a year or so.. Good luck man
It will be good to see how you get on with the Mini. It is good that the EV market now has 'fun' models to choose from. I'm not sure how the public charging network against increased use will play out, so that will be good to see too.
Well said (last couple of minutes) Nigel. We liked the Mini too. When (if) they add the 4 door option we might bite the bullet and get one. For now 2 doors is a compromise too far, but great for those who rarely/never use the rear seats.
Bigger than the new big Countryman. It's gonna be huge. Mini could show things up here. S clubman EV a countryman and a small hatch. Get the range right and price and they'll sell like hot cakes
@@EVPuzzle agreed, apparently the chairman of BMW resigned recently because he didn’t like the way the brand was evolving (EV’s) but that seems inevitable now. Expect a 5-door e-Mini next I think.
Absolutely. Everyone has different needs and the Mini will sell well as the price is attractive, build quality good it seems and some people just love the whole Mini thing. I am not one of them but thankfully we don’t all like the same things.
Hey Nigel, I stumbled across your channel after before ordering my LCI L3 Mini electric. Absolutely love your videos, and I can't wait to get my Mini in November!
Cheers Matt. Envious of your LCI L3. I just couldn't push the button for those extra bits. Would love the sunroof though. Happy days ahead. Really pleasing to here from people liking the videos,. Makes sharing worth while. Its a hoot of a car
@@EVPuzzle Thanks Nigel, they are fantastic to drive. I didn't want to hand back my demo after having it for 48 hours. I'm super impressed by your long trips too. I'm based in South Wales now, but have Family in North Essex and Norfolk and its lovely to see familiar places like Long Melford and Mundesley the videos.
I'm enjoying the challenge of a smaller battery. It comfortably does 140 miles in summer and that's a lot of hours driving locally. I'm heading to Banbury in a week or so, 300+ round trip. No concerns at all. I'll gladly exchange the extra planning I'll do for the extra fun it provides
@@EVPuzzle I was set on having a Kona Electric Ultimate spec, because I couldn't get my head round the smaller range of the Mini. After previously owning a 2019 Cooper S Auto from new, my heart was saying Mini but my brain was saying Kona. I decided to last minute cool off the Kona order and place an order for the mini. Your videos have proved that long trips can easily be done with a bit of planning. The mini being a smaller battery can charge that much quicker and if you can charge when you would normally stop, it's no issue at all.
I really want to know what the real life range is: in the depth of winter and driving a Mini the way it encourages you to drive. I suspect it’s more like 80 miles on a full charge. Given that EVs are so expensive, it really should be possible to drive them normally and get something close to the claimed range. My e-Niro does about 200 miles on a full charge in mixed A road and motorway driving in the Summer. I am expecting it to be worse in the Winter. The claimed range is 280, so realistically I can expect it to deliver about 66% of that in real life UK driving conditions. Next year I will need to replace our petrol Mini and I am wondering whether the EV version is viable, even as a second car. Do I really want to have to put it on charge every night?
Real world is different between us all and our driving style and roads. Using your eNiro as a benchmark for wltp is good but I suspect the Mini will be given a bit more as the Niro heating efficiency is really good. Not so sure on the Mini
Arh you said on your mini video you was going to buy one, but then most People go arh I love this I'm going to buy this car, and never do spur of the moment kinda thing, but yeah you definitely went and got one, niceee I hope to see vidoes on this soon as I'm pretty interesting in one myself that or the E208 :) Edit I had a thought it would of been a mini but all them cars i was like Nahh the range I was Wrong 👍
I would have gone for the green British Color with black wheels and white roof. just to make summer fresher. I hope a lot of people buy this car so when my Leaf dies I can get a cheaper used one.
They're very similar in fact but the Mini is more difficult to resist a little fun instead of ECO. Yesterday was a respectable 12.2kwh/100km. My Eco test in summer achieved 9.0kwh/100 km
I've flip flopped between 100 mile and 170 mile range cars and I'm back to longer range. It will be interesting to see how changing from a 300 mile to a 100 mile car feels. Lack of heating steering wheel would exclude any EV for me now as it is useful when the heating isn't fierce enough!
Not a big thing I think as ev heating is near Instant not like ice cars have to warm up etc and you got preheating on evs so can be warm when you get in and hopefully even defrost the car too before you get in so saves you getting cold Scraping the windows on the car , is bonus I think.
Great choice. Congratulations.
Our second car is an Ioniq 28kWh which I imagine has similar range to the Mini. And covers about 95% of my wifes' driving without worry.
Enjoy..
Congratulations on your new Mini! So nice to hear someone genuinely exited about their Mini.
Can you tell 😉
Very happy
Nigel I have watched all your EV videos. I was surprised as anyone to discover you have chosen the Mini Electric. However what you have proved yet again is that buyers should do their research, and then purchase a vehicle that suits their needs. If they do that how can they possibly be disappointed - well done with the honest review. Good look with your channel.
