In-depth reviews

MINI Electric review: reliability & safety rating

The MINI Electric should be reliable and safe thanks to a suite of safety systems

Overall rating

3.5 out of 5

Reliability & safety rating rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£32,550 - £34,500
Fuel Type:
Electric

As of July 2023, the MINI Electric hasn't yet been evaluated by the independent crash-testers at Euro NCAP. However, despite their diminutive size, MINIs have a good reputation for safety and reliability, so we don’t expect the Electric version to be any different.

MINI Electric reliability & problems

It's hard to accurately measure the MINI Electric’s reliability, as it’s such a new model. In the 2023 Driver Power survey, the brand came in 15th place in the manufacturer rundown of 32 major brands, which isn’t quite as the maker’s ninth-place ranking last year. That being said, the MINI Hatch (available with both petrol and electric power) finished 24th in the list of 75 best new cars to own. All of which bodes very well for the MINI Electric, especially as EVs are generally more reliable than their petrol-powered counterparts.

Safety

The standard MINI hatchback received a four-star Euro NCAP rating back in 2014, with reasonable scores for adult (79%) and child (73%) occupant protection. It didn’t fare so well for pedestrian protection (66%) or safety assistance (56%), however.

Equipment has improved since then, though – the MINI Electric in Level 2 spec gets the Driving Assistant pack, with speed-limit and traffic-sign information, city collision mitigation for pedestrians and high-beam assistance. There's no room for a space saver tyre, though, as is the case with all of the MINI's rivals.

Hello there, I’m Tom Jervis and I have the pleasure of being the Content Editor here at DrivingElectric. Before joining the team in 2023, I spent my time reviewing cars and offering car buying tips and advice on DrivingElectric’s sister site, Carbuyer. I also continue to occasionally contribute to the AutoExpress magazine – another of DrivingElectric’s partner brands. In a past life, I worked for the BBC as a journalist and broadcast assistant for regional services in the east of England – constantly trying to find stories that related to cars!

Most Popular

New Fisker Ocean Sport washes up in the UK: £36k for a 288-mile range
Fisker Ocean Sport
News

New Fisker Ocean Sport washes up in the UK: £36k for a 288-mile range

American EV startup Fisker has just launched its entry-level Ocean SUV in the UK, with a range of up to 288 miles
22 Nov 2023
First contact: facelifted Kia EV6 will look even more like a UFO
Kia EV6 facelift
News

First contact: facelifted Kia EV6 will look even more like a UFO

Kia is readying an update for the EV6 crossover, which is set to include a new face and tech from the larger EV9
27 Nov 2023
Big price cut: Electric Renault Megane prices slashed in time for Christmas
Renault Megane E-Tech - exterior
News

Big price cut: Electric Renault Megane prices slashed in time for Christmas

Renault Megane E-Tech gets a price drop of up to £3,500, bringing the starting price to just £34,495
30 Nov 2023