Mini Aceman test drive

Make and model: Mini Aceman
Description: Medium SUV/crossover
Price range: from £28,905

Mini says: “The latest addition to the new Mini family, the Mini Aceman is the brand’s midsize all-electric crossover, which combines compact exterior dimensions with a creative use of interior space.”

We say: The Mini Aceman is a slightly more grown-up version of the three-door Mini Cooper Electric, with more room for passengers and luggage, but still keeps the family feeling.

• Mini Aceman (2024 – present) – Expert Rating
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Introduction

The newest addition to the Mini range is the Aceman, positioned between the Mini Cooper (hatchback) and Mini Countryman (SUV) models. It sort-of-replaces the previous Mini Clubman, and is pretty similar in size to the previous Mini Countryman.

Unlike the Cooper and Countryman models, which are offered in both petrol and electric form, the new Mini Aceman is only be offered as an electric vehicle (EV). However, it’s also fair to describe the Aceman as the electric equivalent of the new five-door Mini Cooper hatchback, as the two cars are pretty similar in both size and styling – even if they’re completely different underneath.

As of June 2025, the Mini Aceman has a New Car Expert Rating of B on The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating Index, with a score of 69%. That’s down on the Cooper Electric (A, 82%) and Countryman Electric (A, 81%), but still a decent score overall. Part of the reason for the difference is that the Aceman has not yet been tested for safety by Euro NCAP, so its overall score may improve if/when this testing takes place (assuming the Aceman scores as well as the other electric Mini models).

What is the Mini Aceman?

The Mini Aceman is described as a crossover, meaning it rides slightly higher than a typical hatchback but not quite as high as an SUV. In reality, these definitions have become so blurred these days it’s basically irrelevant.

The Aceman sits about 5cm taller than the (petrol-powered) Mini Cooper five-door hatch, and is about 4cm longer, so it’s almost the same size externally. But despite the similar size and familiar Mini styling, the two cars are completely different underneath. The petrol Mini Cooper models are heavily upgraded versions of the previous-generation Mini hatch models, while the electric Mini models are built on an all-new platform and simply styled to look like the petrol cars.

Being a dedicated EV, the Aceman has notably more room inside than the five-door Cooper, which we’ll cover shortly.

First impressions

The Aceman feels very much part of the Mini family despite being a brand-new model. Since it will only be available with an electric powertrain, its grille is closed off. Externally, its styling takes a number of cues from the new Countryman, with quite angular styling replacing the traditional Mini curves. Given the size of these cars (the new Countryman is as big as a Nissan Qashqai), this makes sense, although it does mean that the Aceman does look odd from certain angles as the designers have tried to apply familiar Mini styling cues onto a bulky, squared-off body.

Inside, the Aceman benefits from Mini’s latest-generation interior design. This features a large and very high-resolution circular touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which controls the infotainment system. The dash and door panels are covered in textured fabrics rather than drab plastics – Mini continues to emphasise a quirky and not necessarily practical cabin. In between the passenger and driver’s seat there’s a pair of cup holders, a tray to hold your phone and a small box for other bits and bobs. 

We like: The interior is distinctive and feels very high in quality  
We don’t like: Exterior styling will polarise people, quite awkward from certain angles 

What do you get for your money?

The Mini Aceman range is split into Aceman E and Aceman SE models, with the SE getting more performance and a bigger battery. There are then three trim levels to choose from – Classic, Exclusive and Sport. Finally, and not part of this review, there’s now a Mini Aceman John Cooper Works model. We drove this recently and will have a report coming shortly.

The entry-level Aceman E which comes with a 43kWh battery, which gives you an official range of up to 192 miles according to the official EU/UK government lab tests. Call it 150 miles in real-world driving and you should be safe. The electric motor puts out 135kW (184hp in old money) in this model.

Stepping up to the SE gets you a more powerful motor, up to 160kW (218hp), and a larger 54kWh battery to boost official driving range to more than 240 miles (call it 200 miles in the real world).

The main differences between the three trim levels focus on exterior styling and colour. Classic comes with 17-inch wheels, a choice of two wheel designs and three paint options. Exclusive trim ups this to six paint colours, three wheel designs and 18-inch wheels with the option of 19-inch rims. Sport has John Cooper Works styling, colour-coded accents and a rear spoiler. 

Both SE and John Cooper Works versions can accept charging at fast chargers up to 90kW. The Aceman E is only capable of charging at a rate of up to 70kW. These speeds are not particularly impressive, as the standard for new EVs these days is usually 150kW or better.

In terms of safety, the Aceman comes with all the usual kit to help you avoid an accident and protect you if an accident cannot be avoided. However, it hasn’t yet been assessed by Euro NCAP, so we can’t give you a definitive report on how well the Aceman performs in an emergency. The electric Mini Cooper and Mini Countryman models both score five stars for safety, but we can’t confirm that the Aceman matches their performances at this time. We’ll update this report if and when Euro NCAP assesses it.

