There’s something poetic about driving a discontinued car. It’s like flipping through a chapter of automotive history that many might have missed. When I got my hands on the Seat Mii electric, I didn’t just want to tick boxes or talk numbers, I wanted to live with it, breathe in its character, and understand what made this pint, sized EV a cult classic and why its story ended so abruptly. I took it where I take most of my compact car tests, the winding, tightly packed streets of Süntel, a wooded, undulating landscape nestled in Lower Saxony, where elevation changes and narrow country roads create a perfect testbed for city cars with ambition.
Süntel doesn’t forgive easily. It’s one of those places where bad suspension and poor handling expose themselves instantly. Tight corners test stability, while uphill forest paths put low torque cars to shame. And yet, the Mii electric, despite its underdog specs and budget reputation, made me smile more than some crossovers five times its price.
A Calm Start: City, Size, City, Savvy
You see it and immediately get what it’s about. The Seat Mii electric is tiny, even by European standards. At 3.56 meters long and 1.65 meters wide, this is a car built with narrow city streets and underground garages in mind. But its dimensions proved even more useful on Süntel’s curling, leafy roads. There’s a sense of confidence when a car just fits, and the Mii fits like a well, worn glove.
Slipping behind the wheel, I noticed how functional everything felt. Nothing flashy. The dashboard is simple, the materials cheap (hard plastic everywhere), and yet… it works. There’s no traditional infotainment screen. Instead, a well, positioned smartphone dock takes its place, flanked by rotary dials and clean HVAC controls. It’s not trying to distract or seduce, it just gets on with it.
The driver’s seat position was surprisingly accommodating for someone like me who’s on the taller side of average. The seats were upright and supportive, and visibility out the front and sides was excellent. However, the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel was noticeable, especially on longer drives when wrist angles start to matter.
But none of this mattered when I rolled down the hill from the Süntel crest and pointed the little EV toward one of the tight switchbacks. The turning circle of 10 meters made navigating narrow hairpins ridiculously fun. Not once did I worry about space, curb rash, or oversteering.
Electric Zen: Motor, Range, and Everyday Performance
Here’s where the Mii electric surprised me. It’s powered by a single front, mounted electric motor delivering 61 kW (83 hp) and 212 Nm of torque. On paper, that sounds meek, even a lawnmower could feel more aggressive. But from behind the wheel, in the real world, it was just right.
When you press the accelerator, the torque comes in instantly, as expected from an EV. The sensation isn’t wild but it is satisfying, particularly in urban and semi, urban settings. Driving up into the more elevated paths of Süntel, where some backroads still resemble the 1970s, I didn’t once feel like I lacked power. From 0 to 60 km/h, it’s surprisingly peppy, and the mid, range punch from 60 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds makes overtaking on rural roads surprisingly doable.
In terms of raw specs, top speed is limited to 130 km/h, which I reached momentarily on a straight stretch. That’s as much as you’ll need from a car like this. Most of the time, I was hovering at 50, 90 km/h, where the car’s suspension really got to shine. Ride quality was outstanding for a subcompact, soaking up imperfections and potholes far better than I expected. Even in sudden evasive maneuvers, a simulated deer run across the forest road, the Mii remained composed, thanks in part to a well, calibrated ESP system.
Real, World Range in the Hills
The Mii electric comes with a 32.3 kWh battery, of which roughly 32 kWh is usable. According to WLTP, that should give you around 250 to 259 kilometers of range. But WLTP isn’t Süntel.
Climbing hills takes a toll, and regenerative braking helps only slightly on the descents. After a 120, kilometer drive mixing rural backroads, small town navigation, and a bit of spirited ascending, I had around 45% charge left. That translates roughly to the 215 km range ADAC measured, which feels real and dependable, especially considering the test consumption of 17.3 kWh/100 km.
Charging is modest by today’s standards. The car supports AC charging up to 7.2 kW, which gave me a full charge overnight at home. It also supports DC fast charging at 40 kW, which isn’t fast by any means, but still good enough to take the battery from 0 to 80% in about 40 minutes. That’s more than enough for city dwellers and second, car users.
Living With It: Space, Comfort, Practicality
Let’s be clear, this is a small car. You don’t buy the Mii electric expecting to move furniture or transport a team of cyclists and their gear. The boot holds 250 liters, which expands to 923 liters with the seats down. That came in handy when I bought a few crates of mineral water in Hameln and managed to haul them back home with the seats dropped.
Front seat space is genuinely good. Even after a two, hour drive across Süntel’s zigzag paths, I wasn’t sore or fatigued. The rear, however, is tighter, especially for adults. Kneeroom is at a premium, and anyone over 5’10” will feel cramped. Still, for short rides or kids, it’s serviceable.
I did notice cost, cutting in several places. The bare sheet metal inside the doors, the unprotected boot sill that scratched easily when loading, and the non, lined trunk floor all reminded me that this was a car built to a price. Yet, I never felt short, changed. The minimalism felt honest. Functional.
Technical Specifications: Seat Mii Electric Plus
For trusted accuracy, all technical info is taken directly from the official Seat website.
| Category | Specification |
| Drive | Front, mounted electric motor |
| Power | 61 kW (83 hp) |
| Torque | 212 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 32.3 kWh (net) |
| WLTP Range | 250, 259 km |
| Realistic Range (ADAC) | ~215 km |
| AC Charging | Up to 7.2 kW |
| DC Fast Charging | Up to 40 kW (80% in 40 minutes) |
| 0, 100 km/h | 12.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 130 km/h |
| Dimensions (L/W/H) | 3.56 m / 1.65 m / 1.48 m |
| Boot Space | 250 L (up to 923 L with seats folded) |
| Weight | 1235 kg |
| Battery Warranty | 8 years / 160,000 km (to 70% capacity) |
| Price (New) | €24,650 (discontinued) |
The End of the Road: Why It’s Gone
It’s ironic, really. The Mii electric was exactly what the electric city car market needed, but never got in enough volume. Seat’s conservative production planning and the industry, wide chip and battery shortages doomed it before it could truly blossom. It wasn’t a car designed to make big profits. It was a mission, driven vehicle, and in the end, that made it expendable.
Today, the Mii electric exists only on used car lots. But if you can find one, preferably with CCS fast, charging option ticked, you’re not just getting a car, you’re getting a piece of overlooked EV excellence. No, it won’t win a drag race. But it will win your affection on a tight, fog, laced corner in Süntel. And sometimes, that’s all that matters.
Conclusion: The Little Car That Could (and Did)
Driving the Seat Mii electric through Süntel felt like driving the spirit of functional, affordable, human, scale design. It reminded me that a car doesn’t need a 0, 100 time of 3 seconds, nor a 100 kWh battery, to be satisfying. It just needs to understand its purpose, and the Mii electric did, beautifully. It was calm in chaos, responsive in corners, and perfectly suited to life in and around real European roads.
I’ll miss cars like this. Cars that try less and deliver more. The Mii electric might be gone from showrooms, but if you’re lucky, you’ll find one in the classifieds, and when you do, grab it. You’re not just buying a used EV. You’re inheriting a tiny legend.
Is the Seat Mii electric still available new?
No. Seat ended production in 2021 due to limited battery and chip supply and strategic focus on higher, margin models.
What’s the real, world range of the Seat Mii electric?
Approximately 215 kilometers, depending on driving conditions. In city, only use, over 250 km is possible.
How practical is the Seat Mii for daily use?
Highly practical in urban and suburban environments. Easy to park, nimble in traffic, and economical to run.