Brian
Cheers Brian. Comments like this keep me going. There's enough doom and gloomers who don't understand or see the bigger picture. I've said from the start this is a journey I'm sharing and it's people like you that have watched from the beginning who understand me best.
Cheers👍
Congrats on your new EV, IMHO It doesn't matter what EV you go for, as long as its an EV :-). One great benefit is you can fill the car up in a shorter time frame.
Exactly. Reached 80% really quick.usy be a faster charger than the Kona 🤭😉😉😂
Congratulations on your new Mini ev. Safe driving.
As we say in Ireland, well wear! It sounds like you’re trading more grid power for motoring against less grid power for the house. Not a bad trade.
I can but hope one day to have enough self generated power to have both.
Very nice! I don't know why I didn't guess the Mini I did watch that review and think I'd get one if we could cope with a small car.
I was right - thought it would be the Mini - enjoy. That view where it looks like you are driving facing backwards is freaky - very Thunderbirds. Nice that you sound really excited too. I am interested in what you actually get range wise in the winter - that's the real test of an EV in my opinion (my Zoe ZE40 used to get 140 miles - my minimum because of the 120 mile round trips I sometimes do - or did before we were in lockdown). I think as public chargers become more common place larger batteries will be less necessary.
But batteries will increase in density by default hopefully.
Thanks for feedback on the view. I'll be experimenting with different positions
This looks awesome! Great video. Pop in and see us soon we’d love to meet you and potentially complete some bits to your EV 👍🏼
Will do. If you're on Twitter I could drop you message in advance ...@EVPuzzle / @NorfolkEvs
New you’d go for it, enjoy. Your singing from a different hymn sheet in regards to range anxiety that’s where you sang the praise of the Kona. Interestingly the Kona now comes with Michelin tyres the same as the Kia I’ve ordered. I have to say in defence of the Kona that I didn’t have any of the rattling problems you encountered nor water ingress, but like you that’s history as I look forward to the Nero EV.
Really nice to see your new “set of wheels” Nigel. I’m sure it’ll be a hoot to drive around your local back roads and whilst I still love my Kona, it’s not a great drivers car. Competent, but I get the sense the Mini will be much more fun and engaging to drive. What I’ll be interested to see is how the much smaller battery influences your charging behaviour... Enjoy and stay safe!
Me too. It's different already. Charged to 95% today. Wouldn't do that in my Kona
Thanks for the first impressions video. I guessed you had gone for a mini. I look forward to hearing more about its features and driving experience
Good Review Nigel :
I have a 40kw Zoe Q90 and now find after 3 years ownership that there plenty more places to charge on route in the UK.
And because it is cheaper to run a EV per mile , I find it's how far and how long you want to drive is the only question it really is that cheap 👍
When I owed a Ice car the cost to drive for days out where not cheap but now i don't worry about that.
It's all in the mind it seems. Once you're used to less range you just get used to it.....I hope 👍😉
You should always choose the car that suits your needs and the Mini looks a lot of fun, until you do your first long journey when perhaps the range limits will becoming annoying. The Mini wouldn’t work for us here in rural France where it is our only car and has to do everything from taking bulky stuff to the recycling and the occasional long journeys in this big old country . I grew up with Minis in the 60s and 70s but for some reason I never got into them, they just never appealed. My first car was a 1962 Cortina Mk1 !!..A classic even in the mid 70s when I bought it at age 18. After 20 months the e-Niro is still rattle free and no leaks, sorry to hear you had that problem with the Kona but I cannot fault Kia build quality so far. If I lived in a city I guess the Mini would be on my list but there is a lot of competition at that price with better range. Most important thing is that you enjoy the ownership experience!
As I said a while back I knew it was a mini as the delivery I was quoted was November. I also test drove the Corsa the mini and the Honda (a day after each other) I went for the Honda, down to things that suited me.
After the Corsa the Honda is a Gem
Enjoy your Honda e it’s a great car so is the mini e would be tough decision if had to choose . Stay safe and safe travels
Good choice if you don’t need long range mini is nice product makes you smile .
The best car I have ever owned was my 1000cc classic Mini. I have never liked the new Mini, because I think it goes against everything Mini. I would have purchased a classic Mini and got it converted to electric, now that would be a fun car :-)
Think you're just being a tad biased. Its a fantastic car just like the original. Small, impractical full of style just like the old one. Ok the sub frame won't rust and there's no quarter lights but German influence or not I think it's a cracking British car
@@EVPuzzle You are right, I have never driven one. A classic Mini electric car for the weekends would be great 😁
I'd like a modern Morris Traveller with modern kit like the new Mini. It'd be like a Kia Soul but with British carpentry and loads more style 😉
Welcome to the MINI family!!
Many thanks.
