MINI Aceman (2025) Review

Introduction

Ever since the Mini first appeared in 1959, its shape has been instantly recognisable, even to this day.

While it’s not quite as ‘mini’ as it once was, the classic shape has been a mainstay of the car for nearly two-thirds of a century.

It was difficult, then, to imagine how on earth Mini – under the ownership of BMW– could hope to make an SUV out of it, but it did.

The Countryman came along in 2010 and, despite being anything but small by Mini standards, managed to pull off a car that remained true to the original Mini’s spirit, despite the notable increase in size.

Now there's a new model to fill the gap between the standard Mini (recently formally renamed the Cooper) and the Countryman - and it's battery-powered, too.

Behold: the Aceman.

It is a five-door electric car that aims to offer a bit more practicality than the Cooper, which, in the UK at least, is only available as a three-door hatchback.

It has been developed by the Spotlight Automotive programme, a joint venture between BMW and Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor to build all-electric cars bearing the Mini name.

First unveiled as a concept car over two years ago, the new Aceman is a slightly toned-down version of the more flashy model first shown off, but that's usually the case with concepts.

It replaces the Clubman, which went out of production earlier this year. Though smaller than the outgoing model, it better fills the gap created by the Countryman, which is now bigger than it was when first introduced.

Minis have always been about agility because of their lightweight nature – but electric cars tend to be heavy. So, is it any good? Let’s find out.

At A Glance

If you look at a picture of the Aceman on its own, you'd be hard-pressed to tell it wasn't a standard Mini Cooper, but bring the Cooper into view, and you can see the size difference.

It isn't as high-riding as the Countryman, but adding thick cladding around the bottom of the bodywork and over the wheel arches gives it some rugged off-road credentials compared with the Cooper.

Apart from that, the car looks virtually identical to its other two siblings, with day-running lights that run around the borders of the headlights and an extensive grille outline filled in with body panels, given that this is an electric car.

The cladding cuts aggressively into the lower bodywork at the sides, while the squared-off windows run right around the back.

The stylish rear end features especially thick cladding and plenty of blank space to accommodate the Mini logo and the Aceman name.

It is stylish and still quite rounded, albeit not quite to the same extent as older Minis.

Key Features

The Aceman is available in three trim levels: Classic, Exclusive and Sport.

The entry-level Classic gets 17-inch aero alloy wheels, a 9.4-inch circular infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, voice control, digital radio, LED headlights and taillights, and rain-sensing wipers.

You also get dual-zone climate control, gloss black roof rails, a heated sports steering wheel, and resin and cloth upholstery in black and blue.

The mid-range Exclusive gets 18-inch two-tone alloys, anthracite roof lining, and John Cooper Works sports seats with all-vescin upholstery.

The top-of-the-range Sport gets John Cooper Works sport brakes, vescin and cord combination upholstery, and a black roof, regardless of the main body colour.

As we said earlier, power is electric only, consisting of the 'E' model, which produces 184PS, the 'SE', which has 218PS, and the John Cooper Works version, which boasts 258PS.

The E and SE models can be chosen in any trim, while the John Cooper Works is only available in the Sport trim.

All models come with front-wheel drive.

Three add-on packs offer more equipment, and we'll cover those, along with the other optional extras, later.

Range & Batteries

The Aceman E has a 38.5kWh (usable) battery, which is good enough for an official range of up to 192 miles.

The SE, on the other hand, has a larger 49.2kWh (usable) battery, which extends the official range figure up to 251 miles. The same battery can be found in the John Cooper Works model, where the figure reduces slightly to 242 miles.

You won't achieve these figures in practice, but anything over two-thirds of the quoted figure is about par for the course.

A bunch of factors influence the range you'll achieve in practice, including weather conditions, ambient temperatures and, of course, your driving style.

Performance & Drive

We have taken both the Aceman E and SE for a spin.

The entry-level E gets 184PS from its electric motor, whizzing from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.

That is perfectly adequate for a car like this, but if you want even more poke, the SE will do the same in 7.1 seconds, thanks to its additional 34PS.

Mind you, if performance is the ultimate goal, the John Cooper Works version offers 258PS, cutting the 0-62mph time down to 6.4 seconds.

