MINI Aceman Review 2026

If you’ve spent years with a series of smaller MINI Hatch models accompanying you through life as a singleton or one half of a couple, the addition of a young family into the mix inevitably means that you'll need something more practical, such as a small SUV. Exclusively available with electric power, find out how good the MINI Aceman is with our comprehensive review.

Playing three roles in the British marque’s line-up means there’s a risk that the MINI Aceman isn’t as focused as it could be. As there’s no five-door version of the MINI Cooper Electric, the Aceman needs to be small enough to appeal to those who would buy such a thing, yet it’s also effectively a replacement for the estate-bodied MINI Clubman, requiring it to be fairly practical.

Given how big the latest generation of MINI Countryman has become, there’s now space within the range for a smaller SUV, and sure enough, the Aceman’s around the same size as the first modern-era Countryman.

Small electric SUVs are one of the hottest sections of the car market right now for manufacturers, with mainstream and upmarket brands all looking for a slice of the pie. Among the more interesting and capable alternatives to the Aceman is the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica, which is also peppy to drive with a lengthy driving range.

There's also the compact Volvo EX30, which is already becoming a common sight on UK roads, such is its popularity. Sharing that car’s underpinnings and electrical power systems is the Smart #1, illustrating how related cars can look completely different inside and out.

Of the more mainstream models on offer, the interesting styling and long-range driving abilities of the Kia EV3 could well capture the attention of many who’d otherwise be MINI shopping.

Within the core MINI Aceman range are two electric power systems labelled E and SE, with 184PS and 218PS, respectively. The former has a battery range of up to 192 miles, while you can get up to 251 miles out of the latter. Topping the range is the 258PS MINI John Cooper Works Aceman: its driving range goes as high as 242 miles.

MINI Aceman E and SE models are all available in Classic, Exclusive and Sport trim levels, with a variety of optional equipment packages available for additional personalisation. The John Cooper Works Aceman only comes in Sport guise. All Acemans — should that be Acemen? — come with features including a heated steering wheel, a circular OLED infotainment screen and adaptive cruise control.

There is space — just — in the back for a couple of adults in the back of the MINI Aceman. It looks sufficiently quirky inside and out, and it’s comfy and enjoyable to drive, plus it’s not too pricey.

MINI Aceman: Range and charging times

An Aceman fitted with the E powertrain option has a battery with a 38.5kWh useable capacity, and this gives an official WLTP combined range of between 186 miles and 192 miles. The SE powertrain has a larger 49.2kWh battery pack, upping the range to between 238 miles and 251 miles. The John Cooper Works variant shares the SE's larger battery, but its extra poke means that range drops a little to between 214 miles and 242 miles.

Using a domestic home wallbox charger with a flow rate of 7.4kW, a 0-100% recharge will take around 4 hours 15 minutes with an Aceman E, and 5 hours 45 minutes for the SE and John Cooper Works models.

Aceman Es have a 70kW on-board DC charger, while that's upped to 85kW for the SE and JCW (although these capacities were later upped to 75kW and 95kW, respectively). Whatever the case, a 10-80% top-up can be taken on in around half an hour. Charging this way will be very pricey, though. 

So far we’ve tested the MINI Aceman in SE form, which sits in the middle of the range in terms of performance but leads when it comes to driving range.

Powering the front wheels, it’s been set-up to deliver the kind of quick, engaging experience that buyers so loved about smaller MINIs, yet it rides sufficiently comfortably to prevent passengers of all ages from complaining. It’s certainly a firmer experience than the Volvo EX30, but it remains on the acceptable end of the sportiness scale.

The Aceman retains MINI’s signature go-kart-like handling, with nimble and agile cornering and sharp, direct steering.

A particular highlight are the interesting — or gimmicky to some — features you're served up when you switch between different driving modes. Going beyond those of most other cars, in which you’d expect to see altered responses in terms of acceleration and ride comfort, switching modes in the Aceman changes the car’s whole vibe.

Select Go Kart mode, for example, and the infotainment screen displays motorsport-inspired graphics, and synthesised sounds are piped into the cabin that many would describe as resembling spaceship noises, and these noises correlate to your inputs on the accelerator.

Some my find this phenomenally cheesy, but we actually found it rather fun, at least for a while. If it gets annoying, you can turn it off or select a less frantic mode that’s more in keeping with the driving you want to do.

There’s a choice of three power outputs for the MINI Aceman, all of which are electric: there’s no combustion-engined alternative as you’ll find with the larger MINI Countryman range. All versions have their motor installed under the bonnet, driving the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.

