First Drive: Is Mini’s John Cooper Works Electric a hot hatch for the EV age?

What is it?

Those three little letters – JCW – have come to represent a lot of heritage for Mini. With a reputation stretching back to the 1960s and the iconic rally-going Minis of Monte Carlo, the moniker has been present in the brand’s line-up over the decades and represented the very epitome of ‘fast Mini’ models.

In 2025, JCW faces its biggest challenge yet – the transition to electric vehicles. With the new John Cooper Works Electric, it’s the first time that we’ve seen this go-faster name applied to one of the brand’s battery-powered vehicles – but does it work? That’s what we’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

As with the regular Mini Cooper, the new JCW Electric sits on a separate platform to the petrol-powered versions. You can still get a combustion-engined JCW, after all, but whereas that car sits on the platform which underpinned the previous-generation Mini, this electric version has a setup all to itself.

As a result, JCW has had to tune this car separately while ensuring it brings the same level of feedback and involvement that you’d expect from a petrol-powered version. In fitting JCW style, you still get plenty of larger-than-life styling touches, too.

What’s under the bonnet?

While other performance electric cars might adopt a dual-motor setup, the JCW settles for just one. With 255bhp, it’s on the money output-wise. Zero to 60mph comes in 5.7 seconds, which is quicker than the petrol version, too. It’s respectable given the Mini JCW Electric weighs just over 1.7 tonnes, which is rather heavy for this size of vehicle.

Mini claims that you should be able to get around 251 miles to every full charge and you’ll be able to complete a top-up overnight via a conventional home charger.

What’s it like to drive?

Mini has always been proud of the ‘go-kart’ feeling in its cars and it’s a phrase it continues to lean on to this day. Keen to make the JCW Electric the same, it comes equipped with a lowered suspension setup and slightly sharper handling, which helps to make it agile in the bends. The steering is pleasant, too, and weighty enough to inspire confidence. Accelerating hard does generate a fair amount of torque steer, mind you, as the front wheels struggle to manage the dual role of direction and power.

Get on the power and the JCW Electric scrabbles around looking for the best way forward and the issue is even more noticeable in the wet. On the plus side, this sensation adds some level of involvement to the driving experience and differentiates the JCW from the usually linear, predictable sensation you get from most EVs as they accelerate.

But the ride feels simply too firm for a road car. Sure, this is a performance-focused model, but on the UK’s surfaces, the JCW Electric searches out imperfections that magnifying glasses would struggle to find and even on a smooth section of motorway at a steady cruise, the Mini JCW Electric bobs and ducks, which makes it a tricky car to settle into.

How does it look?

We have to feel for Mini – go too radical with the styling and it’s out of turn with heritage, but play it too safe and things look too similar to before. We’d have to say that this JCW Electric does look the part, mind you, with its uber-large rear wing, widened stance on the road and eye-catching light designs making it into a hot-hatch with genuine character.

There is a range of other JCW accessories, too, with more intricate wheel designs and extra performance-boosting features to choose from. To our eyes, at least, the JCW Electric looks just fine as it is without them.

What’s it like inside?

There’s a lot to like about the Mini JCW Electric’s interior. You can get nice and low in the car, which helps with overall control and feeling, while the sport seats themselves toe a good line between comfort and support. There are plenty of nice materials used throughout, too, while the toggle switch to select gears has an old-school, tactile feeling to it.

Naturally, being a three-door Mini means that this car isn’t going to offer the last word in space and practicality, with the rear seats being particularly compact and better suited to children. Boot space is on the small side, too, but then this is a Mini – and at least there’s some under-floor storage for the cables to help keep them tidy.

What’s the spec like?

Our test car came in at £40,270, with only a smattering of options included. That puts it as reasonably good value when you compare it to the petrol-powered version and if you’re able to access cheap home charging, it’ll cost significantly less to run overall. Being a JCW means that this car gets a flagship-level of standard equipment, meaning features such as a heated steering wheel, Harman/Kardon stereo and 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels come included as standard. Prices for the standard car come in at a smidge over £39,000.

Mini’s ultra-thin OLED screen is a great modern interpretation of the classic Mini central instrument and it’s packed with features. It can be a little tricky to use on the move, mind you, and it’s best to set up the car as you’d like before you get on your way. That said, we’re pleased that Mini thought to include some physical controls, such as the volume dial.

Verdict

The Mini JCW Electric certainly has character, which is something that is often lost on electric vehicles. It looks great, feels well-made inside and has more than enough performance for your average hot-hatch. Standard equipment isn’t bad, either, and we’d argue that in the general landscape of EVs, the JCW Electric is priced reasonably well.

But for most drivers, the ride might prove a sticking point. For sure, if you’re after a car with go-kart-like ride quality, then you’re in good company with the JCW Electric, but if it’s a more ‘everyday’ model you’re looking for, then Mini’s already-impressive Cooper S Electric will be a better choice.