Unless you really want the additional shove, the entry-level E does a fine job. It offers decent torque off the line and a good deal of acceleration when performing overtakes.

Despite being a small SUV, the Aceman feels closer to the road than most of its rivals, aided by its handy agility around corners.

It handles well, helped by its lower-than-average centre of gravity, and it feels nimbler for it, too.

Admittedly, the steering wheel provides little feedback, and it can torque steer, where the car tries to veer off in a particular direction unless you clutch the wheel tightly. Nevertheless, the wheel gets firmer as speed increases, and the Aceman generates decent grip and is keen to turn into faster bends.

The model feels quite weighty, especially for something that carries the Mini's name, but BMW's expertise is very noticeable in terms of the work done to retain its agility.

The ride is quite firm, though, and some of its competitors are more adept at absorbing lumps and bumps. The stiff springiness of the ride means it can take time to settle after encountering potholes and crevices in the road surface.

Despite this, it feels relaxed, untroubled, and well-placed when cruising, and it’s barely any more challenging to drive around villages or towns.

Wind and road noise isn't bad, but naturally, you'll notice it more, given the absence of an engine note. However, synthetic sounds can provide you with some audible connection to the electric motor.

The regenerative braking helps to recharge the batteries under deceleration - it's smooth, consistent, and predictable. It is available in adaptive modes, as well as low, moderate, or high - the latter offering maximum braking force.

The Aceman lacks the steering wheel-mounted paddles that are usually used to adjust it, though. Instead, you have to alter it via the infotainment screen, which isn’t exactly handy.

Charging

The entry-level E has a maximum charging rate of 70kW, which is slow by today’s standards.

It is still enough to get a full 10-80% top-up in just under half an hour, while a 0-100% charge takes four and a quarter hours with an 11kW home wall box.

The SE and John Cooper Works editions increase the charging speed to 95kW, which is still not especially quick.

Nevertheless, these versions come with a larger battery, so top-ups don't take much longer.

A 10-80% charge is achieved in just over half an hour, with an 11kW home charge taking five and a half hours.

Running Costs & Emissions

Given the Aceman is an electric car, fuel economy and CO2 emissions are a thing of the past.

This also means the Aceman is well-positioned to serve as a company car, as the Benefit In Kind tax favours zero-emission vehicles.

Mini, along with its parent company BMW, is finally on the rise after years of reliability stagnation.

Admittedly, most of the recent statistics are for combustion-engined vehicles, and the Mini's electric range is too new to know how it will perform in the long term.

Interior & Technology

The Aceman’s interior is striking - sleek, modern, and cool, yet with a hint of retro style.

The 9.4-inch infotainment screen, which is uniquely circular, will catch your eye immediately. It follows in the footsteps of the new Mini Cooper and Countryman.

In fact, the whole interior is very similar to both its siblings.

Beneath the rounded screen sits a few physical controls, including the drive selector, while the flat-bottomed steering wheel thickens in places to create sizeable indentations for thumb rests.

What's more, ambient lighting literally bathes the dashboard in customisable patterns and colours, while the door fabric adds to the stylishness.

The circular infotainment screen takes centre stage, though, and the system that runs on it is rather impressive.

It is reasonably responsive to your inputs, although some of the screen icons are a bit too small to be convenient to operate while on the move.

Nevertheless, it has a sharp graphical interface that looks modern and inviting to use. Despite the screen's unnatural shape, it’s more intuitive to use than we expected and doesn’t take that long to get used to.

One thing that will take some adjustment, though, is the complete lack of any instruments behind the steering wheel. Instead, all the relevant information is combined into the touchscreen. So, you’ll have to adapt to looking to your left to check your speed rather than just glancing downwards to peer through the top of the wheel.

The speed is positioned at the top of the screen in large numbers, making it easy to find and read. However, combining everything into one screen - which includes the SatNav map in the middle - makes it cluttered, which might not appeal to everyone.

One of the optional extra packs offers a head-up display, which we'll cover later, but overall, we'd still prefer a dedicated instrument display behind the wheel.

The build quality seems decent, with well-damped switches, plenty of premium materials, and plush, soft-to-the-touch surfaces.

Overall, it’s quirky and fashionable, but arguably a departure from the cutesy appeal that Mini owners of old will be more familiar with.

