There’s something special about the middle child. Maybe it’s the quiet confidence, maybe it’s the misunderstood charm, or maybe it’s the way they thrive when nobody’s watching. That’s the vibe I got from the new Mini Aceman SE.
And it was great to be able to test it back-to-back against the Countryman SE I had before. Certain nuances between models might go unnoticed when there is a big gap between trying out different cars and, for the time I had it, I had to split my time between having fun behind the wheel and explaining to my curious friends what sort of new Mini this was.
Offered solely as an EV (for now, that is), the Aceman strikes a nice balance between the small Cooper and the larger, borderline-SUV shape of the Countryman. And if you can see elements of both cars in the Aceman, you’d be correct, it’s like those two got put in a blender together. You see the square headlights from one, and the same pronounced waist line from the other, and it all works together very well, creating a shape that looks hot hatch from one end, small urban SUV from the next.
Inside, the same thinking remains, as you’d expect. You’ll see the now familiar approach Mini is taking to their dashboard, alongside the chunky steering wheel and the inspired seats – check the piping on those seats and these crazy door pulls! The thing I noticed suffers a bit is practicality and ergonomics: the centre console has some head scratchers in terms of storage solutions – like barely any closed storage options, form-over-function cupholders and flat wireless chargers (items will inevitably end up flying around from those). At the back, space is at a premium, and the narrower track shows itself quite quickly: the space between the two outer seats is very limited, and those sitting there might struggle with headroom.
The tech is the exact same that’s found on the Countryman and Cooper, which is a good thing. Mini spent a lot of time and effort creating a system that feels unique and Mini, and will have everything buyers want. As before, I recommend you customise your experience and save it against a profile, to making getting for a drive as simple as jumping inside and turning on the (fake) key.
And when it’s time to get on the move, this is where the differences between the Aceman and the two Countryman I had become the most apparent. In less than a block, I had a smile on my face and that thought of “okay, now we’re talking!”.
The Countryman was lovely to drive, with the SE boasting 230kW of power. The Aceman is down on those figures, with 160kW, but with that power being sent to the front wheels alone, it brings the fun formula of torque-steer-inducing-electric-torque , and boy is it engaging.
Mini make it so a lot of the synthetic “engine” sound invades the cabin, and this helps build a sense of engagement and crescendo as you go through the power band. Some of the Experiences (Mini talk for Drive Modes) take the cake, like Go-Kart (Sport) and Trail (Off-road, almost confirming the Aceman’s intentions of being an SUV). These modes will drown you in electric sounds, including a super funky ramp down sound as you lift off. You cannot say an EV isn’t fun until you’ve experienced these.
Needless to say, the stiff chassis, the grippy Michelin tyres and the smart assistance modes mean that within its limits and in good driving conditions, the Aceman is predictable, progressive and rewarding to drive quick. But, in one of the days, we were hit a very heavy storm. In Go-Kart mode, the Mini allowed for more wheel spin, so much that I had to ease off the throttle and wait because we were just not getting anywhere. I was laughing my way to the charger.
That is because even though the Aceman can be considered efficient clocking around 14.5kWh/100km, its range was still below the claimed 403km (I usually overperform claimed figures). When it’s time to charge, this Mini will only go as far as an average 95kW, but you can get a 10-80 charge in 30 minutes, just in time for another round of Go-Karting.
As for the suspension, there are no half-words here: it is proper stiff. For some people, it might get old real fast. Me? I had more cars with cut springs than I care to admit, so I could live with it no problem. It helps to firm (pun intended) the Aceman’s position closer to the Cooper than the Countryman, and if you’re torn, you should absolutely test drive both and see where you land.
At the end of the day, it will be a matter of perspective. If you’re a glass half empty person, the Aceman will be a product lost in a limbo, not funky enough to be the Cooper, and not as practical as the Countryman. If you’re a half-full kind of person, then the Aceman strikes the perfect balance of bringing some of the practicality of the Countryman to an urban-fighter, almost-4-door-Cooper with all the lovely and engaging driving dynamics of the Cooper. I know exactly in which camp I am.
