MINI Aceman (2024 - )

The all-new MINI Aceman is a fully electrified four-door model that perfectly bridges the gap between the recently-launched Cooper and Countryman in the company’s EV line-up. It is available with two power outputs – the Aceman E features a 42.5kWh battery with 184hp and offers up to 192 miles of range, while the Aceman SE boasts a more powerful 160hp 54.2kWh battery with a range of 252 miles between charges.
With base prices starting from £31,800 for the E and £36,300 for the SE, customers can also choose between three trim levels called Classic, Exclusive and Sport with the option to fully kit-out the Sport version with John Cooper Works trimmings for maximum effect. In addition, there are Levels called 1, 2 or 3 that introduce additional packs to the mix, but the costs will start to stack up pretty quickly.
There will be a faster John Cooper Works Aceman introduced a little later down the line and that brings with it 258hp of power and will cost from £40,800.
We opted to test out the lower-powered Aceman E in Sport trim with the JCW styling, plus all the extras the Level 3 pack brings with it.
 

The Aceman boasts SUV-like styling and is instantly recognisable as a MINI with its upright front end, angled headlights, wheel arch cladding, roof rails, octagonal grille, smart alloys and model-specific badging. Our test car featured all the John Cooper Works cosmetics that helped it really stand out from the rest of the line-up. For example, it had blacked-out rear windows, a black spoiler, larger 19-inch alloy wheels, plus John Cooper Works badges complete with a chequered flag emblem which is a nod to its racing heritage.
Moving inside, the interior is sporty in its appearance but also modern in its design and layout. There is a 24cm circular display that acts as the car’s nerve centre and offers access to the many on-board features. In addition, there is a reimagined toggle bar, curved dashboard covered in a neat woven textile finish (that looks better than it sounds), a panoramic roof with electric shade, powered seats, a head-up display and more JCW badging throughout.
Creature comforts are plentiful and include a pitch perfect Harman Kardon surround sound system, smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat nav and plenty more besides. 
The Aceman features MINI’s latest Operating System 9 software and all the on-board functions are accessible via the central OLED display which can be operated by touch or by using voice command.
There is a fair amount of quite hard plastic throughout the car that rather lowers the standard and could also be prone to scratches over time, but otherwise the cabin is upmarket and very stylish as is the MINI way.
 

MINI Aceman customers can choose between two different battery sizes that alters the range and performance. The Aceman E, as tested, features the smaller 42.5kWh unit with 184hp and 290Nm of torque. It can sprint from 0 to 62mph in 7.9 seconds, maxes out at 99mph and has a range of 192 miles between charges. The Aceman SE features a 54.2kWh battery delivering 218hp and 330Nm of torque. It can reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.1 seconds, has a top speed of 105mph and a driving range of 252 miles. If those performance figures are not quick enough, look out for the soon-to-be-launched John Cooper Works Aceman which offers 258hp and improves the 0-62mph sprint time to just 6.4 seconds.
Our lower-powered test car certainly delivered on the performance front with a steady stream of power and impressive acceleration through the single-speed transmission. It’s a comfy cruiser but delivers plenty of zip to overtake slower moving vehicles too. 
However any car carrying the MINI badge needs to live up to the company’s reputation for agility and handling, and it does just that with superb grip through tight bends aided by the car’s low centre of gravity, refined chassis set-up, direct steering and precise damping.
There are a variety of drive modes that are tucked away in a touchscreen menu. MINI calls these Experiences and they are named Go Kart, Core, Green, Personal, Vivid, Timeless, Balance and Trail. The first three alter the driving dynamics while the others are focused on the ambience and mood within the car. Switch into Go Kart mode and you are greeted by a rather excited “Woo Hoo” sound! There are also numerous sound effects as you hit the throttle, but these can be deactivated.
Also located in a menu is the regenerative braking settings with three levels to choose from. In its highest setting, stop-and-go town or city centre driving becomes more manageable.
 

For anyone who finds the Mini Cooper too compact and the large-as-life Countryman too big, the Aceman could be the perfect fit, sitting bang in the middle of the line-up. It stretches 4,079mm in length, is 1,754mm wide (1,991mm with mirrors extended), 1,514mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,606mm.

The five-door, five-seater has bundles of space up front with ample room for a couple of six footers to stretch out comfortably thanks to generous amounts of leg, head and elbow space.

Wide-opening rear door offer easy access to the back seats, but legroom is quite tight especially if the front seats are pushed right back. It’s fine for a couple of youngsters though, or three at a bit of a squeeze. 

The boot has a capacity of 300 litres, which is enough for the weekly shop and the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be lowered which increase the storage capacity to 1,005 litres.

Elsewhere, there’s numerous practical storage options throughout the cabin to tuck away bits and bobs, including door pockets with space for a bottle, a glovebox, small cubby bin with a neat pull-up strap, shallow cupholders, seat back pockets and a wireless charging pad.

And when it comes to charging, the Aceman can be boosted via 11kW AC or DC charging. The E is compatible with 75kW charging while the capacity increases to 95kW on the SE. The Aceman E takes four hours, 15 minutes to fully charge on an 11kW home wallbox or a 10-80 per cent charge can be achieved in 28 minutes on a faster public charger. Charging times are slightly longer at 31 minutes and five hours, 45 minutes respectively for the SE’s larger 54.2kWh battery.

The entry-level MINI Aceman E Classic costs from £31,800 while at the other end of the range is the SE Sport with a price-tag of £39,800. There will be the John Cooper Works Aceman Sport launched soon and that will be priced from £40,800 and includes Level 1 of options as standard.
Our test car, the Aceman E Sport was priced at £35,300 but the Level 3 pack and upgraded paintwork saw the final cost creep up to £42,900 which also includes the registration fee of £580.
The Level 3 pack, priced at £6,500, added navigation, high beam assist, a head-up display, heated front seats, parking assistant plus, powered seats with memory function, a panoramic glass sunroof, Harman Kardon surround sound system and a number of other features.
With its zero carbon emissions, MINI Aceman owners benefit from a variety of financial incentives, including being exempt from road tax, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. And there is no surcharge for purchasing a vehicle costing in excess of £40k either. But unfortunately, these rewards will be short-lived as the government has announced many will be reduced or withdrawn completely from next year.
On a positive note though, the day-to-day running costs can be kept to a minimum if you are able to charge from a home wallbox, especially if it is possible to haggle with your provider for a lower overnight tariff.
 

MINI will always have its die-hard critics who stand on their soap boxes claiming: “It’s not a proper MINI like back in the day” and they would be right to an extent. But not many models have stayed totally true to their roots these days and MINI is another company that has moved with the times and lives under the BMW Group banner.
But the main thing for us is that the Aceman needs to possess that go-karting driving experience that gave the brand such legendary status, and thankfully, it still delivers the goods in the fun department.
It looks great, will put a smile on your face when you drive it and has enough trim and battery choices to suit all requirements.
But one quick word of warning. As is the case with all EVs any lengthy stints on motorways will see the rather limited range on the entry-level Aceman E model drop like a stone. With that in mind, it’s worth weighing up exactly what your driving needs are before choosing models, especially as the price difference between the E and SE is about £5k.