Practicality & Boot Space

Given that the Aceman is an SUV crossover, you sit higher than the Cooper and Countryman.

However, the Aceman retains the classic Mini shape, so it's not quite as elevated as some competitors.

It is enough to give you a good view of the road ahead, though. The Aceman’s front pillars are kept relatively thin, although we've seen cars with thinner ones.

The pillars at the back are usually much thicker, but Mini has kept them quite thin, improving rearward visibility and helping with over-the-shoulder views.

Nevertheless, all models include front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard to offer further assistance.

In the front, you'll be fine for headroom or legroom, with plenty of space for both driver and passenger to avoid banging shoulders. However, some foes offer more width to the cabin.

The seats are comfortable, too, although adjustable lumbar support is only available as an optional extra.

Rear legroom could be more generous, and taller backseat passengers will feel a little shortchanged, although the headroom is still sufficient despite a modest slope in the roofline.

The middle rear seat also feels a bit cramped, so three tall adults on a longer journey will likely complain about the lack of comfort. However, a family of five with three small kids in the back should be fine.

You will find plenty of space inside the cabin to keep your belongings, storage space for your phone underneath the dashboard, and a small cubby next to a pair of cupholders, although the door bins aren't especially generous.

Boot space measures 300 litres, which some opponents can comfortably beat. It expands to 1,005 litres if you fold the rear chairs in a 60:40 configuration. That is less convenient than the 40:20:40 split offered on the Countryman but typical of smaller SUV crossovers.

The Aceman's boot lip is quite pronounced, making it trickier to lift heavier or bulkier items in and out.

Safety

The Mini Aceman has yet to be put through its paces by crash-testing experts at Euro NCAP.

Nevertheless, there should be few worries here, as the last car to be tested, the Countryman, scored a five-star rating in 2017.

In addition, parent company BMW has earned five-star ratings in 15 of the 17 cars it has had examined over the past nine years.

On the Aceman, lane keep assist with blind spot detection, rear collision prevention, vehicle exit warning, forward collision alert with brake intervention, speed limit info, and speed limit assist, are offered as standard on all models. They also all get dynamic cruise control and parking assist, parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and reversing assist.

Options

The main optional extras come in the form of three packages.

Level 1 includes adaptive LED headlights, automatic car locking and unlocking, folding wing mirrors, heated front seats and high beam assist, plus a head-up display and wireless charger.

Level 2 adds a panoramic sunroof and tinted windows.

Level 3 is only offered on the John Cooper Works version. It adds four-way lumbar support and a massage function for the driver, radar-guided adaptive cruise control, electric seats with memory function, an interior camera, and an augmented reality SatNav.

The good news is that you only need to go for one pack, as Level 2 also includes everything from Level 1, while Level 3 consists of both Levels 1 and 2.

Other optional extras include home charging equipment, cables, servicing and maintenance packages, various styles of alloy wheels, sports stripes, mirror cap colours, and numerous alternative exterior paint jobs.

Rival Cars

There isn’t a large number of electric rivals for the Mini Aceman.

Nevertheless, the Fiat 600e, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger Electric and the Smart #1 all offer competition.

There are also the Kia EV3, Lexus LBX, and Peugeot e-2008.

Vauxhall’s stylish electric Mokka might be worth checking out, too.

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, the Mini Aceman is a tempting car which has plenty going for it.

It accelerates, handles well, and has a nice interior, although some rivals can offer enhanced practicality, including more boot space and more room in the back seats.

You will get used to the circular infotainment touchscreen, although the complete absence of any instruments behind the wheel is frustrating. But it's a good excuse to go for one of the add-on packs, which will provide you with a head-up display.

As for power, there’s nothing wrong with the entry-level ‘E’ model, which can cope reasonably well with day-to-day demands. Anything else feels like overkill unless you really need or want additional performance.

The John Cooper Works version is tempting, but with our sensible hats on, we'd likely take the Aceman E and spend the money we’d saved on the Level 1 and 2 packs.

On the downside, range and charging speeds aren't amazing, even in the higher models with the larger batteries.

Nevertheless, if you can cope with that and only need to accommodate kids in the back, the Aceman ticks plenty of boxes and is a thoroughly enjoyable car to drive.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Mini Aceman Hatchback.

**Correct as of 09/05/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,455.02 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.