Introducing the stylish MINI Electric: A premium compact car with thrilling performance.
THERE'S no better time to drive home a 3-door MINI Electric premium compact car, as the financing instalments can be from RM1,646 per month via Easy Drive Financing, or interested buyers can also go for Straight Line Financing from 0.98% interest.
MINI Malaysia also offers a free MINI wallbox charger (priced at RM4,760.08) and buyers also get to enjoy 1-year unlimited public charging via Jomcharge and ChargEV chargers nationwide.
The MINI Electric thrills with the British marque's famed go-kart fun feeling, a premium and comfortable interior, and its iconic stylish and expressive exterior design with posh frameless windows.
The instant torque (270Nm on tap here) delivery of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is made even more addictive with the driving fun and impressive agility of the MINI Electric.
Recently, Carsifu.my took a test drive unit and we like its one-pedal drive technology, which results in a braking effect and deceleration, as well as energy recuperation which feeds the high-voltage battery, when the foot is lifted from the accelerator pedal.
With some judgement, the car can come to a complete stop at traffic lights or on congested roads, without the hassle of having to step on the brake pedal.
The default energy recuperation level is High, but you can switch to Low level via a toggle switch on the dashboard's centre, which results in less deceleration response and more rolling momentum.
The MINI Electric offers four Driving modes, namely Sport, Mid, Green and Green Plus.
Control and navigation at your fingertips with the MINI Electric's touchscreen panel
We drove mostly using the Mid default mode which is comfort-oriented, although we occasionally had some excitement with the more direct steering and perky throttle response in Sport mode.
Over the four days and 227km spent with the car, we did not use the Green and Green Plus driving modes which are geared for increased travel range.
On the first day, we drove some 71km over a mix of highways and town roads, with no attempt to conserve battery energy by limiting air-conditioning or driving in a sedate manner.
This all-electric MINI can do the century sprint in a quick 7.3 seconds, and like all BEVs, the drive is nearly silent without the vibrations and noise of an ICE (internal combustion engine).
With the MINI Electric's responsive steering and planted cornering stability, there's always an itch to experience its punchy sprint, and tackle road bends in a spirited manner.
The battery charge level had dropped to 54%, and the car's estimated remaining travel range was 78km when we started charging at night, using the Type 2 cable and a 3-point electrical socket at home.
Early next morning, after our breakfast, the car's battery was fully charged, with estimated remaining travel range at 153km.
Do note that the MINI Electric has a range of up to 232km, using the WLTP or Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure.
While the WLTP measurement process is considered to be closer to reality, you would really need to stick to the Green Plus driving mode and drive in an energy-efficient manner to achieve the 232km range on a single charge.
That said, the 153km (in Mid driving mode) was more than enough for our daily purposes.
The nice part about having a MINI Electric is we got to enjoy driving fun while cosseted in a pleasantly premium interior, fitted with a Harman Kardon Hifi audio system that produces crisp and clear sound.
Step inside the MINI Electric and experience premium comfort.
The front sports seats held our bodies snugly, and the Black leatherette upholstery and polished metal surfaces lend a high-quality ambience.
A motorised HUD (Head Up Display) rises up from the dashboard (in front of the driver) as you start up the car, and this shows traffic speed limit, vehicle speed and navigation route.
A touchscreen panel, on the LED ringed big round centre dial on the dashboard, enables quick access to the infotainment menu, Navigation system with route guidance, and MINI Connected apps.
Not everything is via touchscreen control, as classic unique elements like buttons and toggle switches are still present in this futuristic model, for the air conditioning, car start/stop, parking sensor display, energy recovery settings and Drive modes.
There are also buttons and a MINI Controller dial in the centre console (between the front seats) to access the infotainment system.
While there's wireless Apple Carplay connectivity, the MINI Electric does not have Android Auto support.
Still, connecting our Samsung phone via Bluetooth to the in-car entertainment system was not an issue.
For more natural light in the cabin, there's a powered panoramic sunroof.
The MINI Electric is an impressive zero-emission machine that elevates the brand's fun driving reputation, in a premium package of comforts and safety technologies.
The MINI Electric is now made more affordable for those who have always wanted a premium car, and a premium EV brand as their first EV car.
For more information, visit the website of MINI Malaysia.
