Driving Report VM Mini Aceman SE: This is how Mini's new core model drives

The next SUV, the next chic crossover in the BMW portfolio – this time with the trendy Mini label and dimensions akin to the first Countryman generation. The proportions are appealing, the design anyway, and with its 160 kW / 218 PS electric drive, it fits even more into the times than its brothers.

Direct steering, low center of gravity

The steering is wonderfully direct, the low center of gravity ensures good spirits on every track, and the space available also brings joy. Nowadays, 160 kW / 218 PS and 330 Nm are not much for an electric car that doesn't want to shine only in the city, but more power is missed at most when it really needs to go fast. This holds more than ever for the weak top speed of just 170 km/h and the exceedingly sluggish charging rate of just 95 kilowatts for the 2025 model year. Some competitors without the in-house Mini premium claim are moving towards speeds of 200 kW, and the battery pack, which is just 54 kWh, makes the whole thing hardly any better for practical everyday use.

On longer distances – and the 4.08-meter long electric model certainly wants to shine here too – these are painful negative points that many customers will quickly feel more than they'd like. The promised 400 kilometers of electric range to the next charging stop quickly turn into barely more than 300 in cool temperatures and at a brisk pace. However, the chassis of the almost 1.8-ton front-wheel driver provides more joy as it presents itself as tight, comfortable enough, and typically Mini.

The Aceman avoids weaknesses but also lacks outstanding strengths

Measured against the claim of a premium crossover, the Mini Aceman remains without major weaknesses but also falls short of the expectations of some customers by lacking real highlights. Of course, it's fun to drive quickly on country roads or do shopping errands in the city with it, but at high autobahn speeds and with a view to the cold season, the charging speed, top speed, and details in the interior do not match the demanding Mini clientele. It remains incomprehensible why Mini patronizes its trend-inclined customers and withholds luxurious leather seats as an option, lacks a rear seat heating, or only offers the razor-sharp but overloaded round display with its 24-centimeter diameter in the middle of the textile dashboard.

A genuine head-up display is just as missing as additional instruments behind the steering wheel, where the driver looks at a kind of faux leather strap. However, projectors in the Mini Aceman SE, which costs at least 34,500 euros, let special light graphics in the form of variously colored patterns shine on the textile dashboard. Depending on the chosen driving mode, the color scheme and ambient lighting change accordingly.