MINI Aceman: The Electric Crossover That Keeps Things Simple

Images: Timothy Denton

Location: Harvest House, Felixstowe.

There’s an undeniable meaning to the word “MINI”. Capitalised or not, it suggests something compact yet considered. A car that knows exactly what it is and wears that confidence without any “MAXI” sized promises. For years, MINI has traded on this very identity, a blend of classic British funkiness and BMW engineering that is wrapped up in a familiar, upstanding shape.

And now, enter the MINI Aceman: A fully electric crossover that seems to know where it belongs on the product roadmap, but not necessarily how loudly to announce it. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the point with this one.

Because I get the sense that the Aceman’s top trump is that it doesn’t come at you with flash or flare. In fact, it’s almost startling in just how unbothered it is about turning heads. Which feels odd in 2025, when new cars, especially electric ones, often try to dazzle with light shows, clamshell doors or interiors that are akin to being in a Scandinavian spa.

Yes, the styling is a touch more grown-up than the traditional MINI hatch with more utilitarian lines, chunkier arches and a more upright stance, but it's still unmistakably MINI. Finished in Indigo Sunset Blue with a lovely multitone roof and 19” two-tone Eternal Spoke alloys, it looks… tidy. Not revolutionary, not intimidating. Just well-kept and confident. The sort of thing that doesn’t look out of place in a Waitrose car park or a primary school drop-off zone.

And perhaps that’s the big idea: to not shout. The Aceman is not here to tell you how many new-age buzzwords it contains. It’s here to offer you something dependable, something straightforward that will work. An electric family hatch for grown-ups if you will.

Slip behind the wheel and there’s a familiarity to everything (albeit dressed in the kind of finishes that suggest this version, the SE (Exclusive), has been tickled slightly by MINI’s design team).

Vescin Beige upholstery lines the cabin and there’s a warmth to the materials and fit. The circular OLED central display is the obvious visual centrepiece and I can vouch that it is both sharp and surprisingly user-friendly. I love the fact that there are multiple styles and colours to choose from, that make it personal. A bit like you would with your mobile phone.

But what really stands out is the sense of sensibility. Because this isn’t a car that necessarily fizzes with excitement or stirs the soul with every prod of the accelerator. Rather, it’s a car that promotes a sense of everything being where it should be, doing what it should do, without fuss.

It’s not to say it’s a complete bore. Yes, there is a mild surge of torque when you pull away and a ride that is more than competent when you throw it around a bit.

And that’s another word that crops up a lot with the Aceman: competent. It doesn’t corner like a Cooper S but it doesn’t wallow about like a sponge either. The 0–62mph dash in 7.1 seconds is quick enough to feel modern but not so brisk that it’ll spill your flat white.

It’s all very measured, very sane. In short, it’s the antithesis of the over-boosted, over-styled electric crossover arms race we seem to be in at the moment and I respect it for that.

MINI has made much of the Aceman’s cabin tech, particularly that gorgeous circular OLED display. It handles everything from nav to media, climate to mood lighting and does it with MINI’s usual cheeky tone and graphics that have more than a whiff of the youth about it.

And yet it works because it’s charming rather than childish and after a few moments, you’ll be swiping and prodding like a pro. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, of course, present and the usability really impresses. There aren’t too many menus (unless you choose to dig a little deeper) and everything responds quickly and logically, when you are driving the car around.

The Level 2 pack (which is a £2,000 extra) is worth a look as it adds most of what you'd want anyway: wireless charging, Harman Kardon audio, a panoramic roof, folding mirrors, auto-dimming bits and bobs, adaptive LED headlights and a head-up display. Tick those boxes and you’ll find yourself wanting for very little after that.

Officially, the Aceman SE offers 244 miles of WLTP range. In the real world? Expect more like 200–210 miles, depending on weather and road type. That’s perfectly usable for a car of this size and purpose, especially when backed by 95kW rapid DC charging. That’ll get you from 10–80% in about half an hour, enough time to grab a sandwich and another flat white.

It uses a 54.2kWh battery (49.2kWh usable) and for local running or short jaunts up the M4, it feels perfectly judged. If you're travelling cross-country with a family of four and all their gear, yes, you’ll be charging a bit more frequently. But if you live in a city or a large town, the Aceman hits a very tidy middle ground with its capabilities and capacities.

Boot space is 300 litres with the seats up and 1,000 with the seats down, which will be enough for most people. You get five seats, ISOFIX mounts, a semi-raised driving position and some fairly compact external dimensions that mean this could be the one-car solution for a surprising number of households.

Within the electric MINI range the Aceman sits right in the middle. Your smaller option arrives in the form of the Cooper and the larger option arrives in the form of the Countryman – so everything’s covered.

As mentioned, the MINI Aceman is not revolutionary. It doesn’t sparkle with speed or dazzle with design. And for some, that will be a problem. But for others, that’ll be exactly why they love it because it will get you from A-to-B while demonstrating just how easy modern electric motoring can be.

Model: MINI Aceman (SE, Exclusive).

Price (OTR/As Tested): £31,905/£41,600

Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Single-Speed Auto.

Power: 218hp (160kW).

Torque: Not officially quoted

0–62 mph: 7.1 seconds

Top Speed: 106 mph

Battery: 54.2kWh (gross)

Range (WLTP): 244 miles

Charging: 95kW DC (10–80% in ~31 mins), 11kW AC

Unladen Weight: 1,785kg

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/range/all-electric-mini-aceman.html