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Pros: First electric JCW, sharp styling, high-quality interior
Cons: Overly firm ride, not much fun to drive
MINI JCW Design
There has been a long tradition of MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) models with sportier, enhanced looks, so the all-electric Cooper three-door takes those signatures and runs with them. You’ll find the red, white and black JCW logo in various places on the exterior, its graphic representing the chequered flag used at the end of motorsport races, which is then emboldened by further details such as 18-inch alloy wheels, deeper front and rear bumpers, a substantial set of side skirts, a rear spoiler mounted at roof level, and even a diffuser at the back of the car. The final flourish is the use of red for various flashes of trim on the body, as well as for the brake callipers. Overall, it looks like a mean and purposeful MINI hatch, so it’ll win lots of fans with its pure kerb appeal.
MINI JCW Interior
As with the outside, the interior of the Cooper JCW builds on the successful and high-quality cabin of any modern MINI with some model-specific upgrades. So, alongside the 9.4-inch circular touchscreen infotainment which forms the focal point of the dashboard, there’s a strong red-and-black theme to the passenger compartment, mainly achieved through the stitching and detailing on the steering wheel and seats. Ultimately, rear-seat space isn’t brilliant and neither is the boot, at 210 litres, but there are other models in the MINI family which can cater to those needs – not least the new Aceman JCW, which joins this three-door JCW as the first fully electric cars to wear the company’s fabled high-performance badge.
MINI JCW Performance & Drive
The MINI JCW is equipped with a 54.2kWh battery pack, of which 49.2kWh is usable. That gives it a theoretical range of 404km, but it is also a very powerful car. Nominally, the EV JCW runs 231hp and 340Nm, yet for a time-limited ‘boost’ period the former figure climbs to 258hp. That makes it more powerful than the petrol-powered JCW three-door, which peaks at 231hp, and also the electric model is faster to 100km/h from rest – running the sprint in 5.9 seconds instead of 6.1.
There’s no doubting the electric JCW is quick, while it can also generate some unusual noises from its onboard systems to overlay the acceleration, bringing a greater degree of excitement to proceedings than if it were just quiet and subdued like a normal EV. Sadly, though, the entire driving experience of the Cooper JCW is dominated by the firm suspension. It has been suggested that customers like this level of frenetic damping, but ultimately the JCW just feels too bouncy and too ill-resolved for all of the time to make it an enjoyable steer. It can be really, really uncomfortable at times, yet even if you throttle the car back and drive more sedately, the ride quality is never anything less than unyielding. Sure, try the JCW electric out if you want, but frankly we think the petrol model has a far better level of damping and composure to the way it rides and handles, even if it isn’t exactly supple and faultlessly comfortable itself.
MINI JCW Pricing
The good news for EV fans is that the electric JCW is a lot cheaper than the petrol one. Including grants, this car starts from €38,014, whereas the 2.0-litre engine’s emissions in the petrol variant hit it with increased VRT and tax implications, resulting in a much higher €50,390 opening price. Standard equipment on the MINI JCW is also generous, with just a few of the spec highlights including the heated JCW steering wheel, JCW sports seats and a high-output Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system, plus the stylish alloys.
Carzone Verdict
With all of a MINI’s usual exterior charm coupled to the classy interior and the pure allure of the JCW legend, this new hot electric Cooper is sure to be a sales success. It has a driving experience which is utterly dominated by how stiffly it rides, so you need to try it out for size to make sure you can get on with the unforgiving suspension. If you can, then you’ll find plenty to like here, with the added bonus that it’s more than €12,000 cheaper than a petrol-powered JCW alternative.