Mini

Cooper E

Cooper SE

Cooper Electric SE

The third-generation Mini Cooper Electric SE arrives as a purpose-built EV rather than a converted combustion platform, giving it a lower center of gravity and a more polished feel than its predecessor. It targets urban and suburban buyers who want a premium small car with genuine go-kart handling character. Reviewers at InsideEVs and Car and Driver highlight the Cooper SE trim's 215-mile EPA range as a meaningful improvement over the outgoing model, while nearly everyone notes that the interior's circular OLED display is a divisive but attention-grabbing design centerpiece.

Cooper SE achieves 0–60 mph in 6.5 seconds, competitive for a sub-$36,000 front-wheel-drive EV in its class

Steering feel and body control draw consistent praise for replicating the classic Mini go-kart handling character in an electric package

215-mile EPA range on the SE trim represents a roughly 35% improvement over the previous-generation Mini Electric

Cabin quality and material fit are rated above segment average by Edmunds reviewers, with soft-touch surfaces and tight panel gaps

Starting price of $30,900 for the Cooper E positions it as one of the more accessible premium small EVs, below rivals like the BMW i3's final pricing

Single-motor FWD only across both trims means no all-wheel-drive option, a disadvantage in snow-prone markets

Rear seat room is genuinely tight for adults — rear legroom measures under 28 inches, limiting real-world four-passenger usability

DC fast charging is capped at 95 kW, slower than class competitors such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which can accept up to 150 kW

Cargo capacity of 8.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats is among the smallest in the segment, restricting practicality for longer trips

Nissan

SV Plus

Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is one of the longest-running purpose-built EVs on the market, having launched in 2010 and since accumulated a broad ownership base and well-documented track record. It competes in the affordable EV segment against the Chevrolet Bolt EV and entry-level Tesla Model 3, offering two distinct powertrain options across its S and SV Plus trims. Reviewers consistently cite its mature, livable interior ergonomics and competitive base price as core strengths, while its CHAdeMO DC fast-charging standard and the S trim's modest 149-mile range draw recurring criticism.

Base S trim starts at $28,140, undercutting many rivals and remaining eligible for federal tax credits depending on buyer eligibility

SV Plus delivers 214 hp and a 0–60 time of 6.6 seconds, which Car and Driver and InsideEVs note as meaningfully brisk for an affordable front-drive EV

Ride quality is tuned for comfort, with Edmunds and MotorTrend praising the Leaf's composed, well-damped feel on rough urban roads

ProPilot Assist (available on SV Plus) provides genuine highway hands-on-wheel semi-autonomous driving that reviewers rate as one of the better systems in this price class

Established reliability record and widespread Nissan dealer service network reduce ownership friction compared to newer EV brands

S trim's 149-mile EPA range is below average for the segment in 2024, where competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV offer 259 miles at a similar price

CHAdeMO DC fast-charging port is an industry-orphaned standard with a rapidly shrinking public charging infrastructure in North America

No heat pump is offered on any trim, which owners and reviewers note causes meaningful range loss in cold climates compared to competitors that include it

SV Plus at $36,190 approaches pricing for longer-range competitors, weakening the Leaf's value case at the upper trim level

	Mini Cooper Electric SE	Nissan Leaf
Body type	hatchback	hatchback
Trims	2	2
Starting price	$30,900	$28,140
Max EPA range	215 mi	212 mi
Max power	215 hp	214 hp
Quickest 0–60	6.5 s	6.6 s
Federal tax credit	Not eligible	$7,500 eligible
Drive options	Single-Motor FWD	Single-Motor FWD
	Full Mini Cooper Electric SE specs →	Full Nissan Leaf specs →

Mini Cooper Electric SE vs. Nissan Leaf