Nice looks, shame about the ride

Mini has always been proud of the “go-kart” feeling in its cars. Keen to make the JCW Electric the same, it has a lowered suspension set-up and slightly sharper handling. The steering is pleasant and weighty.

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Those letters, JCW, represent a lot of heritage for Mini.

With a reputation stretching back to the 1960s, the moniker has been in the brand's line-up over the decades and represented the very epitome of "fast Mini" models.

Now in 2025, JCW faces its biggest challenge yet - the transition to wattage.

With the new John Cooper Works Electric, it's the first time we've seen this go-faster name on one of the brand's battery-powered vehicles. But does it work?

WHAT'S NEW?

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

JCW had to tune it separately while ensuring it brings the same feedback you'd expect from a petrol version. In fitting JCW style, you still get larger-than-life styling touches.

UNDER THE BONNET?

While other performance electric cars might adopt a dual-motor set-up, the JCW settles for just one.