MINI Aceman review

MINI Aceman verdict

The MINI Aceman is a smart, small SUV with a touch more space where it matters, though it certainly doesn't qualify as a particularly usable family car. The small boot means you’ll have to compromise on how much luggage you can haul around, and if you’ve got particularly tall friends they may struggle in the back - don’t even think about putting three adults in there unless they’re on incredibly good terms. 

More positively, MINI’s cheerful attitude shines through in the Aceman, making even a gentle amble to the shops a joy. Impressive handling and perky performance are standout features, although the firm ride particularly over rough roads can get a bit much. Small families, empty nesters, and couples may well enjoy its mix of fun, space, and performance. 

Details, specs and alternatives

Sitting between the MINI Cooper hatch and the Countryman SUV, the Aceman is the British marque’s new, funkily-styled small SUV. This ultra-competitive market segment continues to flourish, which means the Aceman will need to challenge an array of talented rivals. The Jeep Avenger and Peugeot E-2008 are certainly capable of capturing buyers’ attention, while the new Alfa Romeo Junior and Volvo EX30 offer a more premium feel that competes more directly with the Aceman’s stylish presentation.

MINI has built a long standing reputation for being an aspirational brand, and that’s generally reflected in its pricing. But, with the Aceman kicking off at around £31,000, it undercuts the Volvo EX30 by more than £1,500, and represents a saving of around £2,500 compared with the entry Alfa Junior model.

The Peugeot E-2008 offers a much bigger boot, but you’ll pay at least £3,000 more for that versatility - and let’s face it, you buy a MINI more with the heart than the head, and the Aceman offers a strong argument for form over function. It’s not a bargain, by any means, but MINI’s small all-electric SUV isn’t overly expensive when you look at the wider competition.

Buyers have three Aceman models to choose from; the entry 181bhp E model uses a 42.5kWh battery and is capable of 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, while upgrading to the 215bhp SE version brings a bigger 54.2kWh battery and trims 0.8 seconds from the 0-62mph time. The sporty John Cooper Works model uses the same battery and front-wheel drive setup as the SE, but adds a little extra performance; with 254bhp on tap it races from 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds - not bad for a small family SUV that weighs north of 1,720kg.

Available only as a five door SUV, the Aceman comes in three bespoke specifications. Base cars are Classic, and come with plenty of connectivity options (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) for its huge circular infotainment screen. Exclusive is the next trim level up, and for an extra £2,200 you get bigger wheels, a wider choice of paints, a vibrant silver grille, different interior trim and more personalisation options. Finally, the Sport trim gets unique badging, a red roof, and a subtle bodykit for £1,300 on top of the Exclusive trim. 

Optional equipment comes in packs - Level 1, 2, and 3. All cars come with Level 1, which means a heads up display to make up for the lack of traditional instrument binnacle, wireless phone charging, and heated front seats. Throw an extra £2,000 at the car for Level 2 to net a panoramic roof, Harmon Kardon stereo, and tinted windows. For another £4,500 Exclusive and Sport trim cars can enjoy Level 3, which adds electrically operated massaging front seats with a memory function, virtual-reality navigation, and more active safety features.

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With the entry model featuring a small 42.5kWh battery on board, the Aceman E isn’t going to be a massive mile muncher. It’s best suited to occasional trips out of town, while spending most of its time taking care of shorter journeys, or the urban commute. 

The Aceman will take a little over six hours to charge from 0-100% via a 7.4kW wallbox, while MINI’s only seen fit to engineer it to accept a fast charge rate of up to 70kW, so a 10-80% stop will take around 40 minutes.

Admittedly, with a small battery on board that isn’t a huge imposition, but it can turn a brief charge ‘n’ go into a longer affair if you’re covering chunky distances - perhaps just underlining where MINI sees the Aceman spending most of its time.

MINI claims that the Aceman E will manage up to 192 miles of range from a full charge, which indicates an efficiency rate of 4.3-4.4 miles per kWh, although during our own test (across a mixture of roads) we saw 3.8 miles per kWh. It’s worth noting that this was on a colder, Autumn day, so the manufacturer’s figures shouldn’t be completely out of reach in real world driving.

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Kicking off at more than £31,000 the MINI Aceman is not a small purchase, although it’s befitting of a car in the premium space. However, buyers should be aware that, with staged trim upgrades and equipment packs, you could conceivably find your entry level Aceman costing north of £41,000. 

