The new MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper SE might look the same outside, have the same 240mm round OLED display inside, and complete the 0-100km/h sprint in less than seven seconds. However, these cars are made on two different production lines on opposite sides of the world (UK and China).
There’s more to these two than meets the eye, and we recently had the unique opportunity to drive both models back-to-back at the Australian launch in Melbourne.
Our time with the cars revealed some great (and not-so-great) similarities and differences between the MINI Cooper S (Petrol) and MINI Cooper SE (Electric). Let’s check out the details!
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Who Wins Top Trumps?
Before we get into a game of top trumps, let’s take a quick look at the full price list for the new MINI Cooper in Australia:
- MINI Cooper C
- Core – from AUD$41,990 plus on-road costs
- Classic – from AUD$44,990 plus on-road costs
- Favoured – from AUD$47,990 plus on-road costs
- MINI Cooper S
- Classic – from AUD$49,990 plus on-road costs
- Favoured – from AUD$52,990 plus on-road costs
- JCW Sport – from AUD$54,990 plus on-road costs
- MINI Cooper E
- Classic – from AUD$53,990 plus on-road costs
- MINI Cooper SE
- Favoured – from AUD$58,990 plus on-road costs
| MINI Cooper S (Petrol) | MINI Cooper SE (Electric) | |
| Price (AUD$) | from $49,990 plus on-road costs | from $58,990 plus on-road costs |
| Power | 150kW | 160kW |
| Torque | 300Nm | 330Nm |
| Acceleration (0-100km/h) | 6.6 seconds | 6.7 seconds |
| Battery | N/A | 54kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | N/A | Up to 403km |
| Charging time (DC) 0-80% | N/A | 30 minutes |
| Weight | 1285kg | 1605kg |
There’s a notable price difference between the two models. Still, as we’ll explain below, the fairest comparison for MINI Cooper ‘S’ models is between the (Favoured) petrol S variant (from AUD$52,990 plus on-road costs) and the single (Favoured) electric SE variant (from AUD$58,990 plus on-road costs). We drove these two vehicles back-to-back for this comparison, and they represent the most popular trim level in the line-up.
While we’ll discuss driving characteristics more later, we’ll quickly note the considerable weight difference between the two vehicles. The electric MINI Cooper SE (1605kg) is 320kg heavier than the petrol MINI Cooper S (1285kg), directly impacting acceleration. Even though it is more powerful, the MINI Cooper SE is 0.1 seconds slower from 0 to 100km/h. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story because there are noticeable ride and handling differences, too.
Which Car Has the Better Features?
- MINI Cooper S (Favoured) from AUD$52,990 plus on-road costs
- MINI Cooper SE (Favoured) from AUD$58,990 plus on-road costs
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Parking Assistant Plus with Surround View
- Automatic Speed Limit Assistant
- Steering and Lane Control Assistant
- Harman/Kardon Premium Sound System: Petrol (12 Speaker) Electric (10 Speaker)
- Interior Camera
- MINI Augmented Reality Navigation
- John Cooper Works Seats
- Active Seat Functions for Driver
- Electric Seat Adjustment with Memory for front seats
- Seat Heating for Front Seats
- Sun Protection Glazing
- Panorama Glass Roof
- Headliner Anthracite
- Sport Steering Wheel (No shift paddles)
- Favoured Trim Interior Styling
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless Phone Charging
- MINI Experience Modes
The only fair feature comparison between the electric and petrol MINI Cooper S models is between the (Favoured) variant of the S and the (Favoured) variant of the SE. These cars have the same features, except for the difference in the number of speakers. They both have Harman/Kardon Premium Sound Systems, but the petrol has a 12-speaker system vs. 10 speakers in the electric SE.
Despite having identical features, the petrol MINI Cooper S (Favoured) costs AUD$6,000 less than the electric MINI Cooper SE (Favoured). We’re not used to this in the BMW Group because their German-made (less UK-made) petrol vehicles are typically more expensive than their Chinese-made electric variants. We’d say that’s the cost of designing a new all-electric platform versus keeping the same basic chassis and engine combination.
There’s another wrinkle in the fold because the top-of-the-range petrol MINI Cooper S has an optional JCW Sport package unavailable on the electric MINI Cooper SE. This adds DCT Shift Paddles and, more importantly, Adaptive Suspension, which will make a considerable difference in ride and handling. It’s also AUD$4,000 less than the electric MINI Cooper SE (Favoured).
MINI Cooper S (JCW Sport) adds:
- MINI Cooper S (JCW Sport) from AUD$54,990 plus on-road costs
- John Cooper Works Steering Wheel
- John Cooper Works Exterior Styling
- Sport Stripes in Jet Black or Chilli Red
- John Cooper Works Interior Styling, Black/Red
- DCT Shift Paddles
- Adaptive Suspension
- John Cooper Works Sport Brakes
The JCW Sport package is not available for the electric MINI Cooper SE. However, it’s something to consider if you’re in the market for a petrol MINI Cooper because it adds two key features: DCT Shift Paddles and Adaptive Suspension. The DCT Shift Paddles were sorely missed in the MINI Cooper S (Favoured) vehicle we drove for this comparison, and we’d be willing to bet the Adaptive Suspension is a worthwhile investment, too.
