Mini’s Electric Shift: Can the Aceman Live Up to the Name?
Mini has gone all-in on electrification. The latest generation of the Mini Cooper is now one of three all-electric models, alongside the Countryman and the Aceman – a lineup that seeks to retain the brand’s traditional emphasis on driving fun, design, and simplicity. We spent a week with the Aceman to gauge whether Mini can successfully translate its core values into the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Navigating Mini’s website reveals the current auto industry’s aim to cater to all tastes, with multiple powertrain and trim options. The Aceman slots into the middle of the Mini range. It avoids being overly big or small. Consider the Cooper a compact city or small family car (available in three or five-door versions). The three-door model has electrified versions with various levels of trim and power. The Countryman is the biggest Mini, as a compact SUV with either a hybrid petrol format or a pure EV. In contrast, the Aceman is exclusively electric.
Visual cues are drawn from its siblings, incorporating the high-riding Countryman’s chunkier style with the current Cooper’s clean lines. The interior showcases Mini’s renewed focus on material and form.
The tactile feel is not unique to Mini, but it’s a rarity among volume carmakers. Clever use of backlit textiles, surface textures, and contrasting color leather trim contribute to a more inviting interior, even if some details feel a bit excessive.
The Aceman’s manufacturing occurs in China. Mini previously planned to shift all EV production to its long-standing Cowley plant near Oxford, which has built cars for over 110 years. However, parent company BMW has delayed that timeline.
Building in China hasn’t lowered the price. The Aceman EV we tested cost £42,900. This is a high price for a car with a range of 186 miles and a relatively slow charging speed. Max charging is 70kW, in contrast to Volvo EX30’s 153kW. The Volvo offers over 100 miles more range and costs £39,100 for the Single Motor Extended Range model.
Mini hopes its character and brand will give it an edge over the minimalist Volvo EVs and the tech-focused EVs from China. The exterior design is clean, simple, and retro-inspired, reminiscent of the first BMW-era Mini from 2000. The interior is stripped back. The current generation features a circular screen at the center of the dash and simplified toggle switches. Almost everything is screen-controlled.
The display screen is easy to read. It has multiple visual modes, including one that references the classic single dial of the first generation Issigonis Mini, which works well with the navigation system. However, when using CarPlay or Android Auto, the circular form factor is lost.
The interface defines the car’s ‘character’. The red color scheme accompanies the most sporting setting (dubbed ‘Go Kart’ mode by Mini). Each mode also has a unique audio cue. The sounds are more cringe than cute.
Despite these criticisms, the Aceman delivers enjoyable performance and handling. The Aceman’s mid-size dimensions make it a highly usable vehicle. The Aceman (and Countryman) feature more comfortable rear passenger seats than the standard two-door Cooper, with a reasonably sized boot.
Steering is direct and lively, with the boost added by Go-Kart mode. The artificial soundtrack mimics the sound of lifting off the accelerator. It would be desirable to access the added performance at any time, rather than cycling through the mode options. The car tries to create a sense of occasion through sound, vision, texture, graphics and additional effects. The feeling is that the company wants the driver to achieve a certain impression.
The Aceman is more than capable of standing on its own merits, despite the effort that goes into its ‘character’.
