MINI Malaysia has completely revamped its entire range of MINIs with the latest-generation models. While I do have some experience with older MINIs, the short test drive during the launch left me a little underwhelmed with the new MINI. Then again, the drive was short, so it isn’t really fair to judge a vehicle based on just a 30-minute drive. Recently, MINI Malaysia offered me the chance to review the latest MINI Cooper SE, and I definitely took the opportunity. While past MINIs have always left a positive impression on me, I wanted to give the latest MINI Cooper SE a fair chance to win me over. So, does it manage to do so? Let’s find out.

For the latest MINI Cooper SE, it carries the latest family design. Even so, it hasn’t moved away from the classic and recognisable MINI design philosophy, with its round headlights and large grille. The good thing is that MINI has put a lot of effort into bringing this design language into 2026. Even with its modern design language, you can’t deny that it’s still a MINI. The car looks really chic, and the best part is that it comes in playful colours. Because of buyers’ preference for safe choices, playful colours have slowly disappeared from many new cars. To see them on such a funky car is refreshing and energising.

The MINI Cooper SE that MINI Malaysia decided to register here comes in Sunny Side Yellow, which really pops under the sun. At the front of the vehicle, you get a large grille-like panel covering the unnecessary openings while maintaining the familiar MINI front fascia. This matches well with the round headlights, with the daytime running lights neatly integrated inside them. There are actually a few different ways for the daytime running lights to illuminate, and these can be customized through the infotainment system. The headlights are full LED units, as expected from a modern-day vehicle.

At the side, you’ll notice that this is the traditional three-door MINI, which is also its iconic profile. It comes with a white roof, giving the illusion of a floating roof. Being white, it also creates an interesting contrast with the Sunny Side Yellow bodywork, making the exterior look more exciting despite having only two colours. The rear is also very MINI, but with a modern-day touch. The full LED taillights allow you to customize which elements you want to illuminate. The car definitely has its own identity, as MINI didn’t resort to adding a full-width light bar just to make it look modern. Lastly, the MINI Cooper SE comes with a set of 18-inch wheels wrapped in 225/40 R18 tyres. To be fair, these rims do look nice, and the 18-inch setup should also be kinder to the wallet when it comes time to replace the tyres.

On the inside, the funky theme continues. While it is funky, MINI hasn’t moved away from its traditional design cues. You get a sense of nostalgia in the way the interior is presented, and I quite like it. The use of denim throughout the interior instantly enhances the overall vibe. I also like the fact that some of the interior highlights are finished in a rose-gold colour. It looks and feels rather expensive. The dashboard is designed with a minimalist yet modern touch. MINI has done away with the traditional instrument cluster and instead features a head-up display. The infotainment screen also acts as a secondary instrument cluster while retaining its infotainment functions. It is a 240mm circular OLED display that looks really beautiful, and I love the fact that it’s virtually borderless.

Within the head-up display, you get the usual information you need while driving. Even though it’s a head-up display, it’s still easy to read, and I got used to it after a while. As for the infotainment screen, apart from partially functioning as your instrument cluster, you basically control all the in-car settings through it. It may sound similar to what you get in many modern Chinese cars, but the execution in the MINI is a lot more user-friendly. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard. And even for such a small car, MINI provides you with a 360-degree camera. The MINI Cooper SE also comes with a Harman Kardon surround-sound system to make sure your drive is entertaining as well.

Sitting inside the MINI Cooper SE, you’ll instantly notice that you’re seated almost exactly at the centre of the vehicle. This gives the illusion that the front of the car is actually longer than it is. But that’s part of the magic of MINI. The seats are wrapped in dark-blue leather. It works well with the bright exterior colour, giving the cabin an elegant appearance while still retaining some colour. I also like the material mix inside the cabin, which really elevates the overall feel of the interior. The seating position is spot-on, and you get a rather sporty driving position. I found the seats comfortable, even for bigger people like me, and I love that they provide a snug, body-hugging feel.