Are There Any Differences on the Inside?
The features on the inside are more or less the same between the two models. Every new MINI Cooper has the same minimalist cabin, the same round 240mm OLED display in the centre with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, head-up display, comfort access and MINI Experience Modes as standard.
Like most EVs, the MINI Cooper SE has more space in the centre console area because there’s no transmission tunnel. The story continues in the boot, where the fully electric MINI Cooper E and SE receive an additional 69 litres of space.
Both petrol and electric models have a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and storage compartments, but they’re positioned differently (see images).
Finally, MINI as a brand will be 100 per cent leather-free and chrome-free moving forward, which means we’ve lost leather seats and must make do with synthetics. We’re big proponents of vehicle floors and floor mats made from at least 90 per cent recycled polyester. However, you wouldn’t want synthetic (recycled plastic) leather upholstery on your couch, so you probably don’t want it in your car.
Which Car Drives Better?
We attended the MINI Australia drive-the-range day for this comparison and must thank the brand for putting this together. Manufacturers rarely encourage you to drive their newest models back-to-back. However, after spending some time behind the wheel of the new models, we can see why they were so confident. The new MINI is a great car, and if you’re interested in buying a MINI, there’s no bad option in the range.
For this comparison, we drove the MINI Cooper S (Favoured) and MINI Cooper SE (Favoured) back-to-back on two 45-minute loops incorporating highway, backroad, and city driving scenarios. While we’d prefer to spend a week with both cars, these impressions were enough to understand their notable (and surprising) differences.
We first hopped into the new MINI Cooper SE because it’s the newest and most exciting addition to the lineup. What a difference there is between this and the previous-generation electric MINI, which was based on the internal combustion variant.
The larger 54kWh battery provides more range (up to 405km), it’s quicker everywhere with 160kW of power, and the overall build is much improved with fewer conversion-like ingredients on the inside.
It’s a fun, all-electric hatchback that maintains the MINI character and go-kart feeling despite having a significant weight penalty over the petrol variant.
You can find considerably quicker and more practical vehicles like the MG4 XPower (AUD$59,990 drive-away) for less money. However, you’d struggle to find something this fun and nimble without the compromises of owning an Abarth 500e (from AUD$58,900 plus on-roads). That’s why the MINI Cooper SE tends to sit in its own category, quite like the original MINI.
Now, let’s discuss the new MINI Cooper S and how it compares to the electric MINI Cooper SE. These cars might look the same on the outside and have very similar features on the inside, but they’re made on two different production lines in two different countries. The petrol MINI Cooper is made in Germany, while the electric MINI Cooper is made in China. The result is two vehicles that look the same but drive very differently.
Ride quality is the most significant difference between the two vehicles. The electric MINI Cooper SE is very firm at all speeds, including highway and backroads, but mostly at city speeds. Meanwhile, the petrol MINI Cooper S is more comfortable everywhere.
Firmness is typical of EVs due to the inherently stiff battery pack underneath the floor that forms part of the vehicle structure. However, there’s room for improvement in Cooper SE. We’re talking about a car designed to be a city runaround, and it doesn’t like the imperfections that plague our roads. You could argue that it fulfils the brief of being ‘go-kart-like’, but it’s overly firm for most.
Metres into the drive, the petrol Cooper S made a clear case for being the more comfortable vehicle. It’s a completely different car, even if it looks the same.
We could easily make the case that the electric MINI Cooper SE is the car we’d rather sit in for a commute because of the smoothness of the electric drivetrain e.g. one-pedal drive, no stop-start, no gearbox, no torque curve, etc., but its simply too firm. The sweet spot in the range could be the MINI Cooper E, but it lacks the driving range of the more powerful SE.
Man of Many’s Verdict On the MINI Cooper S vs. SE
There are many great options in the new MINI line-up, and when you add the new Aceman and new Countryman to the fold, there’s a MINI for every person’s individual situation. The same goes for the MINI Cooper S (Petrol) vs. MINI Cooper SE (Electric). Choose the car that best suits your situation and budget.
If you can charge at home, only commute a short distance every day, want to make an environmentally conscious choice, and are looking for an EV with character, the MINI Cooper SE is one of the best options on the market. That said, we firmly (get it) believe the petrol MINI Cooper S is the better car to drive with a comfier ride and less weight. To sweeten the deal, it also comes in at a sharper price point.
Ultimately, if we had to pick one model in the line-up, it would be the petrol MINI Cooper S with JCW Sport package because of its unique trim, DCT shift paddles, and Adaptive Suspension. This is a stand-out model in the range, and you can pick one up from around AUD$60,000 drive away, roughly where pricing for the electric MINI Cooper SE starts.
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