Mini Aceman review

The Mini Aceman might sound like a tiny superhero but it’s actually Mini’s latest new model. More specifically, it's an electric SUV that's bigger than a Cooper but smaller than a Countryman.

The Aceman sits on the same underpinnings as the Mini Cooper Electric but the distance between the front and rear wheels has been extended by 80mm to increase interior space. Plus, unlike the Cooper – and, indeed, the Countryman – it's only available as an electric car, with no petrol engine options.

It's likely to appeal to buyers who need more practicality than the smallest Mini model can offer but want something more agile than a Mini Countryman. In other words, it fills the gap previously filled by the Mini Clubman, with its split tailgate doors.

So is the new Mini Aceman a worthy contender against rival electric SUVs, ranging from the Fiat 600e and Hyundai Kona Electric to the Jeep Avenger Electric and Smart #1? Read on to find out...

The entry-level Mini Aceman – the Aceman E – comes with a 181bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, giving it an official 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds. That’s quicker than an entry-level Hyundai Kona Electric or Jeep Avenger Electric and both versions of the Peugeot e-2008.

The other version of the Aceman is the SE, which produces 215bhp and cuts the 0-62mph sprint time to 7.1 seconds. That's quicker than the most powerful Kona Electric but slightly slower than a Smart #1. Even so, the SE has plenty of punch when you put your foot down, pulling strongly from a standstill right up to the motorway speed limit.

The Aceman E has a relatively small 38.5kWh (usable capacity) battery and an official range of up to 192 miles, depending on the trim level. That’s about the same as a Smart #1 Pro, but noticeably less than any Kona Electric, Avenger Electric or e-2008.

In real-world driving, we'd expect the Aceman E to manage around 170 miles, depending on the weather and the type of roads you're on. That’s fine if you don’t often venture far from home, but most buyers will find the 251 mile range of the SE and its 49.2kWh battery more useful. 

The Aceman has been tuned to feel more like the Mini Cooper Electric on the road, and it does feel light and agile compared with rival electric SUVs.

The steering doesn’t provide a huge sense of grip, but it’s sharp to respond and the nose of the car turns in keenly to help build confidence down a country road. It’s more fun and encourages you to drive more quickly than most rivals, helped by firm suspension that minimises body lean. A Smart #1 – which has meatier steering – is close, but the Aceman feels less top heavy.

However, the trade-off is that the ride is firm enough to result in a bit of fidgeting at most speeds. It settles down on a motorway, but occupants will notice a small amount of head toss up until that point. Indeed, it’s calmer and less easily deflected by mid-corner bumps than the Cooper hatchback, although a Jeep Avenger Electric or Peugeot e-2008 is calmer overall.

Both versions of the Aceman play sound effects as you accelerate to add a bit more theatre than its rivals (you can switch them off, thankfully). When driven gently, the Aceman is otherwise very quiet, with hardly any electric motor whine and a mild level of road noise. A bit of wind noise fluttering past the side windows is about as noisy as it gets on motorways.

Regenerative braking is standard to help recover some electrical energy as the car slows down and the braking effect kicks in much more smoothly than in a Smart #1 when you lift off the accelerator pedal. There are three levels of strength to choose from, although you have to delve into a sub menu in the touchscreen to select it. That's far less convenient than using paddles mounted on the steering wheel, as you can in a Hyundai Kona Electric.

When you do have to use the Aceman's brake pedal, the response is positive and consistent, helping you to slow down more smoothly than in a Peugeot e-2008.

“The Aceman has SUV styling but drives more like a five-door version of the Mini hatchback. I found that it doesn’t feel like a big car at all.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

The Mini Aceman’s interior design will look familiar to those who have spent time in a new Mini Cooper or Mini Countryman.

There’s plenty of knitted fabric covering the top half of the dashboard and large sections of the doors, while the plastics and buttons and switches that are well damped help it feel more premium and visually appealing inside than many other small electric SUVs.

The minimalist design means it looks simple and easy to get to grips with, but like its two stablemates, the Aceman relies heavily on its circular 9.4in infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard.

The high-definition touchscreen looks sharp and offers a range of themes to choose from depending on your mood, and while it responds quickly enough, the main icons are small and tricky to aim for when driving.

Indeed, the infotainment system is packed full of features, but the screen itself has to display a lot of information at any given time as well, so it takes a while to find what you’re looking for at a glance.

Go for the entry-level Aceman E and you'll need to look across at the top of the display to check your speed. The solution is to pay for the optional Level 1 package (standard on all other versions) which adds a head-up display on top of the dashboard behind the steering wheel that works really well. 

The sat-nav app occupies a large area of the centre display but you’ll have to move away from the map if you want to access any other function. You get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring as standard.

Otherwise, the Aceman’s driving position is fundamentally sound, with the seat, steering wheel and pedals all lined up neatly with one another. It still doesn’t feel as commanding as its rivals, but you’re perched higher off the floor than in a Mini Cooper Electric with an even clearer view over the dashboard and bonnet.

The seats have a good amount of side bolstering to hold you in place, but adjustable lumbar support is only available with the pricier Level 3 pack.