I have been wondering what the amino community would be like so it's great to feel welcome
I cannot imagine the going from a bigger range car to a shorter range car now. I had a 2012 Nissan Leaf from almost new and upgraded to a new Hyundai ioniq 6 weeks ago. I am unable to charge at home so it will be easier for you than a person in my situation. Ps why has someone thumbs downed the video lol
vw id3 .....looks good long range rear wheel drive .... very nice... bigger battery lasts longer is more convenient cheaper to run more powerful ..
It's bit getting good reviews on quality. VW squeezing the profit
Am impressed after reading about charging points via Tesco, Aldi and Lidl. Which assume you're about to use off camera. Worth extra over a Corsa.
It becomes free fuel when you shop if you choose a shop with a charger. Sainsbury's take note
Interesting to listen to your reasoning behind the change in car. I watched your videos at the time I was searching for the right EV. I would have gone for the Kona at the time but a exdemo Ioniq came along and suites 95% of my driving requirements, I get around 150miles range and driving normaly shows 5m/kWh on the dash, I have excellent boot capacity and I have learnt that extra expense involved to get 300 miles etc just wouldn’t make sense for me as prices jump up and grants reduce. Also I could easily do a full charge within one overnight “low rate” charge. I will look forward to seeing your reviews on the emini. 😊
Ioniq is a cracking car
It would be good to see a video with your thoughts on outright purchase versus a PCP contract. What were the main reasons you chose to purchase?
Yep that's worth talking about
I purchased my ID.3 outright. I was looking into leasing, PCP and credit but the numbers did not work for me. The best thing about an outright purchase is I can sell my car tomorrow if I want to. I am now trying to save more each month to rebuild my savings, so I have a credit to myself :-)
Nigel for the intro the Kona driving out must be replaced with the Mini driving in. That will make a statement. Sounds like you will enjoy Mini and the Solar PV
New much improved Intro needed. More action
They are not called ‘Corona’ wheels anymore, they are called ‘Power’ wheels.
It is not called a Mini SE, that is a US denomination, in the UK it is Mini Electric Cooper S.
My Mini Electric Level 2 has the Hankook tyres.
I love your video and your description of this mini.
You’re luck you don’t have the concentration of Murdoch misinformation media we have to put up with Nigel.
You might be interested in mountain efficiency.
We did a trip 87 kms over a 6000’ Mount Hotham (Vic) and found that the SR+ is just as energy efficient in the twisty climbs and descents as is in inner city traffic. The average was 115 wh/km @ 22-10C and some wet road travel .
I had wondered if it might be a problem but not the least bit.
What goes up must come down. No mountains here but one day I'll explore the Highlands
@@EVPuzzle it just goes to emphasise that air speed is the major factor to deal with.
Wish we had some active aero to play with
@@EVPuzzle with an aviation background many decades ago I now see EVs through the CDA aero efficiency plus factors such as density altitude and true airspeed because these are just so important in planning with limited total endurance.
Apparently there’s a per-journey trip-computer (unlike most BMW’s), according to the manual I downloaded, problem is I can’t find it, have you?
Bad wording as always.
There's the dash trip where the Speedo is and the trip on the media screen plus the on board computer which is sort of a trip.
It's a mess. Just needs , trip, 1,2,3,4 etc. Poor design
@@EVPuzzle thanks that makes sense now.
I discovered yesterday - my wife was on her (mobile) phone in the house, I went the garage, got the Mini out to charge on solar, but the moment I started it, her call was transferred to the car (BT) left me chatting to her friend, not seen that before, I think there must be a setting for it. When I switched the car off, it transferred the call back to her handset.
Just Bluetooth auto connecting. You can change priority if you have multiple phones
Congratulations on the new car. It looks a lot of fun. I take it you didn't get it from the Norwich dealer?
Lol No. I tried but they either didn't like me or didn't believe in their product enough to think I'd buy one🤭
It might be further away but I've very glad to have given Matt at Jardine Motors the business
You go were the deals are best .we traveled 380 miles round trip to pick our car up!
On your annual mileage, does a £30k electric mini make sense vs a £20k petrol or diesel mini - purely from a financial perspective?
Shot answer YES
Well said 👏
Good choice ,🙂🔌
This is exactly why we are getting this and not the Kona. Even though we have. 2 kids. The Kona is boring.
30 kw battry not enough
At 4 mpkw
10kw = 40 miles allways leave not runing to empty are you
10 kw 40 miles useable 80%
10 kw last 10 kw take 1 hr to do so only fill to 80%
Only good for town driving
If I understand you correctly there are a few things wrong. Firstly, you don't get 4 miles/kWh unless you are going round a racing track. You get 5+ easily. Secondly, the mini can safely charge to 100% due to the 14% room at the top of the battery specifically to aid longevity. Thirdly, charge overnight from a standard plug to 100% - no problems. I recharge around 200-220km (125-135miles) when the battery gets to 15-20%. That is easily enough for a city car, and I would argue for virtually every journey the average person will take in their normal routine. If you go on a road trip, then plan ahead, or take a different car. Road trips are few and far between for me - at least currently.
