Range
At just 9.6kWh, the MINI's battery may not seem like a huge amount to play with, but the claimed 38 miles of range is ample enough to get you to and from work without having to bother the petrol motor. In fact, with careful footwork you may well not wake the petrol motor at all and save yourself some cash. With the E Drive mode active, you and your MINI can trundle around under electric power only, keeping the petrol motor for motorway, long distances, or emergencies only.
Battery
Hiding a battery in the Countryman, despite its size, was never going to be a painless job. MINI found space under the rear seats, which serves to keep the car’s centre of gravity low (so it’ll corner better), and not take up too much important luggage space. There’s still 405-litres of space in the boot for… stuff.
Charging
Getting from 0-80% charge with a wallbox takes less than three hours, longer with a standard three-pin plug. The MINI will accept a maximum 3.6kW charge though, so any fantasy of a faster charge will, sadly, have to go out the window.
The MINI comes with both a domestic and Type 2 charge cable, and both are stored beneath the boot floor to keep them out of sight and mind when you’re not using them.
Charging itself is done via a port hidden behind the ‘E’ badge on the Countryman’s front wings.