A plug-in hybrid capable of traveling 12 miles on a single charge, it’s the brand’s first PHEV and a successor to the MINI E pilot program that debuted in North America about eight years ago.

Up to 122lb ft of torque can spin up the rear rubber: in fact, the plug-in hybrid Mini is a rear-wheel drive car when operating in purely electric mode. And that’s how we started our PHEV test ...