Very interesting
Same here!! :)
I do applaud you for going electric, and for spreading the word on the joy of electric motoring. However, that car looks like a car from the last century (which is what it is), it’s just so old fashioned and dull compared to a Tesla model 3. Buying a petrol car with an electric drive train shoehorned in is not a great idea to my mind! Go with a company that designs an electric car from the ground up!
Not everyone wants that Tesla look. Many want a retro look and feel so please don't judge others. Variety is good and Tesla don't sell at £25k...yet
Black cars look great when clean. They are almost always never that clean though.
The efficiency of kWh per miles driven seems to be better than the Kona.
Assuming that your daily driving stays the same as before, you should require less solar energy to top it off.
This will leave you with more solar energy for house loads or a second electric car.
You continue to surprise me with your never ending pursuit of doing more with less..
In terms of daily use, I find a smaller car is easier to maneuver and park.
I wish you many happy miles with the new addition to your family.
My long term career was IT, performance, capacity, efficiency, problem solving etc. I think there's a hang over so yes efficiency is a common theme with me. Mentally , I'd struggle with a really inefficient car
Congrats mate on your new ride!!!! Looking forward to seeing some winter driving stats
Cough cough, I'm not 😬
Good to hear from you again
Nice car but the range is not enough for me. Years ago I looked at a first generation Kia Soul Ev and the range on that was about the same as the mini. The good thing is there are more Ev chargers around now. Anyway enjoy the car and your like me keep away from idiots that thing COVID is a laugh. Let’s hope some sort of pill vaccine helps weaken it so we can all get back to doing what we enjoy talking and meeting at Ev events like fully charged. About the cars. Until that time stay safe. By the way love the colour combo.
Many thanks
You will not regret the silver colour over black, silver really hides the inevitable scratches etc, dirt also shows up less, in contrast my black Leaf shows up everything except when just cleaned!
You might miss the range of the Kona but a good idea to release some equity from it; still have a brand new EV and some cash left over to enhance your solar PV/battery capability - nice one Nigel.
Welcome to the club! Such a fun car to drive, and if you want such an economical ev. Enjoy.
I understand I have only been putting less than 100 miles a month with covid 19 I go to hs games a lot and they are only letting parents
I had a feeling this was your choice - well done.
Great video Nigel and congrats on the new car.
I've just leased a Skoda Citigo-e which has similar range to your mini, around 150-ish miles to a full charge. I only do a couple of hundred miles a week so am only plugging it in twice at home, and I find the battery is more than sufficient for what I need.
Looking forward to more videos. Enjoy your new toy
Thanks George. Hope you enjoy the Citi Go also. I hear it's getting good reviews
@@EVPuzzle I'm loving it. It's my first BEV, but I now finally understand why so many ev drivers say they'll never go back to driving an ICE car. Max regen and one pedal driving is a revelation.
It's just on lease for two years, but expect to buy the next one. I'll be looking for something with better software integration though as the Skoda apps are pretty rubbish
Totally agree, it's a brilliant way to drive , making gears and engines seem ancient
Someone will be able to pick up the used Kona Electric at a reduced price adding to the numbers of EV drivers.
Nice car Nigel, did not take that much thought to see this was going to be your next car. My Ioniq lease is up in April next year, I am looking at other EV's. I was looking for one with lot more range, but after 2 years with 28kw Ioniq, I can cope with all my drives. I have put 32k miles in my 2 years with no problems, so New 38kw Ioniq is proving hard to find a better EV, but I will test drive a few just to see. Happy safe driving with your Mini EV Nigel.
Many thanks
Thanks very much for your honest and clear explanation of your thought process.
My Mini Cooper SE keeps shutting off of me in red lights in traffic last time it happened in the middle of the highway in traffic and I got in into an accident this will be the fourth time that I bring the car in for the same problem and you will think that BMW corporate the main concern will be safety first. But they keep giving me this car back telling me that the car is fixed and we're going into two months and my car is in the shop right now for the same problem I requested for my car to be replaced or to replace everything batteries cables but they keep using my family as guinea pigs. horrible customer service from corporate is all I have to say when it comes to BMW corporates and I said BMW corporate because the dealer is willing to replace my car. Glad to see that your car is working properly.
Sorry to hear of your problems. Sadly all car manufacturers work similarly. They avoid swapping the car unless they're forced to. Not sure what your legal rights are where you live but here in the UK I've heard of a few people having to assert them, especially when the car is leased.
My guess is that you will soon regret buying the Level 2 and swap it for a Level 3!🙂
Hahaha
A good looking fun car :-) I am extremely interested in on how you get on with the lower range. Do you plan to charge the Mini to 100% often? In my ID.3 I am trying to keep the car between 20% to 80% to help avoid battery degradation.
No not often on purpose
The MINI BMS has carried over from the i3s, and you don't need to charge to 80%. The battery won't physically charge beyond 86% anyway (28.9 of 33.6). It is a good idea to charge when you get to around 20% though. I charge about once a week after 200-220km (124-136 miles) at around 15-20%. A quick burst of fast charge can go between 20 and 60 percent in just a few minutes if you need a quick top up. In fact up to 85% is still at full whack, past 90 it is a bit slow, and the last 5% takes almost as long as the charge up to 95%.
