► We test Mini’s digital key
► Can you use your phone instead?
► Read month 1
Car-connected apps often provide a lot of features you don’t want or need. The Mini app means your phone can double as the key – a classic case of answering a question no one ever asked. When did carrying a key become a pain? But as your phone becomes the one-stop shop for your life, I suppose it makes sense. Plus it bailed me out of a hole recently when I left the actual key somewhere else.
The app isn’t quite as all-seeing as Tesla’s: for example, it can’t summon the car out of a parking space. But the design is neat (you can change the background to London’s skyline… a bit odd on a car made in China) and does pretty much all you need, like remote control of the air-con; handy as winter sets in.
Read month 1
Logbook: Mini Cooper SE
Price £34,500 (£39,799 as tested)
Performance 49kWh battery, e-motor, 215bhp, 6.7sec 0-62mph, 106mph
Efficiency 4.2-4.4 miles per kWh (official), 4.1 miles per kWh (tested), 0g/km CO2
Range 240-249 miles (official), 200 miles (tested)
Energy cost 5.0p per mile
Miles this month 510
Total miles 2395