Six months and several thousands of kilometres behind the wheel of the Mini Countryman SE have been largely uneventful.
No slight against the vehicle and its charms, which we will get into. The lack of drama attests to how electric vehicle (EV) ownership has been normalised in 2025.
We are at the point where most consumers could quite easily make a seamless transition, thanks to improved EV battery technology boasting lengthier ranges, as well as established charging infrastructure.
The Mini joined our long-term test garage in April this year with a little over 4,000km on the clock. After our tenure, it heads back to its custodians at BMW SA with over 10,000km on the odometer.
It has the distinction of not only being the largest Mini money can buy, but also the priciest, at close to the R1.1m mark.
Zero-emissions bragging rights in a premium execution does not come cheap, but there are buyers in this niche who will see value.
Visually, the Countryman SE does not shout about its credentials as the EV derivative. It looks nigh-on identical to its petrol-powered counterpart, save for minor details that include a sealed grille and yellow badging.
Even opening the hood reveals an arrangement some might think to be an engine, replete with a plastic vanity cover.
There are no compromises on the practicality front either; it retains its generous 460l boot, with a subfloor containing your charging cables.
Buyers get the free fitment of a charging wallbox at a place of their choosing. We have one fitted at our Joburg office, but in addition made full use of public charging facilities. There are more than 400 across Mzansi, operated by GridCars.
In the proximity of my home there are two high-output DC chargers, which made life easy.
The current cost of DC charging at a DC outlet on the national GridCars network is about R7.35 per kWh. That means it costs just under R489 to fully juice-up the 66.5kWh battery of the Mini.
On a full charge, you can drive in excess of 400km (the manufacturer claims 433km).
If you weigh the cost of charging vs maximum range, you are effectively paying R1.13 per kilometre.
That useful range allows one to connect provinces without much stress, but do ensure you employ some amount of planning, factoring in charging times. Luckily the GridCars live map tells you when facilities are occupied by other vehicles, or are available.
Yes, we know, EV ownership is not entirely emissions-free, as our energy comes mostly from coal-power stations.
But you can justify the notion of guilt-free thrills from a performance perspective. Planting the accelerator to the carpet yields no direct pollution: neither fumes nor noise.
The 230kW/494Nm output makes for a addictive bursts of instantaneous shove. Our timed testing sprint down the main straight at Gerotek facility in Tshwane revealed a 0-100km/h ability of 5.5 seconds. This is hot hatchback territory, a commendable feat given the weight and footprint of the family-friendly Mini.
Beyond the thrill of scooting about like a town mouse, the Mini delighted with its cheerful cabin design, blending rich tactility (fabric dashboard and door panel coverings) with lively hues. Offsetting the cream leatherette are shades of teal and orange.
Then of course, we have to weigh-in on the extreme level of digitisation — non-negotiable when it comes to an EV.
That huge central screen seems like overkill, but then you get accustomed to its richness of clarity and ease-of-use.
There are other conveniences that will be hard to live without once the Mini goes back.
The My Mini smartphone application allows one to keep tabs on the vehicle from afar via camera, pre-condition cabin climate and to even start the vehicle without the physical key.
While driving, the in-car assistant summoned by a “Hey Mini” is able to execute most functions via command. On request, it will also give information such as weather forecasts and cute stories about the brand's history.
On the day-to-day, functions like the 360-degree camera system and semi-autonomous parking function saw frequent use.
Cute, connected, digitised and fun to drive, the Countryman SE is a beacon for how EV models ought to be done.
