For many decades, a fast Mini has only meant one word – Cooper. With the most recent generations of Mini that has been extended to the John Cooper Works, the extreme versions that are hotter than ever.
And now, the John Cooper Works badge is linked with electric power for the first time in this the Mini John Cooper Works Electric. While there’s also an Aceman JCW model, here we’re focussing on just the standard Mini Cooper Electric JCW version.
So how does the sportiness of a JCW model combine with the more practical elements of an electric Mini? We’re already fans of the standard electric Mini Cooper, so let’s see how this JCW compares.
MINI COOPER JCW – DESIGN
As a sportier version of the standard car, this JCW is just like the standard car but on steroids. A more aggressive and more butch exterior sees the John Cooper Works logo throughout from the front grille to the chunky rear spoiler and again on the tailgate.
Coupled to that are red brake callipers and, new 18inch wheel designs and a chunkier, wider rear bumper with a underbody diffuser that gives it a broad stance not entirely unlike the original Renault Clio V6 from some angles. A very different car obviously, but still there’s a definite likeness.
MINI COOPER JCW – POWER AND RANGE
With the same larger 54.2kWh battery from the standard Mini Cooper uprated to 258bhp, the JCW Mini is hardly a slouch. With a 0 to 60mph time of just 5.9 seconds and a 124mph top speed, it certainly lives up to the badge. Also, a boost function – operated via a tempting bright red button by your left thumb on the steering wheel – gives you 20kW of additional power (up to that 258bhp) for ten seconds, which counts down on the dash once activated.
The JCW’s battery efficiency is 4.06mls/kWh which we managed to get very close to during our test drive with 3.9mls/kWh while the charging rate maxes out at 95kW for public charging, giving a 10-80% charge in less than 30 minutes.
MINI COOPER JCW – ON THE ROAD
Unsurprisingly, it’s here where the John Cooper Works Electric has to really perform. Past JCW models have always been the peak of performance for the Mini brand, so any shortfall just because there is electric power under your right foot will simply not be acceptable for Mini fans.
The good news is that the standard Mini Cooper Electric is already pretty good, so it has a positive base to start from. Specific JCW suspension and high performance tyres are there to improve the handling too.
But how does it feel from behind the wheel? The simple answer is… awesome. With that additional grip and the immediate power delivery of the electric motor, the JCW Mini is almost comically fast, enabling you to thread it from corner to corner with ease, helped by the direct and communicative steering. You simply can’t help but be impressed as a Cheshire Cat-like grin starts to spread across your face.
What’s more is that Boost function which just heightens those senses still further. In the dry, the JCW has so much grip and on-tap torque that it’s no exaggeration to say that you’d need a very special and very specific type of sports car to drive much faster down a twisty country road. It’s hilariously good fun.
The firm ride thankfully hasn’t worsened from the original Mini Electric (and arguably is almost more acceptable in a car like this), but we’ve got the same concerns about the regenerative braking system that’s the same as the BMW iX. Again, with Adaptive, Low, Moderate and High settings, it has to be changed via the central touchscreen than via paddles behind the steering wheel and for us the High mode isn’t quite strong enough.
With a more sporting pedigree, it’s perhaps less of an issue here than in the standard Mini Electric, but it’s still a point worth raising nonetheless.
MINI COOPER JCW – INTERIOR
Again, not much has changed with the interior of the JCW compared to the standard Mini Electric – and that’s no bad thing.
There’s a very 1980s-style black and red theme throughout the cabin, but we still love the fabric dashboard covering and the strap detailing in front of the passenger, on the steering wheel and on the arm rest. It would be easy to dismiss these touches as slightly cheesy, but for us these detail touches are what really makes a Mini and makes the JCW really stand out.
With characterful modern rivals such as the Renault 5 and its Alpine flagship, that’s probably no bad thing either. We also especially like the chrome Harman Kardon speakers mounted high up on the doors and sitting slightly proud of the top of the main door section. Again, a small detail, but one that shows that this is a car that’s been designed with the heart as well as the head in mind.
SUMMARY
As we said at the start, the combination of the Mini Electric and the JCW was never going to be easy one, but we feel that Mini has managed it. In fact, it hasn’t just managed it, it’s positively smashed it.
No, the JCW won’t be for everyone, but that’s the whole point. For those looking for the ultimate combination of a sporting Mini with handling to match and electric power though, this… is…. it.
Above all else a Mini JCW has to be fun and that’s provided here in bucketloads. More than that though is that the handling and performance is so good and so sharp that it could easily embarrass many so called sports cars. And that of course, is exactly what fast Minis have originally been all about. Superb.
FACT BOX
Model: Mini John Cooper Works Electric
Price: from £34,905
Power: Battery – 54.2kWh
Range: 251 miles
Average efficiency: 4.06mls/kWh
Average charge time on a domestic wallbox: 8hrs
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Rating: 10/10