We have a tesla model Y and have ordered a mini ev as our devil d car and I can't wait for it. A lo g wait for us in thestates
Hope it comes soon. These delays are frustrating for sure
Good to hear your thoughts on the level 2 mini electric especially as I have just ordered this very same car but in green. I will not get it till next March but as you say the test drive did it for me. I was a little disappointed that you did not let us see your charging you were going to test out your local EV charging station. It looked as if you had just reversed up to it. Great video will be watching for the next.
Lol there's not much to see as there's no KW rate displayed.
My charge failed twice too. Can only hope it was the charger not my car
I suppose when you made your choice so obvious it was easy to then believe that you'd go a completely different direction! I do recall that Mrs Puzzle also really liked the Mini EV. Good that the Kona sold for so much meaning less, if anything extra, to shell out in the new car. Enjoy :-)
Its an odd feeling having the cash to just say, I'll take one and I don't take it for granted. Kona was a great car for me
A good choice, Nigel! We could see you really liked the size/range/comfort/weight of this car, and it still has great efficiency for your drive cycle. Your daily use case seems to be ideal for the 140-150 mile battery, so you’re a good example for a lot of us, and can demonstrate how many days per year that you’ll be perfectly happy with this package. Now for the true test - the 350+ mile road trip.
Can't wait for that too. Will I hate it or love it.
Definitely makes me recall my Brighton journey in the Kona my first trip where i needed a public charge. The anxiety was real. How do I get back???😬🤦
Laughable now 🤣 so hopefully I'll be chilled in the Mini. Time will tell
Congratulations on the arrival of your new EV. Looking forward to seeing more of it in upcoming videos.
Cheers mate. Wish I'd had it for our last catch up
@@EVPuzzle Next time 🙂
Congratulations on the new mini EV. We’ll done ✅
A whole new world being opened up
Australian BMW i3s BEV owner for just under 2.5 years, with the same battery as your mini, I’ve done just over 105,000KM now. No issues, Zappi to charge nearly all from solar. Go, go, go, you’ll love it.
Ccspack how much vampire drain do you notice? I've never experienced it as the Kona was offline but the mini is online with 3G and GPS etc so seems to drop a % a day roughly.
I added 0.2kwh of sunshine yesterday and it went down a %.
Not a big deal but nice to know if the mini is better or worse than the i3s. I was tempted with a nearly new i3s
@@EVPuzzle i3 owners see very little vampire drain. Pre late 2017 is 3G and post refresh is 4G. I've gone away for a fortnight and might only have lost half a percent, I usually don't notice. Surprised about the Mini.
Better keep an eye on that then
@@EVPuzzle The longest I’ve left the car while on international holiday is 16 days. I left it unplugged and On 79%, when I got back I couldn’t believe, but it was still on 79% on my return. So no issue at all. It is 3G connected down here in Australia.
The batteries are not the same. The i3 has a Korean Samsung battery vs the MNI Cooper SE's Chinese CATL battery. MINI says the SE's battery suffers less cold-weather range-reduction than the i3's battery.
Would love an electric Mini but it’s not enough range for me. I have owned old Minis and loved them. Always been put off the BMW gas Mini due to expensive maintenance but I think the electric mini is the solution for that. In the USA though 100 miles is not that far. Would be ok for basic commuting but would be impractical for a road trip
You've got to love charging for lots of really long trips. It's catered for our needs so far up to 220 miles, which needs just one charge, 120 to 140 is easily comfortable In summer with some contingency but no it won't suit everyone range wise. It's a compromise.
Get more range, get a duller car to drive unless you spend masses more
@@EVPuzzle yeah I would have to keep a gas car too if I had the Mini electric but it’s certainly good value. In the US they are $30k but there’s a $7500 tax credit.
You'll be surprised how much you'll want to take the electric not the gas car
Congratulations on the new car Nigel. Will you be keeping the charge between 30-80? to prolong battery health and wont that therefore reduce your usable range even more, making it more likely that you will have to charge to 100 much more often to get a reasonable range especially in winter.I will be fascinated to see how this works for you in the real world.we need more people doing tests like this to show us all what the answer is between big/small battery. Enjoy.
That's a very topical point
The MINI has a fair bit of head room at the top. 100% charge is only 86% physically, so taking it to 100 is fine. I wouldn't empty it completely if you can avoid it - charge at 15-20% will give a long battery life. I am lucky to live in a hot climate - I charge at around 200-220km with 15-20% left. You should be able to get 250-270km from an exhausted battery (155-165 miles) if you really need it. UK winter might be a little below that, however MINI make a big deal about the battery losing far less range than the i3 in winter due to its heating/cooling and the new CAT-L batteries.