Every derivation of the Aceman E falls into insurance group 20, which is lower than some rivals, while the more powerful SE sits in group 23-24, depending on your chosen trim. If you decide on the more performance-focused Aceman JCW, then you’ll find your premium will be more costly because it’s in group 29.

Plugging the MINI into a regular home socket should net you a £12.75 bill at a typical 0.30p per kWh household rate. Heading into the wild to charge means that you’ll be at the mercy of whatever rates public providers choose, so it could well cost a lot more. 

EVs will shortly no longer be exempt from the London Congestion Charge, though they are exempt from the city’s emissions-based ULEZ charges.

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With 181bhp on board the Aceman E feels neatly perky when you give its throttle a good ‘ol shove. That said, it’s a heavy thing, so its 7.9 second 0-62 time can feel a little ambitious, and its mid range punch is a touch on the slow side, but around town its modest grunt doesn’t matter quite as much. If you’re after more punch, then there’s the option of upgrading to the 215bhp SE, or the spicier 254bhp JCW model. 

Being a MINI, stellar handling is a must. The Aceman E is as much fun as you can hope from a MINI, not, perhaps, quite as sharp as the hatch, but you’ll still struggle to find fault with how entertaining it is to hurl around corners. What’s less fun is the ride, and on anything but super smooth roads the Aceman feels overly firm. A side effect of is weight, perhaps, but something you’ll either be able to get on with or you’ll find an instant turn off - our recommendation would be to definitely have a decent test drive before committing to any purchase.

MINI has bestowed the Aceman with eight ‘experiences,’ which are a mix of drive modes and themes for its huge central touch screen. Only three of them - Core, Green, and Go Kart change the characteristics of the car. Core is the standard drive mode and balances performance and efficiency rather well. Green is all about getting as many miles out of the battery as possible, numbing the throttle a little and encouraging you to take it easy. Go Kart is what most call ‘sport’ mode, and sharpens the car up to make things feel a touch more alert. Of the three modes, we think you’ll spend most time in Core as it seems to suit the car best. 

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The Aceman shares interior design with the rest of the current generation MINI line up. There’s no instrument binnacle above the steering wheel, instead utilising a standard HUD with the speed displayed on the touch screen. They’re a combination that works well, though it does feel slightly odd at first. The rest of the interior feels well made, and chunky enough to outlast whatever you decide to throw it at, while a sea of smart cloth, straps, and neat point-free design elements add further charm to the cabin. 

Pleasingly, the infotainment works well. It’s quick, intuitive, and easy to navigate. Switching between music sources, nav, efficiency, and more is a breeze. Early reports of slow software and bugs seem to have encouraged some fixes. 

One idiosyncrasy to note is how monotone the Aceman’s satnav voice sounds. You wonder whether it’s related to Marvin the Android from The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. You’ll end every journey trying to reassure it for a job well done. MINI’s voice assistant, Spike, is an animated dog with a rather decent attention span. Contextual commands seem to be a doddle for him, as are more direct ones.

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The Aceman may be classed as an SUV, but it doesn’t occupy a particularly big footprint on the road. It’s a little bigger than the Cooper hatchback, but its extra ground clearance means it’s easier to get things in and out of the car. Also, its rear doors mean getting people and things into the back of the car is far easier in the Aceman than the Cooper. 

Up front there’s plenty of space for two adults to be comfortable and store their various sundries. In the rear you’ll struggle to fit taller adults without complaint, and the idea of having three sit abreast for a long journey should be at the very back of your mind unless absolutely required. 

The boot isn’t the biggest in its class at just 300 litres, and within that space you’ve got to find space for your charge cables as well. Folding the seats down nets you a more useful 1,005 litres, though if you’re looking for a true load lugger you’re better off looking elsewhere. 

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MINI’s reliability hasn’t been its strongest attribute when it comes to sister site Auto Express’ Driver Power survey. Finishing 20th out of 32 manufacturers may seem a little low, but according to owners they’re more reliable than cars from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and VW. 

MINI does offer a host of active safety systems for the Aceman, although not all of the tech is available as standard, so it’d be worth checking first before completing any deal.

The Aceman hasn’t yet been tested by industry safety experts EuroNCAP, but we’d expect a good result given the available technology and MINI’s approach to overall quality. For example, the Countryman mid-size SUV was tested in December 2024 and received a five-star rating.