2025 MINI Countryman SE: A Great MINI EV With JCW-Like Acceleration
| Strong points |
|
|---|---|
| Weak points |
|
MINI’s first attempt at electrifying its lineup was a plug-in hybrid variant of the Countryman that could only travel 30 km in pure electric mode. Then came the all-electric Cooper SE, unfortunately with a very limited range of 183 km. Sure, MINI owners typically prefer to spend time around town, but both vehicles proved fairly disappointing.
A new generation of the MINI 3 Door and Countryman was introduced for 2025, as you probably know. While the Cooper SE initially seemed promising with a larger battery, the fact that it’s manufactured in China prevents it from being sold in Canada due to the 100-percent tariff on Chinese-built EVs. On the other hand, the Countryman SE, which is now fully electric and frankly a lot more interesting, comes from a factory in Germany. It most definitely has something to satisfy MINI fans over here.
- Also: 2025 MINI Countryman SE: New Electric Model Eclipses Old Plug-in Hybrid
- Also: 2025 MINI Countryman John Cooper Works: Anything But Mini
Almost Like a JCW
The gasoline-powered 2025 MINI Countryman offers a 241-horsepower S model and a 312-horsepower John Cooper Works model. The electric Countryman, meanwhile, is only available in SE trim. However, this one generates 308 horsepower and 364 lb-ft of torque, which is generous as can be—consider its 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 5.6 seconds.
True, its 360 kg of extra weight makes it two tenths of a second slower than the JCW. The physical and auditory thrills are not the same, either. But mark our words: the Countryman SE is plenty vigorous and fun to push in any situation, whether it's taking off from an intersection, overtaking slower vehicles, weaving in and out of traffic or simply having a good time on a country road. It also benefits from ALL4 all-wheel drive, by the way.
The excess weight, which is largely due to the 66.45kWh high-voltage battery, is deftly masked by a finely tuned suspension that keeps this subcompact crossover flat and poised in corners. The ultra-rigid chassis and firm steering add to the driving pleasure. Our tester wasn't fitted with a set of tires specifically designed for an electric vehicle, but rather Continental ProContact GX all-season tires, which still contributed to a fairly quiet ride—aside from a few squeals under the Countryman SE's considerable mass during cornering maneuvers used to test its limits. As for regenerative braking, ironically, you kind of have to adapt to the adaptive mode offered by MINI, or choose one of three levels, the highest of which enables one-pedal driving.
Up to 341 Km of Range… or More
Driving dynamics change based on the MINI Experience modes, new for 2025. Core is the default mode, Green prioritizes smoothness and fuel economy (with a drawing of a hummingbird or feline on the screen to tell you how efficient your driving is), but Go-Kart is our favourite. The latter makes steering sharper and improves throttle response while displaying key performance data. Naturally, it drains the battery faster.
On that note, Natural Resources Canada says the 2025 MINI Countryman SE offers a range of 341 km with 18-inch wheels or 328 km with 19-inch wheels—very decent for an electric MINI, although most modern EVs can cover longer distances. In ideal summer conditions, our test model equipped with the larger wheels achieved a remarkable average of 17 kWh/100 km, using up 84 percent of battery charge to reach 300 km. That means we could have gone another 60-70 km. In fact, the range indicator suggested as much following two separate full charges.
Speaking of charging, there's no built-in app that makes it easy to find nearby charging stations, so you have to use Google Maps, for example. The Countryman SE can technically extract up to 130 kW from a DC fast charging station, enough to replenish its battery from 10-80 percent in 30 minutes, which is perfectly within the standards. However, we needed 44 minutes to go from 16-80 percent at a 100kW charging station despite the favourable temperature.
One more thing: the BMW Group (which MINI is a part of) has signed an agreement with Tesla to gain access to its Superchargers in North America sometime in 2025, but a manufacturer-approved CCS-NACS adapter has yet to be released. We also don’t know when the first MINIs equipped with an NACS connector will launch.
A Cool Design With Occasional Frustrations
Hats off to MINI designers for their work with the new generation of the Countryman. The evolution is superb without going over the top. The vehicle looks a little boxier, including the headlights, which marks a departure from MINI tradition but fits in well with the times. Attractive and unique wheel designs are once again available, and new design cues make it easy to spot the latest iteration, such as the trim on the edge of the rear side windows that matches the colour of the roof and bears the inscription "ALL4." On the flip side: the tiny rear wiper barely clears the window in heavy rain. It’ll be even worse in winter with the snow.
Inside, under the panoramic roof, the major transformation of the new MINIs is no less impressive, even more so at night with ambient lighting that varies according to the MINI Experience modes and extends into the mesh fabric of the dashboard. Real leather is nowhere to be found, but all the materials are refined and solidly assembled—even the fabric strip that replaces one of the steering wheel spokes.
The front seats are on the firm side yet not uncomfortable. They also provide ample support. For a subcompact SUV, space is excellent for four adults, and the 707-litre trunk is accommodating (it even comes with underfloor storage for a charging cable, snow brush, tools and other items).
Obviously, the focal point of the cabin is the 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen, which is powered by a brand new, state-of-the-art infotainment system whose graphics and displays vary depending on the Experience mode (Timeless brings a retro feel that we quite liked). Since there are no more instruments behind the steering wheel, only a small head-up display, key information like speed and turn signals are now found on the centre screen. That’s not so bad, however the many vehicle functions and apps require a good learning curve.
At the end of our week-long test, we were fairly used to the system, with the exception of one major irritant: the temperature and ventilation controls, including those for the seats and steering wheel, cause too much distraction. MINI aimed to prioritize the wireless phone charger and storage in the console below, which is certainly commendable and appreciated, but the elimination of physical controls in the process does not help. Also, it’s a shame that the display of the rear-view camera (as clear as it may be) and navigation via Android Auto only occupies a fraction of the screen.
Our Verdict
In the absence of the new Cooper SE, and given its vastly superior performance and capabilities, the 2025 MINI Countryman SE is admittedly the electric car that Canadian fans of the MINI brand have been waiting for. Offered at an all-inclusive price of $63,223, it's not cheap, mind you, even with the available EV rebate in select provinces. Incidentally, the slightly more powerful John Cooper Works model costs $3,000 less.
If your budget allows, the $7,000 Premier+ package adds desirable yet non-essential luxury amenities such as parking assistance with surround view, a driver’s seat with massage and a Harman Kardon audio system. We think it's smarter to choose just a few standalone options and/or customize the exterior to your liking.
The Countryman SE's electric powertrain, brand appeal and exceptional driving pleasure put it in a class of its own... or almost. The similarly sized Volvo EX30/EX40 duo stands out with extra power, range and charging capacity, all at comparable prices. It’s arguably a better buy, or at least a more rational one.