We have had five MINI’s currently have two with a third on factory order being a Clubman probably the last fossil one we will see. The other more special MINI was factory ordered too and will be kept a lot longer than any of my Cars to put miles on it and because there is no EV option or Tesla Berlin is not producing yet. Would love a EV MINI as I enjoy the drive but that range is a non starter. Both MINI’s are not second Cars one does silly miles the Nov16 car currently (clubman will replace it) is on 120k miles and the other MINI does road trips and holidays. So anything less than 250 miles would just be a hassle. The second gen EV MINI actually built as a EV say in 2024 will be a huge improvement.
Once youve owned an EV the thought of stopping to charge seems much less an issue but yes 100 miles in winter isn't a lot
@@EVPuzzle I was one of the first to see this Car when MINI did its tour of the U.K. 2019 in that container thing, strangely where I went to see the SE as it was called they had a Model 3 and a leaf on show outside in the dealership Car park. I hadn’t seen the model 3 at this time and the guy from Tesla Edinburgh let me sit in it. Always thought what a strange thing for a proper Mini only dealership to have done let a competitor have a car sitting as because we know the MINI’s Like the back of our hands there was not a lot to new see apart from the new dash and wheels etc and came away more interested that I’d sat in a model 3. Probably would have taken one out for a try before all this lockdown thing.
I was in getting a new fob battery for the spare key as I was driving from Glasgow to Duxford and back over a long weekend a few months back and I always take the spare with me when I’m down south just to leave in my travel bag ( and yes I take both keys on my person when driving up and down if I leave the car so it can’t be nicked). Two SE’s were sitting plugged in at the dealership but not available for a test drive due to COVID. But I’ve seen what looks three or four out on the road in what looks like private ownership. While the current MINI EV is not what we want or need right now I appreciate the people that are the early adopters to point out - yes there is demand for full EV’s. Many happy safe miles in it.
Got my mini ordered for 19th November can’t wait.Range no problem in last 4 years never done more than 100 in a day. Now on Octopus Go 4 hrs electric at 5p instead or 15p could get 1p mile on green + summer time.
Just in time for spring weather perfect. I was tempted to wait for a 2021 registration but couldn't wait that long in the end .
I'm sure you'll love it
Well done octopus go or agile makes charging cheap as chips , we averaging about 1 p a mile from home . Take care and safe travels
You were dismissive of the Honda e with 'only' 5 miles per kwh efficiency, yet the Mini is the same and will be significantly worse presumably if you're tempted by the performance. Also the Honda has 5-door practicality.
Mini is way more efficient . Honda isn't .
@@EVPuzzle good-oh. Enjoy!
We’ve got one, BMW make a good EV. It can be driven for a very efficient result if you can resist the fun and performance, we love it.
Lots in common it seems
@@EVPuzzle we had to get BMW not Mini to register the car with the App, and now that’s working are learning more about the car. We have the same colour BTW😀 The Union Jack rear lights are very cool.
There's some gems of features tucked away but the manual is both hard work and not that helpful sadly.
@@EVPuzzle There are some features, that made me think 'I didn't know it did that', but I haven't read the manual fully yet! I've found the camera and sensors think I'm about to hit the car behind when parking, only to find it's about 1M away when I get out.
Me too. I'll be doing a video on those little features. The manual is frankly poorly written and tough work even to cover the basics
I can understand why you bought it but for most people it doesn't make sense over a petrol mini. This car is £27k after the grant vs starting prices of 15 to 17k for pre reg petrols. At 8,000 miles a year you might save £2000 in fuel over 3 years which is neglible vs the depreciation. I know electric cars are in short supply and used prices are artificially high at present but PCPs are still based on 50% depreciation over 3 years. Thus an Ev will cost more. By the way, isnt it bit cramped after the Kona?
That'd be a manual petrol Mini, not so quick and not as well specced. Yes our 5,000 mile petrol mini was half the price but it's half the fun too
I understand the enthusiasm on EV channels because a lot of tech and gadget loving guys watch them. However, a balanced view versus ICE should also be presented - this is not a criticism of your channel but just a general observation.
True but there's no room for balance in the argument that we need to reduce emissions, reduce pollution and improve air quality and even restore tranquility. EVs are an important step hence even where ICE might be better, we need to move forward and not look back.
I don't go on about it much as I'd rather influence by encouraging the smoother, cheaper, better (in my view) driving characteristics of EVs but ..
Not being able to walk down a bust street without breathing in dense diesel fumes is just hard to understand how we got here.
Once you've owned an EV I think it clears your view and the environmental benefits become more relevant.
In truth, I still appreciate the noise of a good engine note but part of me thinks it's as childish as a boy taping playing cards on the spokes of his bicycle.