Even though this is a three-door hatchback, the rear seats are still surprisingly usable. With the driver’s seat adjusted to my preferred seating position, I still found enough legroom to travel comfortably in the rear. Headroom is also plentiful, which is a huge plus. To be fair, I wouldn’t mind sitting in the rear if needed. The reclining angle is also quite good, so rear passengers won’t suffer when seated back there. The only real problem is getting in and out, but that’s pretty common for three-door hatchbacks.As for the boot, you get 210 litres of usable space. It may not be enough for everyone, but practicality was  never the main concern of modern MINIs, as they are intended to be lifestyle vehicles. That said, the rear seats can be folded down if you really need to carry larger items, which is a nice touch.

In terms of its powertrain, the MINI Cooper SE is powered by a single electric motor located at the front of the vehicle. This makes it a front-wheel-drive vehicle. The electric motor is powered by a 54.2kWh battery, which is good for around 402km based on the WLTP rating. The single electric motor produces 218hp and 330Nm of torque. This allows the MINI Cooper SE to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 6.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180km/h.

As for its on-road experience, being an EV, the acceleration is pretty much what you’d expect. It gets up to speed easily, while the instant torque makes the vehicle feel nippy. I also like the fact that the power delivery is more linear when you step on the throttle, making the car quite easy to control. The MINI Cooper SE is also surprisingly nice to cruise in on the highway if you want it to. Even though there has been an increase in its range, I don’t think it’s particularly impressive. On a full charge, you’ll probably get around 320km in real-world driving. That’s definitely better than the roughly 200km of range offered previously, but if it’s your only car, that range may not work in your favour.

Being a MINI, I expected it to nail the ride and handling department. Starting with the ride, the MINI definitely leans towards the sportier side, with the suspension feeling stiff when going over uneven roads. Still, it does a great job of keeping the vehicle stable regardless of road conditions. It has a much more sophisticated ride compared with many other vehicles in the same price category. When it was first launched, I actually took the MINI Cooper SE out for a short spin. Back then, the car felt a lot more muted compared with older MINIs. That left me a little disappointed. But with this longer test drive, I managed to rediscover that darty feeling that I missed previously. The MINI handles sharply, although it’s definitely more muted when it comes to steering feedback. But what can I say? That’s electric power steering.

To slow the MINI Cooper SE down, it is equipped with a decent set of brakes. Braking performance is strong, and if you want to drive spiritedly, the brakes can handle all the abuse you throw at them. The only thing that bothers me is the regenerative braking system. When you’re coasting towards the car in front and enter a certain range, the regenerative brakes will engage. I don’t mind this if I’m actually meant to slow down, but if I simply want to coast, it can get a little unpleasant when the system intervenes. Thankfully, you can turn the adaptive system off if you don’t want to use it. Initially, I thought this system was pretty innovative, but after driving the car for a few days, I found that I much preferred controlling the system myself.

As for safety, a full suite of ADAS is available onboard the MINI Cooper SE. The best part is that it doesn’t interfere with the driving experience as much as some systems from other brands. Even when I leave the Lane Keeping Assist on, I’m still able to drive the car normally without constantly finding myself fighting the steering wheel against the system. The lack of unnecessary bings and bongs also makes the driving experience more pleasant. The MINI Cooper SE comes standard with Driving Assistant Plus, which includes Active Cruise Control, Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Speed Limit Info, Automatic Speed Limit, Lane Change Warning with active return, Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, Rear Collision Prevention, Exit Warning, Park Assist, Reversing Assistant, Lateral Parking Aid, Surround View System, Remote 3D View, BMW Drive Recorder, Attentiveness Assistant and High-Beam Assistant.

With the new MINI Cooper SE, MINI is now able to give you a car that offers more than 200km of real-world driving range, and that’s a big win for a MINI. With a price tag of RM193,888, the MINI Cooper SE is also the cheapest new MINI you can get from your MINI dealer. And while the MINI Cooper SE is still a city car at heart, it provides plenty of fun for you to enjoy. In a world where cars are becoming more and more monotonous, having the MINI around is a good thing for those who want a fun daily car to drive without having to pay for petrol. After spending more time with the MINI Cooper SE, I can safely say that my initial disappointment from that short launch drive has largely disappeared. It may not be perfect, particularly when it comes to range and some aspects of its driving character, but there’s still something special about getting behind the wheel of a MINI. And perhaps that’s exactly what MINI needs to be: a small, stylish and genuinely fun car that refuses to take itself too seriously.

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