MINI John Cooper Works Aceman First Drive Review
01 Apr 2025|1,031 views
What We Like
Increased practicality over the MINI Cooper hatch
Handling feels more controllable and settled
Perky acceleration
What We Dislike
An electric JCW without a rowdy exhaust still takes time to get used to
MINI hatches (or Coopers as they are now called) are known for their compact footprint and agile handling, but these cheerful traits come with a caveat. Its small size and three-door body style make the Coopers a poor choice for those with frequent use for the backseat and extra cargo space.
The Aceman, which was newly introduced to the MINI family, targets the group of people who wants something that sits between the three-door Coopers and the much larger Countryman. And like the Cooper, the Aceman has also gotten the John Cooper Works (JCW) treatment. While the JCW Cooper Electric is currently the most extreme performance MINI at the moment, could the JCW Aceman be the perfect middle ground between performance and practicality?
The JCW treatment bumped this electric crossover's performance up to the next level
Bumping the hot electric crossover recipe up a notch
Like the Cooper, the MINI Aceman is also offered in SE guise, which puts out 160kW (215bhp) and 330Nm of torque. While the Aceman SE already packs more performance than you'll need for a zippy drive, the JCW treatment adds even more firepower to it.
With 255bhp and 350Nm of torque, the Aceman is no slouch
With the same drivetrain that you'll find in the JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman produces 190kW (255bhp) and 350Nm of torque. However, with its weightier body, it takes the JCW Aceman 6.4 seconds (as opposed to the JCW Cooper Electric's 5.9 seconds) to complete the century sprint. Likewise, the heftier JCW Aceman's WLTP range is also a shorter 355km (as opposed to the JCW Cooper Electric's 371km).
Compared to the Cooper, the Aceman is clearly a larger and heftier car, but the way it drove was surprising
A surprisingly delightful drive
Being a larger, heavier car than the quintessential MINI Cooper hatches, one would naturally assume the Aceman to be a less inspiring drive. I too, hopped into the JCW Aceman with that thought on my mind - especially since I had just driven the JCW Cooper Electric earlier.
Although it isn't as agile as the smaller JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman isn't any less enjoyable to drive
While it was true that the car felt heavier and less agile than the smaller JCW Cooper Electric, I was bewilderingly feeling more in-tune with the JCW Aceman's dynamics than the former's.
With its longer wheelbase and softer suspension, the JCW Aceman felt more settled and easier to drive at the limit of grip
I have always liked agile cars, and have no qualms about sacrificing some ride comfort in exchange for performance and driving feel. But the JCW Aceman seemed to have hit the right spot. While its turn-in is duller than the Cooper, and the car seemed to exhibit more mid-corner understeer as well, it felt more settled and controlled in the turn.
In fact, when driven hard, the JCW Aceman manages to be much more confident inspiring than the JCW Cooper, constantly egging me on to drive it harder without fear. Although I'm pretty sure that in terms of outright lap times, the JCW Cooper would be the faster car, I found the JCW Aceman to be the more enjoyable drive among the two.
Like the JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman has been fitted with a slew of special parts, along with the iconic red accents
In its transformation into a John Cooper Works, the Aceman has been fitted with many special parts, including JCW-specific bumpers, side skirts and a spoiler, along with wheels specific to it (the JCW Cooper Electric gets a different, unique wheel). JCW badges can be found on all sides of the car, as well as within the cabin, which has been upgraded with sport seats, JCW steering wheel and red and black colour scheme.
The checkered pattern on its dashboard, along with the JCW-specific steering wheel and seats, complete the package
Whether you are looking at the car from outside, sitting within, or behind the wheel, you would definitely know that you are driving a JCW. While the JCW Cooper Electric is probably the best choice if you want something that embodies MINI's famed go-kart-esque driving experience, the JCW Aceman is the better option for those looking for the perfect middle ground that offers a great balance of fun driving experience and practicality.
