It comes in three trim levels. The basic E model sits at the bottom of the range while the SE comes with an upgraded motor and battery. The John Cooper Works edition is the sportiest in the range.
We took the E and SE models for a first drive. Here are five things we learned on the day...
Discover the according to our tough lab tests1. It’s enjoyable to drive, but has harsh suspension
This car is only slightly longer than the standard electric Mini Cooper and thus feels surprisingly small given its fairly tall stature.
It has all the hallmarks of electric power with rapid acceleration both from a standstill and higher speeds. The E model is noticeably more sluggish with its 35hp deficit to the SE, although neither struggles to get away from the lights in a hurry. The SE, though, is definitely the preferred option for those who prefer more power under their right foot.
Despite its high-riding design (where you might expect the handling to be lazy and wallowy), initial impressions of its handling were very good. Our test drives were largely limited to fast and undulating country roads and in these conditions we were impressed with its responsiveness through the corners and its ability to deal with tight and twisty undulating turns through villages and forests.
There is a downside to this nippy handling: the suspension is very firm. Potholes and ruts are felt throughout the cabin even at lower speeds and could be a real annoyance if your everyday drives are on roads in poor conditions. It must be said, though, that at higher speeds on smoother roads, the ride is pretty comfortable.
2. It’s big up front, small everywhere else
If you’ve not driven a compact SUV before, you might have given the ‘compact’ moniker very little thought. But like most smaller cars, the Aceman’s rear is very tight. Based on our test drive, if the front seats are set up for taller drivers, leg room in the rear is extremely limited. Headroom is fine; the roofline is high and flat, but taller adults probably won’t enjoy riding around in the back of the Aceman for long periods.
If you just ride with a single up-front passenger most of the time, you’ll be pretty happy. The seats are comfortable and supportive and there’s lots of space to put your stuff and charge your phone. The high driving position gives you a commanding view of the road.
The boot isn’t particularly big and features a fairly sizable lip between the boot sill and the floor, making the loading of heavy objects more challenging. The rear seats can at least be folded nearly completely flat, which makes for a pretty large load area.
3. It has love/hate touchscreen controls
As is now commonplace in modern Minis, the centre console is dominated by a gigantic, round touchscreen.
While this takes some getting used to, it is fairly cleverly designed although the layout of some of the menus is idiosyncratic to say the least. At least there are dedicated on-screen buttons to get you to the most important controls including climate control, navigation and phone controls.
Rather more strangely, the physical controls are limited to the likes of front and rear windscreen heating, stability control and volume control. There is however a dedicated toggle switch for ‘experiences’ which changes the ambience of the car, changes the artificial engine noise (we turned all artificial noises off as soon as we could) and the colour and font of the touchscreen.
Having a dedicated control for something most people will probably ‘set and forget’ seems wasteful, especially as adjusting the climate control on a touchscreen is a distracting affair while you’re on the move.
If you don’t opt for the ‘Level 1’ upgrade pack (which comes as standard on SE models and is a £2,000 extra on E models), the main screen is the only way to see how fast you’re going. The upgrade pack includes a heads-up display which is projected onto the windscreen, giving you information about your speed as well as route guidance.
As our guide explains, it all depends where you charge4. Interior comfort and quality is impressive
As we’ve come to expect from modern Minis, there is a touch of luxury even at the lower end of the range and materials on the dashboard, doors and centre console all felt well put together and the cars exhibited no annoying rattles or squeaks in our time driving them.
The materials of the seats were also pleasant, and the steering wheel was also comfortable (albeit small) and comfortable to hold for long periods.
5. Electric range should be reasonable
First thoughts on the Mini Aceman
Starting at a little over £31,000 for the base model at the time of writing, the Aceman could be excellent value up against the likes of the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona electric, especially if funky looks, quirky interior and an enjoyable driving experience are more important than overall practicality.
Drive smarter and cut costs using our expert advice.source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/mini-aceman-electric-suv-first-drive-amOhA6W7k0EF