MINI Aceman review

Driving position

When the third-generation MINI Countryman went bigger and more upmarket in 2023, a compact crossover-sized gap emerged between it and the smaller Cooper hatchback.

This information is relevant because the Aceman plugged that gap, and this means it’s a similar size to the second-generation Countryman.

What this means is that there’s a good amount of space inside, and there’s enough adjustability even for taller drivers. It’s still a reasonably compact car, but it has big car proportions, and this is evident when you’re getting comfortable behind the wheel.

Like other MINIs, there’s a thick steering wheel to grip onto when you’re in the Go Kart driving mode tackling corners on your local country lanes, but drivers with smaller hands might find it a little too chunky.

Tech and features

If you’ve been inside another MINI of a similar age, everything should feel pretty familiar. The dashboard is dominated by a 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen – a nod to previous MINIs and their central gauges.

Unlike slightly older MINIs that use an awkward rectangular display within this circular unit, the Aceman and its modern siblings make full use of the screen with an edge-to-edge touchscreen.

Main functionalities like mapping and music are still pinned to the centre of the screen, but the outer rim is used for useful information like speed, remaining range and climate controls.

The entire theme, and sometimes layout, of the display changes depending on which drive mode you select, and there are plenty of them. MINI calls them Experience Modes, and they also control things like interior lighting and sounds.

A few buttons underneath the screen control things like power, forward or reverse gear, audio and so-called Experiences. A second row has shortcuts to some key functions, like hazards and the windscreen defogger.

There’s not a lot else to talk about, because most things are managed from that sharp touchscreen. You can also speak to one of two customisable assistants, MINI or Spike (a bulldog), by using the command ‘Hey, MINI.’

As we’ve come to expect, there’s also a feature-packed app for controlling car features remotely. It’s just as customisable as the in-car display, and is probably one of the better EV apps we’ve seen.

In terms of electric car tech, standard 11kW charging is good news for anyone accessing public chargers at supermarkets and so on.

The rapid charging speeds of 70kW for the smaller battery, and 95kW for the bigger battery, don’t sound particularly fast, but because both batteries are relatively small, you can do a 10-80% charge in around 30 minutes, which is standard.

Electric motors and power

Unlike the smaller Cooper and the larger Countryman, the Aceman is electric-only, so there are no exhaust fumes to be seen in any versions.

Instead, you have the choice of three motor configurations, including two mainstream models – the 181hp Aceman E or the 215hp Aceman SE.

We drove both back-to-back and didn’t notice a big jump in performance for the SE. For this, we would much rather spend any extra money upgrading the trim level or playing with the optional extra list rather than paying for a minimal upgrade in power.

The 0-62mph times of 7.9 seconds and 7.1 seconds are pretty close, but they’re also both pretty quick. This was hot hatch territory not too long ago, and while other EVs might be quicker, they still pick up pace well both around town and out on the open road.

The third variant is the performance John Cooper Works (JCW) model. It has 258hp, which means it can get to 62mph in 6.4 seconds, but it’s more expensive to buy.

Handling and ride comfort

The first thing we noticed is that we sat higher in the Aceman than we did in the Cooper, but this is no SUV, so you won’t be subject to the usual body roll those bigger cars have to contend with.

The low placement of the batteries also helps keep the centre of gravity down closer to the floor, helping with stability and giving a pleasantly planted feel.

We used the Go Kart Experience mode in both models for a fair comparison, and found throttle response to be smooth and the car rigid enough to handle the twisty lanes we were on.

The steering was direct and weighted, but because both models are front-wheel-drive, there was some torque steer (where the front wheels scramble for traction and pull the car from left to right) under near-full acceleration. Something to be aware of at roundabouts and in the rain.

Boot space

Boot space stands at 300 litres, which is supermini-levels of space. Just as you’d expect given the Aceman is closer to a supermini in size than it is a family hatchback.

Rivals like the Volvo EX30, Fiat 600e and Jeep Avenger all offer more space, but if you’re upgrading from the MINI Cooper (previously MINI Hatch), then you’re hardly going to have any problems. And this is exactly what MINI envisions many Aceman buyers doing.

There’s no frunk, so you’ll have to keep the charging cables in the boot.

Rear seats

Remembering that the Aceman is still a pretty compact model, headroom and legroom in the back are good.

You’ll notice the car’s tighter dimensions when fitting a child seat or trying to get three adults in the back, but for the most part where the back seats will be used by children or just two adults, we had no major complaints.

Storage solutions

There’s a storage area between the front seats that runs all the way from the dashboard, where you’ll find a wireless phone charger, all the way back to the armrest. In the middle are a pair of cupholders and a small covered box.

Space in the door bins is quite limited, especially in the rear seats, but that central storage area does extend rearward slightly, so the rear-seat passengers do get to use some of that.

Safety

The MINI Aceman hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP yet, but MINI and parent company BMW’s reputation for building safe cars is solid.

Standard equipment includes lane-keeping aids, autonomous emergency braking, speed limit assistance and parking sensors with a reversing camera.

Be aware that three optional extra packages (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3) add more equipment, including a safety kit, but you could end up paying thousands for these.

Fuel economy

Even on our short test trips, we got good efficiency figures from both models. The sportier and more powerful variant averaged 3.9 miles per kWh, which is really good.

The 42.5kWh battery in the Aceman E promises a 192-mile range, with 252 miles possible from the Aceman SE’s bigger 54.2kWh battery. The JCW model claims around 10 miles less range from that same, big battery.

Reliability

The Aceman is still a new model for MINI, so there’s not a lot of data to back up our hopes for strong reliability.

That said, MINI has been building the electric version of its Hatch for several years, so at least you know the company knows what it’s doing on the EV front.

It also benefits from investment from parent company BMW, which has a growing portfolio of reliable electric vehicles.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the Aceman E and SE are in the low 20s, which means keeping this compact crossover on the road should be reasonably affordable.