Entry-point to the range is the MINI Aceman E, which produces 184PS and 290Nm of torque, propelling it from 0-62mph from a standstill in 7.9 seconds, going on to an electronically limited top speed of 99mph. A WLTP Combined cycle range of 192 miles on a full charge is claimed from its battery pack’s 38.5kWh useable capacity.

If you require a longer range, then 251 miles is quoted for the 49.2kWh useable capacity battery fitted to the MINI Aceman SE. Not only will the SE go further, it’s also more powerful, with 218PS and 330Nm of torque on offer. Its top speed is capped at 106mph while the 0-62mph sprint is shaved down to 7.1 seconds.

It’s sufficiently peppy to fit with the character of the car, and is the version we’d recommend unless you’re primarily driving around town.

Topping the range is the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman with 258PS and 350Nm of torque on offer, shrinking the 0-62mph dash to 6.4 seconds, while the top speed’s needlessly increased to 124mph. Using the same battery as the Aceman SE, the extra grunt sees its range dip to 242 miles.

The Aceman has undergone crash-testing by the independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, and like every other MINI product tested since 2017, it achieved the full five-star rating. With how tough the modern-day testing standards are, that's by no means a given these days, so MINI should be applauded.

Standard safety features include MINI’s Driving Assistant with blind-spot detection and lane assist. The Level 3 option pack adds Driving Assistant Plus, with adaptive cruise control, enhanced lane-keeping and steering inputs.

Although the MINI Aceman is available with a tow bar it can only haul up to 750kg of braked trailer weight, restricting its abilities in this regard. Look elsewhere if you were planning on caravanning with one.

There’s lots of space up front in the MINI Aceman and adults won’t want for headroom or space for their shoulders or legs. Taller adults may struggle with the headrests, which are built into the front seats and don’t adjust: those with a long upper body may feel the upper portion of the seat presses against their necks.

There are slim door pockets designed with a bulge to accommodate drinks bottles, plus two cupholders between the front seats, as well as a separate storage cubby.

Things are tight in the back of the Aceman. Sure, it’s roomier than the three-door MINI Cooper Electric, but it’s far from spacious. A couple of adults will fit but won’t be too happy on long journeys, especially if they’re tall because headroom is at a premium. Children should be okay unless their car seats are particularly chunky.

There are very small door pockets in the back that are only really usable for discarded chocolate wrappers. A single cupholder is available for the rear-seat occupants to fight over, and there are pockets in the back of the front seats for magazines or tablets.

MINI Aceman boot space is also minimal. With 300 litres, it’s small for a compact SUV, and most rivals can offer more room. You can fold down the back seats in a 60:40 split to give up to 1005 litres of space when only two seats are required.

The interior of the MINI Aceman stands alone among small SUVs with a genuinely unusual and innovative interior design that’s similar to other MINI models.

The dashboard and door panels are clad in a knitted fabric made from recycled polyester. It’s visually striking and said to be environmentally conscious. On a day-to-day basis, we’re curious about how easy it’ll be to clean: you might have more luck with a vacuum cleaner than a cloth.

Dominating the MINI Aceman’s dashboard is a circular, high-resolution OLED touchscreen. It looks brilliant with sharp graphics. Not only is it the means for accessing the multimedia system, it’s also the HQ for all the MINI’s driving information, with no separate driver display or analogue dials. Cars fitted with one of the option packs do benefit from a pop-up head-up display panel behind the steering wheel. 

Everything on the MINI Aceman is accessed through the central touchscreen: the car's myriad functions, your driving information, you name it. This all-in-one approach keeps the cabin clear of clutter, although it does mean that there’s a lot going on with the screen, and somewhat ironically, it has a decidedly cluttered feel. With the sheer amount of information and on-screen icons on display, it's often too difficult to pick out the thing you're after first time. What's more, the lack of physical buttons can hinder usability, especially if you’re trying to change a setting while on the move.

We found that the head-up display included in the various option packs is very useful, serving up the relevant driving information right in front of you, so that could be a factor when you decide how to spec your Aceman. Otherwise, you’ll need to glance sideways to see information such as your speed.

The infotainment software looks slick, but many of the functions are buried rather too deeply in on-screen menus, even those functions that you use regularly. As an alternative, you have MINI’s voice-activated virtual assistant, Spike, who’ll talk to you during your journey. Think of him along the lines of Apple’s Siri, or Amazon’s Alexa, but with more of a personality. He's about as useful, though (in other words, not very).

Opt for the Level 2 or Level 3 option packs, and you’ll get an excellent Harman Kardon sound system. There are four USB-C sockets in the car for you and your passengers to charge your devices while on the move.

