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.

Mini Aceman vs Kia EV3 vs Skoda Elroq triple test video

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

Is the Mini Aceman a worthy contender against rival electric SUVs, ranging from the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3 to the Jeep Avenger Electric and Smart #3? 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 Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica, Hyundai Kona Electric or Jeep Avenger Electric.

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 Kia EV3 and the most powerful Kona Electric but slightly slower than a Smart #3. 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.

We've yet to sample the range-topping John Cooper Works Aceman, but its official 0-62mph of 6.4 seconds is appropriately nippy. 

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, EV3 or Avenger Electric.

In real-world driving, we'd expect the Aceman E to manage around 150 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 official 251-mile range of the SE and its 49.2kWh battery more useful.

That said, even in SE spec the Aceman is not a great long-distance companion. When we took an Aceman SE, an EV3 Long Range and a Skoda Elroq 85 on a road trip to Bruges, the Mini returned a real-world range of just 170 miles against 247 miles for the Kia and 244 miles for the Elroq.

But surely the Mini is more fun than its rivals? Well, the Aceman does feel lighter and more agile than those taller rivals. When you turn in to a corner, the front end responds willingly, body lean is well-contained and there's plenty of grip on offer. And while a Smart #3 benefits has meatier and more feelsome steering, the Aceman ultimately feels less top heavy.

In many ways, it feels and drives like a slightly larger Mini Cooper Electric but like its smaller sibling, 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. If you want a plusher, calmer ride, we'd point you in the direction of the soft and supple EV3. 

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, it's 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 #3 when you lift off the accelerator pedal.

There are three levels of regen to choose from, although you have to delve into a sub menu in the infotainment touchscreen to switch between them. That's far less convenient than using paddles mounted on the steering wheel, as you can in a Kona Electric or EV3.

When you do need to use the Aceman's brake pedal, the response is positive and consistent, helping you to slow down more smoothly than in an Avenger Electric or 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.

Knitted fabric covers much of the upper dashboard and door panels, adding a vibrant and distinctive look. However, it doesn’t feel particularly plush to the touch, and some of the lower interior plastics feel a little cheap.

While the Kia EV3 and Smart #3 are not as playfully designed inside, their interiors are finished with classier materials.

As with the Cooper and Countryman, the Aceman relies heavily on the 9.4in circular touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. The high-definition display looks sharp and offers various themes to match your mood. It responds quickly enough, but its small icons can be tricky to hit while 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 so it takes a while to find what you’re looking for at a glance.

There's no driver's display, so on the entry-level Aceman E you have to look at the touchscreen to check your speed, which is not ideal. Fortunately, all other versions get a head-up display, and you can add one to the E by paying extra for the optional Level 1 package.

The sat-nav app occupies a large area of the touchscreen 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. Ultimately, the more traditional infotainment set-up in the Kia EV3 is better for usability.

Otherwise, the Aceman’s driving position is fundamentally sound, with the seat, steering wheel and pedals all lined up neatly with one another. It 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. Adjustable lumbar support is available, but only with the pricier Level 3 pack.

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

LED headlights are standard too, 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 delivers good clear sound.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

With its rear doors and a bit more interior space, the 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 6ft occupants up front, although rival electric SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV3 and Smart #1 (and #3) 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 with two cupholders, a small lidded storage cubby and space for your phone (with integrated wireless phone-charging when fitted as an option).

The console extends towards the rear seats, offering back-seat passengers a place to put a drink and small items. That makes up for the small rear 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, Kia EV3 or Smart #3. Once you're 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.

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 children, but four adults will be much more comfortable in an EV3.

The Aceman's boot capacity is 300 litres below the parcel shelf, beating the Smart #1’s 273 litres. Most other rivals have bigger boots, with the Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona Electric and Peugeot e-2008 offering more than 400 litres.

The Aceman’s rear bench doesn’t slide forwards to increase boot space, as it does in the #1. The load area is a uniform shape but the high load lip means you have to heave heavier items in and out.

The rear backrest folds down in a 60/40 split, which is pretty standard among electric SUVs, although the Kona's seats 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 a Jeep Avenger Electric. The list prices of the cheapest Kia EV3 and Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica are around 10% higher.

With stronger predicted 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 on PCP finance. For company car drivers paying through a salary sacrifice, the Aceman is a cheap option thanks to its low BIK tax rating (the same is currently true of all electric cars).

The Cooper SE has a maximum charging speed of 95kW from a 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 slower than a Kona Electric or EV3. 

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. With a home EV charger, the E takes around seven hours for a full 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, customisable front and rear light signatures, keyless entry, power-folding door mirrors, wireless phone-charging, heated front seats and a 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 a massaging function and augmented-reality sat-nav, but pushes the Aceman's price well into the territory of the Volvo EX30, which is bigger and has a longer electric range.

In terms of reliability, we’ll have to wait and see how the Aceman fares, but Mini finished right at the top of the manufacturer’s league table (out of 31 brands) in our 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 although it has a shorter range, I think it could make sense for those who just drive around towns and cities.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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