MINI Aceman SE Review

Is it a bird? Or perhaps it's a plane?

We haven't quite taken this electric compact crossover into the air just yet, but you can rest assured that there will still be plenty of strained necks when you're motoring about in this MINI Aceman.

The Aceman sports plenty of Vibrant Silver elements as MINI has ditched the use of chrome from its lineup

Aceman? What is this?

For those wondering just what this Aceman is all about, it's MINI's new all-electric compact crossover. It's perfect for those that want their inner-city commuter with a little added visual ruggedness, while also serving as the new entry point into the firm's non-hatchback lineup as the new MINI Countryman Electric has grown an impressive 148mm longer and 78mm taller than its petrol-powered predecessor.

And there's certainly much to like about this new Aceman's exterior design. You'll notice that the car comes with some appealing wide hips, while its distinctive wheel arches come clad in matt black, imparting it with a planted yet adventure-ready look.

The 54.2kWh battery of the MINI Aceman SE can be charged at a maximum power of 95kW, and gives the car an official WLTP range of 405km

And like the new Countryman, the Aceman's badging and underride protection elements come in Vibrant Silver (don't let the name fool you, they are a little more on the gold side to our eyes), a move that comes as MINI shuns the pollutive process that comes with the production of chrome trim.

Paired these with this test car's bright Rebel Red exterior paint finish (it's a tad more orange to our eyes), and the Aceman certainly has the visual chops to make sure all who you drive past are straining to get a second look.

There's plenty of drive modes to choose from in the Aceman, with each changing the colour scheme utilised on the car's 9.4-inch infotainment system

Zippy downtown commuter

And strain they will, for you certainly won't be found wanting for pace in this Aceman.

With a total of 160kW (215bhp) and 330Nm of torque to deploy in this 'SE' variant of the Aceman, moving off from the lights always feels effortless, so commuting always feel as if you're flying right through the city. Keep the accelerator pedal pinned and the Aceman will deliver some torque steer, alongside a speaker-produced whirr that I quickly found I'd rather do without.

The use of knitted recycled polyester adds visual interest to the cabin of the Aceman, but the material is also rough to the touch

But what truly bothered during my time with the car was its busy ride. You can expect nothing less than persistent vertical body movement, even if your eyes tell you you're driving along a smooth surface.

Still, if this is the sort of thing you're willing to live with for a sporty driving experience (as I suspect many who walk into a MINI showroom are), there's highlights here including a steering that is pleasingly quick off-centre, making the car feel outright nimble. The cabin of the Aceman also stays remarkably quiet even at high speeds.

And the car also comes with a clever adaptive regenerative braking system that is mighty predictable, so you'll be able to deliver smooth drives within just a day of being with the car.

The head-up display makes the omission of a driver's instrument cluster palatable

With plenty of special features to boot

There's also plenty of different drive modes here in the Aceman, all of which set up the car's 9.4-inch infotainment and head-up display with their own corresponding colour scheme, the former great for distracting rear passengers from the fact that they miss out on any air-conditioning vents.

The cabin's knitted dashboard and doors cards, meanwhile, while visually engaging and certainly unique, feel outright rough. Having said all this, there's high levels of general fit and finish here. Those seated at the front shouldn't be found wanting for space, although shoulder room is going to be tight if you're going to fit three in the second row.

Take a reasonable turn of speed and you should find the Aceman a capable companion for your daily errands: We managed an energy economy of 7.2km/kWh, which means you should be able to cover close to 390km from a fully charged battery - pretty much on par with the car's official range of 405km.

The MINI Aceman pairs one attractive body with agile handling

But is it worth its price?

If you're charmed by all that this Aceman can offer, you'll want to know that it doesn't come cheap. At $232,888 for this 'SE' variant, the Aceman is asking for quite a premium over both the $219,999 Zeekr X and the $207,000 Smart #1. Throw in the fact that these rivals are not only slightly larger, but also come with a bigger battery, offer more power, and the fact that both come from premium marques, and the MINI Aceman's price becomes difficult to justify.

There also is a MINI Aceman 'E' to consider, which starts from a more competitive $207,888, although this variant gets a slightly smaller 42.5kWh battery, loses the Harman Kardon premium sound system in its cabin, and comes with significantly less power at a total of 148bhp (all prices as of 2 January 2025).

There's still going to be plenty of buyers that will find all the charms associated with a product from the MINI brand enough to justify this tall price. But as it is, the Aceman really should keep its neck strained looking out for rivals eager to take its job.

Looking for an electric crossover? There's also these options to consider:

The Volvo EX30 combines sleek styling with quick performance

There's also the Peugeot E-2008 to think about, with its flamboyant design and remarkable ride quality

Or perhaps you might be interested in the BMW iX1, which combines good passenger space with a supple ride