First drive: Mini Aceman SE

The latest member of the Mini family, the electric Aceman five-door urban crossover sits in the space between the Cooper three and five-door hatches and the now family-sized Countryman SUV.

Most first-time Mini buyers prefer the new Countryman SUV, but as that has grown significantly over the past three generations there was room for an in-betweener to provide more choice for people who didn’t necessarily want a “big” Mini, says Mini Australia and New Zealand general manager Alex Brockhoff.

Built in China, the Aceman shares the same width as the Mini Cooper family but is taller and longer to provide more interior space than its compact sibling.

Its 4079mm length with 2606mm wheelbase makes it more back-seat-friendly than the three-door Cooper, and there’s a decent 300litres boot space, or 1005l with the 60:40 rear seats folded.

More recycled material is used in the Aceman EV’s interior.

Gloss black elements replace the chrome trim on the Aceman E, the SE has vibrant silver elements, and the JCW (John Cooper Works) is adorned with red and black elements as expected from the high-performance Mini sub-brand.

Up to 70% of recycled material is used for the smart new alloy wheels across all three variants.

Bovine leather for the upholstery has also been consigned to history because of the horrendous amount of chemicals used in the tanning process, apparently synthetic leather is easier to produce and better for the environment.

The octagonal shape of the Aceman’s headlights complement the aero front grille and the daytime running light component of the LED headlights can be switched to three different modes.

Inside, the Aceman provides a 240mm round OLED central display situated on a much cleaner dashboard, with a remodelled toggle bar and steering wheel.

One of the new key functionalities available through the central display is the Mini Experience Mode. Each offers a set of sounds, visuals and colours which enhance the experience of all-electric driving. Eight modes are available – Core, Green, Go-Kart, Personal, Timeless, Vivid, Balance and Trail.

With a greeting of ‘Hey Mini’ or by utilising the push-to-talk steering wheel button, the Mini Intelligent Personal Assistant will activate in the form of animated graphic elements, typography and a vehicle avatar called “Spike”, isalso available through the optional Mini Connected Package.

The Aceman family comes in three flavours, the entry-level E (135kW) priced from $63,990, the mid-range SE (160kW) from $69,990 and the high-performance JCW 190kW priced from $75,990.

The E arrives in “Classic” specification while the SE and the JCW both offer the “Favoured” specification.

The E will have a limited shelf life in the market as Brockhoff says the brand believes customers will prefer the SE and JCW Aceman models and it intends to focus solely on those.

Mini has seen a strong start to sales in 2025, up 50% year-to-date in February, with 40% of sales in Australia being EV and 25% in New Zealand.

The Aceman E offers a 38.5 kWh net battery capacity and the capability of delivering 135 kW power and 290 Nm torque, completing the standard sprint from zero to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds and up to 310km range.

The SE has an upgraded battery pack at 49.2kWh net capacity allowing up to 406km range, producing 160kW and 330Nm while accelerating from zero to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds.

The Aceman JCW shares the same 49.2kWh battery pack as the SE but is limited to 355km range due to its 190kW and 350Nm, completing the zero to 100km/h sprint in seven seconds.

Many positive words sum up the Aceman SE driving experience, fun but firm, very little road noise, linear power delivery, and razor-sharp steering response.

For a small car weighing 1700kg it feels surprisingly nimble and agile. It retains the go-kart character intrinsic to the brand but in a user-friendly package that will appeal to the young and young-at-heart.

The ergonomics are excellent behind the wheel, and thanks to the voice activation it’s easy to acclimatise to the driving systems. Plenty of cubbies and cupholders are available.

For a battery electric vehicle (BEV) it has a very internal combustion engine (ICE) feel in the brake department, with the right level of assistance allowing a smooth progression to a stop.

A road loop from Mini head office in the Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave to the Dandenong ranges provided a mix of urban and rural roads to test the Aceman’s mettle.

It has the same good road manners and is as joyful to drive as the bigger Countryman, albeit in a more compact package, and the only caveat being some occasional vibrations transmitted into the cabin from the low-profile tyres on the 19-inch alloy wheels.

We toggled through the modes and enjoyed the various characterful noises made, but it was also nice just to switch everything off and enjoy the peaceful journey that an EV offers.

The Melbourne test drive was short and sweet, so perhaps we can spend longer in the latest electric Mini Aceman on home turf.