So, we’ve had the Mini Cooper electric and the Mini Countryman electric, but one look at the Mini range and you’ll spot a sizeable gap between those two models. Welcome to the new Mini Aceman.
While the ICE range gets a standard five-door Mini Cooper, with the three-door and Countryman getting the choice of both ICE and EV models, that’s not the case here. Instead, the five-door Cooper is only available as an ICE model due to its slightly older platform and the Aceman is only available as an EV.
In truth too, the Aceman is more of a small crossover than strictly a straight five-door hatch but, just as you can’t get the five-door as an EV, so you won’t be able to buy an Aceman with a petrol engine, it’s only available as an EV.
MINI ACEMAN – DESIGN
As you’d expect, the Aceman is obviously one of the Mini family and, size-wise, sits between the three-door and Countryman. At the front there are distinctive angular front lights with quite proud front wings – more on these later – while it looks initially quite long when square-on from the side, overall it’s well proportioned.
The Aceman’s rear also gets the same Countryman-like diamond pattern back lights with a slightly stubby tailgate. To our eyes, it’s a smart looking addition to the Mini stable and one that perfectly combines the fun of the Cooper without the slightly bloated look of the Countryman.
MINI ACEMAN – POWER AND RANGE
The Aceman comes with a choice of two batteries, a 42.5kWh battery in the E model and a 54.2kWh battery in the SE producing respectively 184bhp and 218bhp with ranges of 192 miles and 252 miles.
A sportier JCW version of the SE with 258bhp is on its way too, although the SE is already capable of the 0 to 60mph sprint in 7.1 seconds, which is sure to be swift enough for many.
The E model is capable of ultra rapid charging of up to 75kW while the SE allows up to 95kW, which feels a little slow by modern standards, though the SE is capable of a 10-80% charge in less than 30 minutes. Mini claims a fuel efficiency of 4.3-4.4mls/kWh, while on the road we averaged 3.4mls/kWh during some cooler temperatures and with some fairly spirited driving.
Mini expects around 70% of all Aceman sales to be the SE models, despite a £4500 premium.
MINI ACEMAN – ON THE ROAD
So what are you expecting from the Mini Aceman? Is it the keener, sharper driving feel of the Cooper or the more mature, comfortable ride of the Countryman? Or maybe, as the Aceman’s size and body suggest, something in between the two?
For us, that’s a crucial question. And it’s also crucial to think about who will be buying this car in the first place. It goes without saying that they’ll want more practicality that the standard Cooper, but perhaps not something quite the size – and budget – of the Countryman.
Let’s deal with the good news first. The Aceman retains much of the sharp steering feel of the Cooper, but could do with some more feedback about what the wheels are doing beneath you. Acceleration is good, especially mid-range and we really like the adaptable noise accompaniments – our pick is the standard Tron-like soundtrack. As fun as it is to switch between them, most owners are likely to find their favourite and stick with it.
There’s a good view out of the front too, with the prominent front wings giving it an almost 911-esque view out of the front. The thick-rimmed steering wheel (almost too thick in reality) completes the sporty feel with comfortable seats which could be set slightly lower even in their lowest position.
There is regenerative braking with four modes – Adaptive, Low, Moderate and High -which works well, but could be stronger, even in the highest setting. Most frustratingly though, it’s not easy to switch between modes, which you’d expect to do via steering wheel paddles as on many EVs, but are absent here. Instead, the only way to change the regen level is via the driving settings menu which is too hard to alter on the move – an odd oversight.
And now to the elephant in the room – and it’s a big one. Going back to what we said at the start about what you expect from the Aceman and its potential customer base. It’s simply not the same as the Cooper – it’s easy to see the Aceman being used as a second household family car.
With that in mind, the ride is just too firm. Like the Cooper, the damping is good which soaks up the worst of today’s British roads, but it’s far too close, almost identical in fact, to the Cooper and the two cars just don’t have the same audience. What is acceptable for a sporty three-door, just isn’t at this level. We’d have preferred something closer in comfort levels to the Countryman. The idea that the JCW model will be even firmer makes us simply shudder.
MINI ACEMAN – INTERIOR
We said it in the Cooper and we said it in the Countryman reviews – Mini is nailing its interiors right now and the Aceman is no different. The central circular infotainment screen is the same as on the Cooper and Countryman with a small pop-up display in front of the driver. There’s a fabric dashboard with a lovely textile-style strap detail on the dash and on the bottom of the steering wheel.
Below the main screen is a key-style turn switch for starting the electric motor and then a toggle switch to change between Drive, Neutral and Reverse. In terms of space and practicality, there’s two cupholders between the front seats, but storage could be a little better and, as mentioned earlier, the seat could do with being set slightly lower even in its lowest position.
The rear seats are big enough for young teens only, but they are tight for adults on legroom, while the 300-litre boot is ok if not huge and has quite a high lip. In short, it fulfils its brief of straddling the two other models in the Mini range.
What is important to say though, is that having switched towards a more design-led interior with some smart touches throughout, it gives the Mini some character and also helps set it apart from rivals.
SUMMARY
Where to start summing up the Mini Aceman? On paper, it fulfils its brief perfectly, offering buyers a five-door Mini below the Countryman but with a hint of crossover looks and a chunk more practicality than the standard Cooper.
In practice, it does that too, albeit with a hint of driving fun of the Cooper and, for those after a small(ish) EV that stands out from the mainstream options, this will be the ideal choice.
Where the Aceman trips and stumbles however, is with that ride quality. For us, it’s right on the edge of acceptability and we’d like to think that we’re pretty accepting of firmly set up cars.
For many after a car like this and at this level however, they are probably expecting a slightly softer ride for what is, after all, likely to be a family car, even if only for short journeys. It’s a shame because otherwise the Aceman has the potential to be a very special car indeed.
FACT BOX
Model: Mini Aceman
Price: from £31,800
Power: Battery – 42.5, 54.2kWh
Range: 192-252 miles
Average efficiency: 4.3-4.4mls/kWh
Average charge time on a domestic wallbox: 7.5hrs
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Rating: 8/10