New Mini Aceman – A Sustainable & Stylish Compact SUV.
New Mini Aceman – A Sustainable & Stylish Compact SUV.
The Mini Aceman is the newest addition to the Mini range, and it slots in between the Mini Cooper hatchback and the larger Mini Countryman SUV, and rit eplaces the previous Mini Clubman. Unlike the Cooper and the Countryman, which come in petrol and electric guise, the Aceman is exclusively an electric vehicle.
Two Battery Sizes.
The Aceman is the equivalent of the new five-door Mini Cooper Electric hatchback, as the two cars look similar in both size and styling, but that is where the similarities end as the two cars are completely different underneath. New for the Aceman are five doors and a slightly boxier silhouette than the Cooper, and it has a much bigger boot as well. The Aceman is available in two different battery sizes and three performance levels, the basic Aceman E which uses a 38.5kWh usable battery for up to 181hp and 290Nm of torque and with a range of up to 309km on a full charge, while the Aceman SE ups this to a 49.2kWh usable battery and 215hp with 330Nm of torque which boosts the official range up to 404km. Additionally, the Aceman E and SE models can be configured in Classic, Exclusive, or Sport trims, while the top-of-the-range John Cooper Works comes exclusively in Sport trim.
Stylish, Modern Look.
The Mini Aceman styling takes a number of cues from the new Countryman, with quite angular styling replacing the traditional Mini curves. It’s got the hex-angular LED -shaped headlights, angular wheelarch shapes, and roof rails also like the Countryman. The Aceman features a stylish, modern design with a bold, octagonal grille at the front, which is a key part of its electric identity. Other notable elements are the flush door handles, and a compact bulky, squared-off crossover body. The main differences between the three trim levels focus on exterior styling and colour. Classic comes with 17-inch wheels, a choice of two wheel designs and three paint options. Exclusive trim ups this to six paint colours, three wheel designs and 18-inch wheels with the option of 19-inch rims. Sport has John Cooper Works styling, colour-coded accents and a rear spoiler.
Latest-Generation Cabin.
Inside, the Aceman benefits from Mini’s latest-generation interior design language. This means it features a large, high-resolution circular OLED multimedia touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which controls the infotainment system, and this alters the screen colours and graphics considerably. There is no driver’s display on the entry-level Aceman E and you have to check the touchscreen for speed, but this can be added by specifying the optional Level 1 pack, but all other versions have a head-up display. The dash and door panels are covered in textured fabrics, and in between the passenger and driver’s seat there’s a smartly laid out centre console which has some good storage options with two cupholders. The Aceman’s driving position is good, with the seat, steering wheel and pedals all lined up neatly with one another. The seats are comfortable, well-shaped and have plenty of adjustment, and a driver armrest is a welcome feature. Legroom in the rear is tight for tall adults but headroom is good thanks to a slightly raised section of roof-liner. The boot space is decent enough at 300-litres with all the seats in place, and a maximum of 1,005 litres when the rear seats are folded.
Test Car Details.
My test car was the Mini Aceman SE which was finished in Indigo Sunset Blue paintwork (a €701 cost option) with a black roof and optional 19” ‘Hexagram’ alloy wheels (also €701), with Vescin Dark Petrol leatherette upholstery as standard. There is also, at no extra cost, an option of Vescin Beige upholstery. Standard equipment includes LED head and taillights, 17-inch alloys, cloud-based navigation system, 9.4-inch OLED circular infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, dynamic cruise control and an ambient lighting system, along with a comprehensive safety suite that includes features like Driving Assistant with lane assist and collision warning. Other standard features include automatic climate control, LED lights, rain sensors, heated windscreen washer nozzles and 11kW AC and 95kW DC charging capability. My Aceman SE test car came with the larger battery, which consists of a single electric motor that produces 215hp and 330Nm of torque, and this results in a.0-100km/h acceleration time of just 7.1 seconds, with top speed limited to 170km (where permitted). To start the car you have to twist a faux-key on the centre console. There is a small toggle switch on the dashboard which has the Park button next to it. To the left of the gear selector is a toggle switch for ‘Experiences’, which provides eight drive mode options: Core, Green, Personal, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Trail and Go-Kart. but only three actually affect the driving dynamics of the car. Core is the normal default setting, Green is an aptly-named eco mode, and Go-Kart is the sport mode. The main difference that you will see is a change in the cabin’s ambient lighting, but the driver will feel the difference between the modes in terms of performance and handling characteristics. The lighting can be seen through the material on the dashboard and on the door trims, and the colours change to reflect the mode chosen. Changing drive modes also results in a different appearance on the large circular central touchscreen, ranging from displaying an old-fashioned speedometer in Timeless mode to a compass in Trail mode, and you can even select your own image in Personal mode. Like all models in the current Mini range, the Aceman is a really fun car to drive and it looks great on the road. It has a firm and interactive ride quality, which is comfortable and refined on most road surfaces, and the steering feels very sharp when you turn but it doesn’t require any effort, Minimal body roll through corners and tight bends is achieved by the battery being positioned low down under the floor, and the turning circle feels tight, which is good for urban streets and parking in tight spaces. It feels small and agile, and more like a hatchback than an SUV to drive. When you accelerate, a theme tune of whirring noises begins in order to add some audible interest to the acceleration experience, but can be turned off if the driver wishes to do so. The Aceman can be charged at a fast charger at a maximum of 95kW, and it takes just 31 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.
Verdict, Price & Warranty.
The MINI Aceman combines the famous MINI design ethos with most of the practicality of a small SUV and the fun quirkiness associated with the brand. It’s got a stylish interior, it’s fun to drive and it’s priced attractively. There’s no doubt the Aceman is a strong contender in the compact electric SUV class. The Aceman comes with a 3-year, unlimited mileage warranty as standard, along with an 8-year/160,000km warranty for the high voltage battery. Pricing for the Mini Aceman starts from €30,860 (ex-works).
More information can be found at www.mini.ie
