Autosnewspaper.com

Beyond the usual EV inconveniences, the big problem with the Mini E for any serious Mini Cooper (S) fan is that you can't drive it with abandon — because you're always worryingthatbig and/or abrupt”throttle” inputs will deplete your cruising range.

But last night, I knew I wouldn't be driving any farther than 60 miles so I threw caution to the wind. I drove the Mini E like I would any Mini Cooper S — brisk pace, abrupt steering inputs, generous throttle inputs. (No, I never said you would like my driving.)

And I had fun. The E still feels something like a Mini Cooper S when you throw it around a bit, with quicker reflexes than I expected given its 500+ extra pounds. Two things stood out during the experience:

–> The steering stilloffers some usablefeedback, but the ratio feels slower to me. More significantly, it has a much stronger self-centering tendency than in the Cooper S.

–> In the current Cooper S, a quick steering ratio and predisposition toward torque steer make the car feel like afrenzied ball of energy in traffic.The Mini E isrambunctious in a different way: Just about any amount of throttle, combined with any amount of steering input, proves to be much for the limited-slip front differential and lights up the inside tire. Maybe this is poor form, but this is where the excitement is in the Mini E.

Erin Riches, @ 2,910 miles