Looking for a quick electric crossover? Here are some others that you should check out:
The range-topping Zeekr X AWD delivers heaps of extra power
The #3 Brabus is a brutally quick and dynamically handy coupe-crossover
Both the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1 offer a surprisingly different user interface and drive
What We Like
Increased practicality over the MINI Cooper hatch
Handling feels more controllable and settled
Perky acceleration
What We Dislike
An electric JCW without a rowdy exhaust still takes time to get used to
MINI hatches (or Coopers as they are now called) are known for their compact footprint and agile handling, but these cheerful traits come with a caveat. Its small size and three-door body style make the Coopers a poor choice for those with frequent use for the backseat and extra cargo space.
The Aceman, which was newly introduced to the MINI family, targets the group of people who wants something that sits between the three-door Coopers and the much larger Countryman. And like the Cooper, the Aceman has also gotten the John Cooper Works (JCW) treatment. While the JCW Cooper Electric is currently the most extreme performance MINI at the moment, could the JCW Aceman be the perfect middle ground between performance and practicality?
The JCW treatment bumped this electric crossover's performance up to the next level
Bumping the hot electric crossover recipe up a notch
Like the Cooper, the MINI Aceman is also offered in SE guise, which puts out 160kW (215bhp) and 330Nm of torque. While the Aceman SE already packs more performance than you'll need for a zippy drive, the JCW treatment adds even more firepower to it.
With 255bhp and 350Nm of torque, the Aceman is no slouch
With the same drivetrain that you'll find in the JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman produces 190kW (255bhp) and 350Nm of torque. However, with its weightier body, it takes the JCW Aceman 6.4 seconds (as opposed to the JCW Cooper Electric's 5.9 seconds) to complete the century sprint. Likewise, the heftier JCW Aceman's WLTP range is also a shorter 355km (as opposed to the JCW Cooper Electric's 371km).
Compared to the Cooper, the Aceman is clearly a larger and heftier car, but the way it drove was surprising
A surprisingly delightful drive
Being a larger, heavier car than the quintessential MINI Cooper hatches, one would naturally assume the Aceman to be a less inspiring drive. I too, hopped into the JCW Aceman with that thought on my mind - especially since I had just driven the JCW Cooper Electric earlier.
Although it isn't as agile as the smaller JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman isn't any less enjoyable to drive
While it was true that the car felt heavier and less agile than the smaller JCW Cooper Electric, I was bewilderingly feeling more in-tune with the JCW Aceman's dynamics than the former's.
With its longer wheelbase and softer suspension, the JCW Aceman felt more settled and easier to drive at the limit of grip
I have always liked agile cars, and have no qualms about sacrificing some ride comfort in exchange for performance and driving feel. But the JCW Aceman seemed to have hit the right spot. While its turn-in is duller than the Cooper, and the car seemed to exhibit more mid-corner understeer as well, it felt more settled and controlled in the turn.
In fact, when driven hard, the JCW Aceman manages to be much more confident inspiring than the JCW Cooper, constantly egging me on to drive it harder without fear. Although I'm pretty sure that in terms of outright lap times, the JCW Cooper would be the faster car, I found the JCW Aceman to be the more enjoyable drive among the two.
Like the JCW Cooper Electric, the JCW Aceman has been fitted with a slew of special parts, along with the iconic red accents
In its transformation into a John Cooper Works, the Aceman has been fitted with many special parts, including JCW-specific bumpers, side skirts and a spoiler, along with wheels specific to it (the JCW Cooper Electric gets a different, unique wheel). JCW badges can be found on all sides of the car, as well as within the cabin, which has been upgraded with sport seats, JCW steering wheel and red and black colour scheme.
The checkered pattern on its dashboard, along with the JCW-specific steering wheel and seats, complete the package
Whether you are looking at the car from outside, sitting within, or behind the wheel, you would definitely know that you are driving a JCW. While the JCW Cooper Electric is probably the best choice if you want something that embodies MINI's famed go-kart-esque driving experience, the JCW Aceman is the better option for those looking for the perfect middle ground that offers a great balance of fun driving experience and practicality.
Looking for a quick electric crossover? Here are some others that you should check out:
The range-topping Zeekr X AWD delivers heaps of extra power
The #3 Brabus is a brutally quick and dynamically handy coupe-crossover
Both the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1 offer a surprisingly different user interface and drive
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