Mini Aceman review

It’s hard to say whether the Aceman is good value for money or not. That entry-level price of £31,920 in the UK looks fairly tempting, but for that you’re getting the less powerful Aceman E and a teeny battery. Just 192 miles of WLTP range too.

Plus, the boggo Classic trim really doesn’t include much kit. You do get LED lights front and rear, that large 24cm circular touchscreen, cruise control, a rear-view camera and navigation, but you also only get 17in wheels and silver paint combined with a black or grey interior. 

For funkier paint options and a brighter interior you’ll need to make the jump to Exclusive trim, and even if you reckon you can make do with the E that’ll set you back £34,670. Sport trim on the same model is even more at £35,970, although that does add fresh bumpers, black trim and 18in wheels.

The SE is probably the one you want with slightly more power and a usefully bigger battery. It also gets the ‘Level 1’ options pack as standard (a £2,000 box to tick if you only want the E) which includes things like adaptive headlights, the head-up display, folding mirrors, heated front seats and wireless phone charging. Prices start at £36,420 for the Classic, but again we’d want to make the step to the £39,170 Exclusive trim to make the most of the Mini’s brighter colours and recycled interior fabrics.

On the SE the ‘Level 2’ options pack is £2,000 and adds things like a Harman/Kardon stereo and panoramic glass roof, while the £4,500 ‘Level 3’ adds electric memory seats, active cruise control, an interior camera and augmented reality directions to the navigation. Neat.

All of this makes the Mini seem rather pricey compared to rivals and puts it in the firing line of some very big hitting EVs (we’re looking at you, Model 3), but then the Aceman is only £1,800 more than the much smaller Cooper.