The Aceman range starts at around £29,000 for the Classic E, while the cheapest SE checks in at around £32,000. The upgrade to Exclusive trim costs about £2,000, while Sport trim costs another £1,300 on top.

That's not crazy money, even for what is quite a small car, especially given that it's from a premium manufacturer. Many rivals will cost you a broadly similar amount, although do bear in mind that some of these rivals will give you the type of standard kit that's only included with the Aceman if you add a pricey option pack, and many will have longer ranges, too. On both counts, make sure you're comparing like-for-like.

The used car market isn't exactly awash with used examples of the Aceman, so you might have to hunt around if you want a preowned version. It's worth loitering at your local MINI dealer and seeing if you can sniff out any pre-registered examples or ex-demonstrators that might come up.

Being an all-electric model, running costs for the MINI Aceman should be very affordable indeed, provided, that is, you do your charging at home. A full home charge of the E's battery, which has a useable capacity of 38.5kWh, will cost you around £11, assuming that your domestic power is billed at the UK's national average rate. For the 49.2kWh equivalent found in the SE and JCW, that sum will be more like £14. However, smart EV owners will get themselves on a variable domestic power tariff that allows them to charge overnight on hugely discounted power. Do likewise, and you'll cut your costs down to around a third of those quoted.

Only rely on DC public rapid charging in an emergency. This is by far and away the most expensive way of getting power into your car, and won't be much cheaper than filling up a regular petrol or diesel car.

Other running costs are a bit of a mixed bag. Insurance groupings stand at group 20 for all versions fitted with the E powertrain, while SE cars fall into groups 23 or 24. The JCW will obviously have the priciest premiums with a group 29 classification.

Electric cars are no longer exempt from VED road tax, so you'll face the same £195-per-year flat rate as drivers of regular petrol and diesel cars. The prices of all versions of the Aceman are sufficiently low that they aren't liable for the steep 'luxury car surcharge' on VED, but those pricey option packs can elevate the cost of higher-spec versions above the £40,000 threshold, and thus into the danger zone. If your car's as-new price busts this barrier, you'll pay an additional £425 per year in VED between years two and six of the car's life.

Both the MINI Aceman E and SE are available in a trio of trim levels: Classic, Exclusive and Sport. The standalone MINI John Cooper Works Aceman only comes in Sport guise.

Choose a MINI Aceman Classic and your car will come with:

• LED front and rear lights
• automatic wipers
• 17-inch X-Spoke alloy wheels
• roof rails
• black and blue knitted fabric on the dashboard and door panels
• Vescin leather upholstery
• 24cm central touchscreen
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration
• dual-zone climate control
• heated steering wheel
• lane-keeping assist
• blind-spot detection
• automatic emergency braking
• cruise control

Upgrade to a MINI Aceman Exclusive and changes include:

• two-tone 18-inch Night Flash alloy wheels
• Vibrant Silver grille surround and skid plates
• two-colour fabric on the dashboard and doors
• perforated Vescin leather upholstery in a wide range of colours with contrast piping
• John Cooper Works sports front seats

Opt for a MINI Aceman Sport and the vibe’s different again with:

• beefed-up body kit accented in gloss black
• 18-inch John Cooper Works Slide-spoke alloy wheels
• black finishes for the cord textile and Vescin leather sports seats and dashboard fabric
• perforated leather steering wheel

A very similar look features on the MINI John Cooper Works Aceman Sport with the key differences being 19-inch John Cooper Works Lap-spoke alloy wheels and a smattering of JCW logos inside and out.

After that, there are bundles of extra equipment that you can add handily called Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

Level 1 is a £2000 option on MINI Aceman E models but standard on SE and John Cooper Works versions and includes:

• adaptive LED headlights
• keyless entry
• electrically folding door mirrors
• heated front seats
• head-up display
• wireless phone charger

You pay another £4000 on Aceman E versions — and £2000 for SE and £1300 for John Cooper Works — for the Level 2 pack, which takes the the Level 1 pack and adds:

• panoramic glass sunroof
• darkened rear privacy glass
• Harman-Kardon sound system
• auto-dimming rearview mirror
• automatic high beam headlights

Level 3 is only available on Exclusive SE and Sport variants, and costs anywhere between £3800 and £6500 depend on what spec of Aceman you're adding it to. It adds further to the Level 2 pack’s roster with:

• electrical adjustment and memory function for the front seats
• lumbar adjustment and massage function for the driver’s seat
• adaptive cruise control
• augmented reality for the integral navigation system
• automatic parking
• an interior camera that lets you check on the car remotely… or take selfies