First Drive: Is Mini’s John Cooper Works Electric a Hot Hatch for the EV Age?

Mini now also offers its John Cooper Works models as an e-version. However, those interested in sport have to make a few cuts.

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

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.

TEST - Very powerful with 258 hp, the new Mini JCW is also extremely heavy – 1,730 kg – due to the electric powertrain that it is teaming up for the first time. So we were curious to see how it manages to preserve its legendary sportiness due to its overweight...

The 2025 MINI JCW Electric Is Quick, Quirky, and Complicated

It’s a strange time to be a hot hatch. The classic formula—small, rowdy, internal combustion hooligans—has gone quiet, replaced by a new wave of electrified performance cars looking to pick up the torch. Alpine has done it with the excellent A290. Abarth gave it a good go with the 500e. Now, it’s MINI’s turn. The all-new 2025 MINI John Cooper Works Electric, known internally as the J01, marks a historic first: a JCW badge on a battery-powered MI…

JCW on track - First Drive - NZ Autocar

Mini is a brand built on attitude, agility and a dash of cheeky charm. Its John Cooper Works range makes a “look at me” statement. At the RACQ Mobility Centre in Queensland, I got behind the wheel of the NZ models. With a mix of petrol and electric, coupe and SUV, does the new generation still deliver that go-kart magic? Spoiler: it absolutely does. But each model speaks its own dialect of fun.Petrol-powered precision: Mini JCW hatchThis is the …

Mini John Cooper Works Electric

The first purely electric halo Mini hatch is here and spoiling for a fight This new Mini John Cooper Works Electric is 1725kg before its driver has climbed in. It’s hard not to fret for its dynamism. Other cars, such as the current-gen BMW M3 have received criticism for similar mass, while a Nismo GT-R is actually a few bags of sugar lighter.It’s the first purely electric halo Mini Cooper, and it arrives with reasonable potency. Its 255bhp and 2…