Where EVs suffer currently is weight. Cars like the Mini help but the smaller battery is currently the comprise. It'll improve as battery density improves of course
@@EVPuzzle These are all valid points but the majority of people cant afford to buy new cars and they buy used ones which has already suffered heavy depreciation . I personally buy 2 to 3 old german premium cars at 40 to 50% of new price. I would buy used Ev but they are not very good compared to current models.I appreciate its the way forward but we have accept reality on the ground. Also the lifetime emissions equation between Ev and ICE is not straightforward. For example in Asian countries modern effecient petrol cars can be almost as climate friendly as EV because most power generation is mostly from fossil fuels. Even in the Uk, fossil accounts for 33% power and if the battery is sourced from Asia then that is a detriment to lifetime emissions savings.
Yet lots of people spend £50 or note on phone contract and the same on Sky. EVs are affordable if we choose them. On many cases when you add it all up the high cost car can actually be cheaper hence it's worth highlighting the benefits to at least encourage others to look
So you got those wheels deliberately?? LOL
I did and I'm loving them so far. I know they're marmite though
You bought a less range car, less features. Buyers remorse might be coming.
Range isnt everything.
Nice car Nigel well done 👏
Nice review thanks . Looks a nice car , if we had the money for second car it would be that or Honda e. But for us the Zoe is good enough, yer we don’t need the range every day but at one time we did 5000 miles in 2 months! And now nearly 8000 miles in 5 months and like you said evs are just some much fun .but it’s there for when Covid goes away and we can go away on the spur of the moment again and dont have to worry about range for the most part. But like you said everyone different. Stay safe and enjoy your new car and safe travels.
Just needs a quality British Racing Green wrap now; looking forward to the next years videos and reviews.
🤣 I do like how Mini choices encourage different looks. The green one I tested looked stunning in the sun. Loved making that video 😍
I have the BRG L2 on order ... 4 weeks to wait now
Which group or groups are you finding best online?
Mine is the BRG with white cooper S bonnet stripes :) We only got the one model here in Oz - it is a level 3 minus the moon roof.
Thankyou Nigel and congratulations for the new car,it looks really nice,it's a long while since I have been in a Mini,in my teens I had an old 64 model ,the one with rotting subframes 😥😥 I shall look forward to seeing more of your vids on the new car.I hope you will be be very happy with it
ATB Alan
Congrats! I got to drive one of those a little while ago and loved it too!
Great review Nigel, as always. I remember the look of satisfaction on Susan’s face as you test drove the Mini EV back in the summer .... the contentment said it all to me - “This is the one”.
A great car but let’s see how you manage first haha.
..most importantly I think your wife preferred the mini Cooper aswel...
You have obviously researched it for yourself and your a more experienced EV driver now.
As a TH-camr 'showing off' a lower range EV will be an interesting 🤔 story.
It also give you alot of new content !
..if all else fails. I think your probably the kind of person that will change the car again in a year or so..
Good luck man
I used to change them frequently but I see one more change on the next few years but I'd hope it's a 2nd EV
It will be good to see how you get on with the Mini. It is good that the EV market now has 'fun' models to choose from. I'm not sure how the public charging network against increased use will play out, so that will be good to see too.
Well said (last couple of minutes) Nigel.
We liked the Mini too. When (if) they add the 4 door option we might bite the bullet and get one. For now 2 doors is a compromise too far, but great for those who rarely/never use the rear seats.
It'll be a couple of year I think before more models come out. Big investment to change the model line up
@@EVPuzzle the new Countryman EV concept images have just been released it will also be the i3 replacement. Est. 2023
Bigger than the new big Countryman. It's gonna be huge.
Mini could show things up here. S clubman EV a countryman and a small hatch. Get the range right and price and they'll sell like hot cakes
@@EVPuzzle agreed, apparently the chairman of BMW resigned recently because he didn’t like the way the brand was evolving (EV’s) but that seems inevitable now. Expect a 5-door e-Mini next I think.
I'd do Clubman next. EV and Hybrid to satisfy the Muggles. Countryman probably their priority due to the love of giant cars right now
Range anxiety just watching.
Once you've driven down to single digit range in a Kona 20 miles seems loads
Is it going to be a problem in winter with real wheel drive?
It's front wheels
@@EVPuzzle That's great! Thanks!
Totally agree everyone goes on about range and 90% people don't need anywhere near what they actually think they need
Absolutely. Everyone has different needs and the Mini will sell well as the price is attractive, build quality good it seems and some people just love the whole Mini thing. I am not one of them but thankfully we don’t all like the same things.
@@kiae-nirodiaries1279 True. People always mention long trips but I doubt they do them often.
Hey Nigel, I stumbled across your channel after before ordering my LCI L3 Mini electric. Absolutely love your videos, and I can't wait to get my Mini in November!
Cheers Matt. Envious of your LCI L3. I just couldn't push the button for those extra bits. Would love the sunroof though. Happy days ahead. Really pleasing to here from people liking the videos,. Makes sharing worth while. Its a hoot of a car
@@EVPuzzle Thanks Nigel, they are fantastic to drive. I didn't want to hand back my demo after having it for 48 hours. I'm super impressed by your long trips too. I'm based in South Wales now, but have Family in North Essex and Norfolk and its lovely to see familiar places like Long Melford and Mundesley the videos.
