MINI’s first all-electric production vehicle was released in 2020, ten years after its Mini E prototype was first tested. The hardtop two-door employs its predecessors’ compact, flat-roofed styling with flamboyant yellow accents on its side mirrors and slot grille. Its 32.6-kWh battery pack is among all-electrics’ smallest and affords just 110 miles per charge. The good news is that the Cooper SE is affordable at $34,225. Factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit and state and local incentives and potential buyers are looking at a sub-$25,000 EV. The Cooper SE is a reasonably peppy performer, reaching 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, enabled by a 181-horsepower electric motor borrowed from BMW’s i3.

The Cooper SE has a four-seat interior upholstered in leatherette along with a standard leather steering wheel. A 6.5-inch touchscreen housed in a round frame lights up during volume and temperature adjustments. App-activated temperature preconditioning, which takes advantage of a heat pump that uses 75 percent less energy than a traditional electric heater, is available.

The base model is surprisingly well equipped, with a standard rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers, voice navigation, heated front seats, and LED headlights and taillights. Despite its short range, the Mini Cooper SE is an affordable option for urban drivers with short commutes.