When we experienced the Mini Countryman Cooper SE PHEV a few years back, we were impressed by how well it holds the road, the precision of the steering and the body control. It was still noticeably less agile than non-plug-in variants, though, due to the extra weight of the battery, which you could really notice, especially if you had previously driven other Countryman versions.
For reference, the SE plug-in hybrid is around 550 pounds (250 kg) heavier than the regular S, even though it has a smaller (and lighter) 1.5-liter engine, as opposed to the S’ 2-liter. What brings the SE’s weight all the way up to 3,780 pounds (1,715 kg) is a 10 kWh battery pack and a rear-mounted electric motor. As a PHEV, though, it does become an all-wheel drive vehicle.
With that experience in mind, this new video by Km77, which shows a Countryman SE being subjected to the moose test, is even more impressive to watch. With an entry speed of 49 mph (79 km/h), almost as good as the gas-burning Cooper S hatch that the outlet previously tested.