I'm enjoying the challenge of a smaller battery. It comfortably does 140 miles in summer and that's a lot of hours driving locally. I'm heading to Banbury in a week or so, 300+ round trip. No concerns at all.
I'll gladly exchange the extra planning I'll do for the extra fun it provides
@@EVPuzzle I was set on having a Kona Electric Ultimate spec, because I couldn't get my head round the smaller range of the Mini. After previously owning a 2019 Cooper S Auto from new, my heart was saying Mini but my brain was saying Kona. I decided to last minute cool off the Kona order and place an order for the mini. Your videos have proved that long trips can easily be done with a bit of planning. The mini being a smaller battery can charge that much quicker and if you can charge when you would normally stop, it's no issue at all.
There'll be the idd day you wish you had a bigger battery but het that's balanced by all the others smiling
Welcome to the Miji world I have the Countryman PHEV, awesome car!
Really fab mate
Cheers Gary
I really want to know what the real life range is: in the depth of winter and driving a Mini the way it encourages you to drive. I suspect it’s more like 80 miles on a full charge. Given that EVs are so expensive, it really should be possible to drive them normally and get something close to the claimed range. My e-Niro does about 200 miles on a full charge in mixed A road and motorway driving in the Summer. I am expecting it to be worse in the Winter. The claimed range is 280, so realistically I can expect it to deliver about 66% of that in real life UK driving conditions. Next year I will need to replace our petrol Mini and I am wondering whether the EV version is viable, even as a second car. Do I really want to have to put it on charge every night?
Real world is different between us all and our driving style and roads. Using your eNiro as a benchmark for wltp is good but I suspect the Mini will be given a bit more as the Niro heating efficiency is really good. Not so sure on the Mini
Yes, this is what I thought you would buy, thanks for sharing.
Arh you said on your mini video you was going to buy one, but then most People go arh I love this I'm going to buy this car, and never do spur of the moment kinda thing, but yeah you definitely went and got one, niceee I hope to see vidoes on this soon as I'm pretty interesting in one myself that or the E208 :)
Edit I had a thought it would of been a mini but all them cars i was like Nahh the range I was Wrong 👍
It's nice to have been that confident. I wanted it badly. Far less decisive last time around.
I would have gone for the green British Color with black wheels and white roof. just to make summer fresher. I hope a lot of people buy this car so when my Leaf dies I can get a cheaper used one.
There'll be lots in 2 to 3 years. Loads on lease deals
Does anyone else have an issue with being able to see the speedo. i love the car
Mini looks great.
Don't really understand why they produced it with so little range. Not enough access to more batteries ?
Weight and space. Not compromising the mini feel was a priority clearly
Nice choice nigel,
I wish I could just afford the basic one with no choices
Nice! I hope you continue to enjoy the the Mini Cooper SE! What efficiency Miles per KWh do you get?
5.1 last trip out
Have had mine for two weeks. What an engaging fun vehicle. Great retirement automobile!
Exactly, yet all the ads are aimed at the 20s, its a car for all ages
I have had grey or silver cars for 20 years. Only clean the car when it rains or goes to the dealer!
Criminal. Poor car needs a bit of TLC 😉
Mine is 100% charged with only 86miles range stated just wondered if yours said similar?
I'm a bit more economical.
106 miles at 100% but Mini Gom isn't the most accurate
I've been driving in green+😇 hopefully it will improve? 1st ev so learning from your channel😊 thank you
I'll give some efficiency tips in another video soon.
@@EVPuzzle that'd be much appreciated thank you 😊
@@EVPuzzle Great videos Nigel. Would appreciate an efficiency test in the Mini around your usual route using eco tyre pressures at some point.
Congrats! Welcome to the super-mini club!! Planning any bank heists with it?!!
No there's an idea. Whoes got a red one and blue/black one to do some Italian job style pictures and video?
Appreciate the welcome
Nigel, how may kWh/100km you get on your mini up to now. If you compare with the kona.
They're very similar in fact but the Mini is more difficult to resist a little fun instead of ECO.
Yesterday was a respectable 12.2kwh/100km. My Eco test in summer achieved 9.0kwh/100 km
Mini doesn't like OBD connected permanently. Sets the alarm off 😟
I've flip flopped between 100 mile and 170 mile range cars and I'm back to longer range. It will be interesting to see how changing from a 300 mile to a 100 mile car feels. Lack of heating steering wheel would exclude any EV for me now as it is useful when the heating isn't fierce enough!
I'm hearing the Mini Heater is good so fingers crossed. Definitely a loss from the Kona
Not a big thing I think as ev heating is near Instant not like ice cars have to warm up etc and you got preheating on evs so can be warm when you get in and hopefully even defrost the car too before you get in so saves you getting cold Scraping the windows on the car , is bonus I think.
Great choice no suprise