Mini Goes All-Electric–Still Stays Playful
Mini Countryman owners will tell you handling and the fun factor are highlights of this nothing-else-on-the-road-looks-like-it small car. And that is for the base Mini Countryman S. Move up to the John Cooper Works (JCW) model and it becomes a rocket with go-kart handling. So what could make a gasoline-powered Mini Countryman any better? How about going all-electric! The 2026 Minni Countryman SE is the quickest-ever Mini Countryman and still delivers nimble handling and a fun factor.
When the Mini S hardtop is just too small, moving into the larger 2026 Mini Countryman SE is worth considering as it has the utility of a SUV and good seating for five. If large Mini is an oxymoron, so be it.
Silent Propulsion
Clean Feet Report drove the 2026 Mini Countryman SE ALL4 with dual electric motors putting-out 308 horsepower and 364 pound-feet of torque. ALL4 in Mini-speak means the motors drive all four wheels. The EPA rates the all-electric driving range at 212 miles. This range ranks towards the bottom of EVs we have tested. In real world driving we got 204 miles, but were impressed with the good 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour efficiency. The performance was more than respective with 0-60 mph runs at 5.4 seconds.
Road Time
The well-distributed 4,558 pounds gave the Countryman SE a balanced and firm, but not harsh, ride. The handling was nimble and didn’t feel top heavy, even though it is an SUV. There was no body roll when aggressively taking corners, which is partly due to the batteries, weighing about 800 pounds, being located under the floor. It was fun and playful on twisties, easy to maneuver around town and continues the Mini DNA of cars you want to drive right-and-left.
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 225/55 all-season tires, mounted on six-spoke 18-inch Asteroid alloy wheels, provided expected grip even when pushing corners to their limit. They were at their best on the highway where they produced no road noise.
The SE comes standard with electric power steering, front and rear anti-roll stabilizer bars, dynamic stability control and a multilink rear axle suspension. Braking was through 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes with cornering brake control, a version of torque vectoring.
Charging and Regeneration
The 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery (64.7 usable) will replenish 10-to-80% using a DC fast charger at a peak charging rate of 128 kW, in under 31 minutes. The on-board 11.0 kW charger and a 240-volt Level 2 home charger will take seven hours for a 0-to-100% charge. In an emergency, charging through a common 120-volt wall plug will deliver a full charge from zero in 33.3 hours. Mini does not offer a complimentary charging plan.
Additional charging is through motor regeneration where coasting or braking converts kinetic energy into electric energy and returns it to the battery. The recovery force is controlled through the center touchscreen, where we set it to our preferred highest setting. You can engage one pedal driving, where most driving is possible without relying on the brakes. This feature can be turned off in the center screen, but we EV veterans don’t know why it would be.
Boxy Design
The very low .26 coefficient of drag (Cd) intuitively seems improbable for the boxy Countryman SE, but Mini has worked some magic to reduce wind resistance and improve efficiency.
As the largest model in the Mini lineup, the Countryman SE cuts a much different figure in both length and height compared to the Mini hardtop. The C-pillar design is prominent, the hood has a raised bump Mini calls a power dome, the bulldog front with an octagonal grille that is bold, and the matrix LED headlights set it apart from other compact crossover SUVs. The Union Jack LED tail lights are still a trademark for Mini.
The design allows for cargo space to grow from 24.83 cubic feet with the 40/20/40 rear seat up to 56.18 cubic feet when laid flat.
The exterior color palette also includes the option to customize with a contrasting roof and mirror cap colors. The combinations are extensive. Colors are Nanuq White Metallic, Melting Silver III Metallic, Midnight Black II, Chili Red II, Slate Blue Metallic, Smokey Green Metallic, British Racing Green IV Metallic and Blazing Blue Metallic. The last was the color of our Countryman SE.
Roomy Interior
The Mini Countryman SE interior has character with knitted surfaces replacing areas commonly where soft plastic is found. The faded-color door panels and the backlit dash are unique and look great.
All materials are high quality. Clean Fleet Report’s had seats upholstered Vescin Beige, a fabric that is leather-free and made from recycled materials. The seats were heated, power adjustable and included lumbar support.
The rear seat is good for three adults in a pinch, two would be more comfortable. The head room is excellent, knee, leg and foot room are good (all helped by a flat floor) and the seat cushions are both high and long enough, offering decent thigh support. Swinging your feet out from the rear seat is a bit tight and tricky to clear the door. Rear door pockets are deep, there are front seat-back pockets and a fold down armrest with cup holders. The rear seats are not heated nor are there separate climate controls to accompany the air vents, so the front-managed dual zone automatic climate control will set the temperature for the cabin.
The elephant in the room, when climbing into the Countryman SE, is the large, round 9.4-inch OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode, which emits light in response to an electric current) infotainment screen. All but a few of the controls are found here, selected with a swipe or touch. When using the touchscreen (something you can’t avoid) there are many different pages to scroll through, so it isn’t always quick or convenient. What you are looking for may be deep in the menu. This swipe-and-touch would seem convenient and oh-so-modern, but not all the time as there are very few physical controls, something that Mini may be looking at revising.
The screen is where you will be spending your time sliding and touching. The good thing is the response is quick and the graphics are crisp. This is where the OLED comes in. There are voice commands that worked well and included your concierge, Spike, who appears when you say “Hey Mini.” Play with it and have some fun.
The Countryman SE has Mini Experience Modes. Some of them offer steering feel stiffening or an increase accelerator pedal sensitivity. Changes are most noticeable in the design theme of the speedometer and other gauges. It was kitchy, a bit fun, but really didn’t enhance my driving experience.
The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AM/FM HD radio, SiriusXM (one-year trial) and navigation are part of the 100-watt Harmon Kardon premium surround sound system with six speakers. The sound system is controlled by voice commands, the touchscreen and steering wheel buttons.
Other features are a power glass moonroof, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, head-up display, heated and power side mirrors, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, rain sensing windshield wipers, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and an Auto Hold button.
Safety and Warranty
The Countryman SE comes with 10 airbags, blind spot, active lane change, rear cross traffic and passenger exit warnings.
The SE comes with these warranties.
| New Vehicle | Four years/50,000 miles |
| Battery | Eight years/100,000 miles |
| Roadside Assistance | Four years/Unlimited miles |
| Rust Protection | 12 years/Unlimited miles |
| Complementary Maintenance | Three years/36,000 miles |
Pricing
The 2026 Mini Countryman SE comes in one trim level. The base price is $51,275 which includes the $1,175 destination charge.
Observations: 2026 Mini Countryman SE
The Mini Countryman SE has a lot going for it. The design is unique, its utility is competitive with other all-electric compact crossover SUVs, it is fun, fun, fun to drive and the performance is strong.
The challenges it faces are the confusing infotainment system and an all-electric driving range that is not competitive with less-expensive vehicles in its class.
Researching buying an electric vehicle will include reading reviews, like this one on Clean Fleet Report, and watching videos. We strongly recommend visiting public charging stations where there will be a wide array of brands and models juicing-up. While there, take time to speak with several owners about their cars as their first-hand experiences will be a valuable part in your decision what to buy.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