The Mini Aceman comes with a three-year / unlimited mileage warranty. 

We like: Simple power and trim levels
We don’t like: Limited charging speeds, base models look pretty plain compared to more expensive trim levels

What’s the Mini Aceman like inside?

The focal point of the interior is the huge circular display. It injects some fun into the cabin design with different display modes to choose from. These alter the screen colours and graphics considerably, although it does feel like you’d play around with it for the first few days and then settle on your preferred style from then on. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard as well. A lot of functions are housed within the screen and the circular layout is unconventional, so it takes some time to familiarise yourself with how to change various systems while on the move.

In the Aceman E model, the central screen is also home to the speedo. For the other models (or with the Level 1 pack for an extra £2K), a head-up display is included. This projects information onto a small upright panel on top of the dashboard in front of the driver – it’s less glamorous than a fully integrated head-up display that projects straight onto the windscreen, but it works well enough in practice.

All versions have parking sensors and a rear-view camera to make your parking life easier. In the back seats, head and legroom should be enough for most passengers, including tall adults. The floor is nice and flat, unlike in the five-door petrol Mini Cooper, allowing for more foot space in the back and more storage space up front.

The boot space is decent enough at 300 litres, but the Fiat 600e, Cupra Born and others do better.

We like: Funky and useable interior space 
We don’t like: Boot is smaller than rivals 

What’s under the bonnet?

The Aceman E comes with a 43kWh battery and an electric motor that offers 135kW (184hp) of power and 290Nm of torque. This gives the entry-level version a 0-62mph time of eight seconds and a top speed limited to 99mph. 

The SE has a larger 54kWh battery with 160kW (218hp) and 330Nm of torque. This version is a second quicker from 0-62mph with a time of seven seconds, and a top speed of 105mph. The official driving range also increases from 192 miles to 251 miles. Note also that paying extra for bigger wheels will knock a few miles off your battery range.

What’s the Mini Aceman like to drive?

Even in the E version, the Aceman feels quick off the line and fun to drive. Like all Minis, but especially the electric models, the ride is reasonably firm which means you bump hard off potholes in city driving and tend to bounce along country roads at higher speeds. When you put your foot down, a theme tune of whirring noises begins which adds some audible interest to the acceleration experience. While the noises add a bit of drama to the situation, they can be turned off if (or, more likely, when) they get too annoying. 

Below the screen, there’s an ‘experiences’ button, which is a pleasingly tactile way to switch between driving modes. There are three modes: Core, Go-Kart and Green. Each has accompanying graphical changes on the screen and there are various other modes to choose from that just change the colour and theme of the display. For the vast majority of daily driving, Core mode will be sufficient. 

As part of the Aceman’s safety suite, the car has advanced braking technology. The vehicle can control its braking response based on the situation. When approaching a parked car, for example, when you lift off the accelerator, the car initiates what feels like a regenerative braking response to slow the vehicle. The same happens when approaching cyclists, it automatically starts slowing down. When the car is travelling downhill, you can feel it controlling its speed so it doesn’t keep rolling progressively faster. In some scenarios, this is a useful feature but it takes a while to get used to as it can feel like it’s responding prematurely. 

We like: All versions feel quick 
We don’t like: Bouncy ride on country roads  

Verdict

Mini is one of the few manufacturers that has created a distinct personality for its new models, and the Aceman is no different. Its round display screen, interesting use of materials inside and playful electric soundtrack make the Aceman distinctive and likeable. There’s a good amount of technology and safety features packaged in – albeit we don’t have independently verified safety data from Euro NCAP at this time. 

As an all-electric model, it’s pricier than the five-door Cooper (and the previous model Clubman) but is fairly well matched against the growing number of rivals in the family EV marketplace. Its ultimate value for money will depend on how much you value the specific kit that’s included against features that other models offer, but you’re certainly not spoiled for choice.

Mini has always prioritised fashion over function, and the Aceman is no different in this regard. There are other electric cars in this price range that offer more space and longer ranges, but few have the personality or individuality of the Mini Aceman.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Mini Aceman, you might also be interested in these alternatives.

BMW iX1 | Citroën ë-C4 | Cupra Born | Fiat 600e | Honda e:Ny1 | Hyundai Kona Electric | Jeep Avenger | Kia Niro EV | Kia Soul EV | Mazda MX-30 | MG 4 | Mini Cooper Electric | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Peugeot e-308 | Renault Mégane E-Tech | Vauxhall Mokka Electric | Volvo EX30

• Mini Aceman (2024 – present) – Expert Rating
• More Mini reviews, ratings, news and features

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