‘This car just makes me smile' – a motoring expert checks out MINI's new all-electric Aceman
Smiling is good for us. According to scientists, smiling releases all sorts of happy chemicals, relaxes our faces and sends more blood to our brains. And if there's one car that makes me smile more than any other it's a MINI.
In my view, MINI has done a stellar job of reinventing and developing the most famous of British car brands, producing cars that are like nothing else – they blend go-kart handling with fun features and a quality that belies the price tag. MINIs just make me smile – and I like that.
Over the past 12 months, MINI has done something other carmakers would think impossible: it has reinvented its whole lineup. So, we've seen a new Cooper hatchback and a new Countryman SUV arrive. Now we've got the one that sits in the middle and which I reckon is the sweet spot of the newly rejuvenated range – the Aceman.
'I've been finding excuses to get the Aceman on the road whenever I can'
For me, the Aceman is the MINI with the most attitude; it covers the most bases and it's the most fun, too. I've been living with it for a while now to see whether this new, all-electric model can put a smile on my face and keep it there as I drive in and out of London on a weekend away and on the country lanes near my home.
My Aceman came in SE Sport trim with a John Cooper Works body kit (John Cooper fettled the famous rally-winning MINIs in the 1960s and his name has graced MINIs since then) with stunning and aptly named Legend Grey paintwork. It looks great on the outside, but I reckon it's even better inside, where a 9.4-inch circular infotainment screen with the latest OLED technology is like nothing else you'll find in a car. MINIs always had a round speedometer in the centre of the car, and this latest one not only has the speedo on it, but full-screen navigation and touchscreen controls for everything from music to adjusting the ambient lighting inside the car.
I've also been getting some strange looks by talking to the car. Saying 'hey MINI' gives me a world of interactive opportunities, such as asking the car to change the air-con temperature or dial a phone number for me.
However, the most fun with a MINI comes from driving it, so I've been finding excuses to get the Aceman on the road whenever I can. I live in Buckinghamshire, where the country lanes were made for a MINI, but I've had just as much fun driving around town.
The electric motor's 218 horsepower gives an instant hit of acceleration when you press the throttle, which is totally addictive. Getting off the mark, the famous 0-62mph sprint takes just 7.1 seconds, but the excitement can come at pretty much any speed with a burst of power available just when you need it – like pulling out into traffic or for a quick overtake. Acceleration is accompanied by a really cool digital sound that changes note as you go faster, just as the sound in a petrol MINI would. I'd go as far as saying it sounds even better and is another thing that sends a buzz of excitement through me when I'm driving.
What I love most is the Aceman's ability to hustle, whether that's in and out of city traffic or on tight and twisty roads out of town. We took the MINI into London for a weekend away, where not only was the Aceman congestion charge-free because of its zero emissions, but nipping in and out of city traffic was so much fun. You can put your foot down, get a quick hit of acceleration and you're still well within the speed limit.
That famous go-kart handling means the car feels really agile, too. You can change direction quickly to swap lanes, while the Aceman's compact shape is perfect for city streets.
Steve Fowler and the new MINI Aceman tackled the country lanes of Buckinghamshire, busy motorways and the buzzing streets of London on a weekend trip
With some sporty cars, you get a rock-hard ride, but not in the Aceman – it's as comfortable as it is responsive. Visibility out is great, too, which helps around town. You know where the car's corners are and it's easy to park with cameras to help out. In fact, my car has Parking Assistant Plus, which means it'll park itself.
For two of us, the Aceman was the perfect size – with a boot big enough for a couple of small suitcases and a load more squashy bags.
We've also taken a couple of family members along for the ride and there have been no complaints about space in the back, but lots of compliments about the Aceman. Everyone was a fan of the panoramic sunroof that gives you a great view up; perfect when you're driving around a city with plenty to see.
It hasn't just been about city driving for me, though. I've also used the Aceman on longer journeys on the motorway where Driving Assistance Plus makes driving more relaxing. I'm still in charge, but the system will take care of the accelerating and braking, while sticking to the speed limit and keeping the car in lane.
I'm a big tech fan, so I love the augmented reality navigation system that overlays direction graphics on to the camera's displays, the interior camera that lets me monitor the inside of the car from the MINI app, and my favourite of all – the digital key that means I can use my phone to open and start the car rather than a physical key. There are loads more features that make life with the Aceman easy and more luxurious – I can even get a massage from my seat and I love the different modes the car has that can be chosen to suit your mood. You've got to try Go-Kart Mode that kicks off by playing a 'woo-hoo' sound.
One thing I thought I might stress over but really didn't was charging the car. MINI says that the Aceman should go between 231 and 251 miles on a full charge, and that depends on the type of driving you do. When I'm driving around town in stop and start traffic, efficiency is at its best as the brakes send more power to the engine. However, I'm just as impressed with efficiency on the motorway, and with more and more public chargers around and the Aceman's fast charging, getting the battery full again is easier than ever.
If there's one problem with the Aceman, it's that it seems to disappear from my driveway a bit too often. But don't worry, security is top notch – it's just my daughter deciding to leave her old MINI behind and take mine for a drive instead. To be fair, I don't blame her – the new Aceman is genuinely one of my favourite cars of the moment.
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