Mini is addressing a key concern for electric vehicle adopters with a significant range boost to its all-electric Countryman E model, announced today, January 28, 2026.The updated Countryman E now exceeds 500 kilometers (311 miles) on a single charge, responding to increasing consumer demand for longer-range evs in a competitive market. These improvements, implemented mid-cycle for the model which began production in March 2024, prioritize efficiency gains through powertrain and component upgrades rather than a redesign.
Mini has boosted the range of its all-electric Countryman E model, exceeding 500 kilometers (311 miles) on a single charge for the first time. The upgrade, announced January 28, 2026, reflects the growing demand for extended range in the competitive electric SUV market.
The Countryman E, which debuted in autumn 2023 and began series production at BMW’s Leipzig plant in March 2024, is available in two versions: a front-wheel drive model and the Countryman SE ALL4, featuring dual motors and all-wheel drive. The latest enhancements focus on improving efficiency rather than altering the vehicle’s design.
The key to the increased range is a modernized inverter utilizing silicon carbide semiconductors. According to the company, these semiconductors reduce energy loss and improve the efficiency of power conversion to the electric motors, while simultaneously minimizing heat generation. This technology is becoming increasingly common as automakers seek to maximize the performance of their EV powertrains.
Further gains come from improved low-friction wheel bearings on the front axle, which reduce rolling resistance and optimize overall energy consumption. Mini has also slightly increased the usable battery capacity to 65.2 kWh, from a previous 66.5 kWh gross capacity – the same as used in the BMW iX1 and iX2 models. While the capacity increase alone provides only a marginal range improvement, combined with the other efficiency upgrades, the overall effect is substantial.
As a result, the Countryman E now achieves a range of up to 501 kilometers (311 miles) according to the WLTP test cycle, up from 462 kilometers (287 miles) previously. The all-wheel drive Countryman SE ALL4 also saw an improvement, increasing its range from 433 kilometers (269 miles) to 467 kilometers (290 miles). Charging times remain unchanged, with the battery capable of being charged from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes at a fast-charging station.
Power output remains consistent across the range. The front-wheel drive Countryman E delivers 150 kW of power and 250 Nm of torque, while the all-wheel drive version offers a system output of 230 kW and 494 Nm of torque.
Mini has not yet announced pricing for the updated models, suggesting that significant price changes are not expected. In Germany, the Countryman E currently starts at €38,120, while the all-wheel drive Countryman SE ALL4 begins at €43,320.
Photo: BMW
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