The front upright pillars are quite chunky but it’s not too difficult to see around them at junctions and roundabouts. The view out over your shoulder isn’t too bad and the side mirrors are big, but the narrow rear windscreen does restrict the view out back.

Every Aceman comes with parking sensors (front and rear) and a rear-view camera as standard to help out. Level 3 option pack adds a 360-view parking camera and additional side sensors.

LED headlights are also standard, while the Level 1 Pack adds automatic high-beam assist and cornering lights that light up when you turn in to bends.

“The Level 2 pack adds a 10-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound system upgrade which I enjoyed listening to music through – it's delivers good clear sound.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

With its rear doors and a bit more interior space, the Mini Aceman could be the perfect answer to those who’ve grown out of the Mini Cooper Electric (which is only available as a three-door).

There’s plenty of head and leg room for two six-feet tall occupants up front, although rival electric SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Smart #1 are far more airy inside. The Aceman feels narrower than those cars, too, so broader passengers might find their elbows just occasionally coming into close contact. 

There’s plenty of storage space at least, with a long, low-set centre console (think of it as a long tray) that has a pair of cupholders, a small lidded storage cubby, two cupholders and space for your phone (with integrated wireless phone-charging when fitted as an option).

The console extends towards the rear seats, offering space for a drink and small items. That makes up for the small door bins, which have space for a bottle but not much more.

The Aceman’s back doors make it easier to access than a Mini Cooper Electric but it's still a bit more restricted than with a Hyundai Kona Electric or Smart #1. Once you're sitting in the back, you'll find a reasonable amount of head room, with just enough space for a six-footer to sit without burying their head into the roof lining.

Front-seat occupants will need to slide their seat forward a couple of notches in order for six footers to sit comfortably without their knees pressed up against the back of the seats. That's tolerable for a short journey, but they won't want to be there for too long. Overall, the Aceman is fine for a family with small children, but four adults will be much more comfortable in a Hyundai Kona Electric.

The Aceman's boot capacity is 300 litres below the parcel shelf, beating the Smart #1’s 273 litres. Most rivals offer much more storage, including the Jeep Avenger Electric (380 litres), the Peugeot e-2008 (434) and the Kona (466).

Unlike in the #1, the Aceman’s rear bench doesn’t slide to increase boot space when you don’t have any rear-seat occupants. The load area is a uniform shape, but the high load lip means you have to heave heavier items in and out of the entrance.

The rear backrest folds down in a 60/40 split, which is pretty standard among electric SUVs, although the Kona has seats that split in three sections (40/20/40).

“I find it easier to get in the rear seats of the Aceman than a three-door Mini hatch, but it’s small access area means it’s tighter for space than most SUV rivals.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

The Mini Aceman is slightly more expensive to buy outright than an equivalent spec Mini Cooper Electric, with the entry-level E priced broadly in line with the cheapest Smart #1 (in Pro trim) and undercutting a Peugeot e-2008 Active. The list prices of the cheapest Jeep Avenger Electric and Hyundai Kona Electric is around 10% higher.

With stronger resale values than all its rivals, the Aceman is predicted to lose its value more slowly over three years and should also help keep monthly payments more respectable for those signing up to a PCP finance agreement. For company car drivers paying through a salary sacrifice, the Aceman is a cheap option thanks to its low BIK tax rating.

The Cooper SE has a maximum charging speed of 95kW from a public CCS charging point. That means a 10-80% top-up will take around half an hour in ideal conditions. That’s about the same time required for the Avenger, e-2008 and #1 but slightly quicker than a Kona Electric.

You'll be waiting a similar amount of time for a 10-80% charge in the Cooper E, despite a slower maximum charging rate of 75kW. However, using a home wall box charger the E takes around seven hours for a 0-100% charge, while the SE will take nine hours.

Whichever battery you go for, there are three trims to choose from for the Aceman: Classic, Exclusive and Sport. There are also three option packages, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

Entry-level Classic comes with LED headlights, ambient lighting, automatic windscreen wipers, a heated steering wheel, cruise control and two-zone climate control, but a limited number of exterior paint options.

Exclusive and Sport offer a wider range of paint colours and interior upholstery.

The Level 1 package (which is standard on SE trim and worth adding to E) includes adaptive LED headlights and customisable front and rear light signatures, keyless entry, power-folding door mirrors, wireless phone-charging, heated front seats and the head-up display.

Level 2 adds a sunroof, an upgraded sound system and privacy glass.

Level 3 – which is only available with Exclusive or Sport trim – adds electric front seats with massaging function and augmented-reality sat-nav but little else, and pushes the price well into the territory of the Volvo EX30 – a bigger electric car with a longer range.

In terms of reliability, we’ll have to wait and see how the Aceman fares. However, Mini finished right at the top of the manufacturer’s league table (out of 31 brands) in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. Its three-year, unlimited mileage warranty puts it on a par with BMW and Smart, but behind Hyundai, Kia and Toyota.

The Aceman has yet to be tested for safety by Euro NCAP but  does come with lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring as standard, as well as traffic-sign recognition and automatic emergency braking (AEB).

“The entry-level Aceman E keeps costs down and its lower battery range means I think it could make sense for those who just drive around towns and cities.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here