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More EVs should have this! – Review Mini Aceman JCW

September 5, 2025

The name may ring a bell, but we’ll get right to the point. The Aceman is not a successor to the old Paceman. This is a completely new electric model in the family. Think of it as the electric five-door alternative to the Mini Cooper E, but a little higher on its feet. More space, practicality, SUV traits and above all a tough appearance.







A JCW without the roar

A JCW, John Cooper Works, stands for extra spice. Only this time it sounds different. No prattling or crackling from an exhaust pipe, because the Aceman JCW is all-electric. Still, Mini does everything it can to bring you into the experience of a JCW. In the center of the interior, in addition to the switch to “start” the car, you’ll find a button for various Experience Modes.

In “Go-Kart” mode, steering, pedal response and suspension are tuned even tighter, and a supersonic sound sounds through the speakers as you accelerate. A made fun factor, but it’s one that makes it fun. If you press the pedal all the way down, a loud bass sounds and it’s like popping through the sound barrier. Yes, it’s a bit theatrical, but it works very well for a smile on your face. More EVs should have this!

A touch of nostalgia

Mini wouldn’t be Mini without a nod to the past. That’s why there’s also a “Timeless” mode. The OLED screen turns into a yellowed dial and from the speakers sounds the idling rumble of a classic Mini. Sometimes it even feels like the car hiccups for a moment on the road, as if you really are driving an old car. Whether it’s really like that, or just a matter of feeling, doesn’t matter. Fun it is, though!

Character comes from within

Not only does the exterior of the Aceman have character. The interior also impresses with details. Mini has clearly made an effort to make the Aceman JCW something special. The finish is beautiful, with fabrics and materials that feel classy rather than cheap. A pattern reminiscent of a racing flag runs across the dashboard – a playful touch that is echoed elsewhere in the interior. The steering wheel has a distinctive design, with a separate “spoke” like a rope, and holds up nicely.

The heart of the interior is, of course, the round OLED screen in the center. On it is everything you need, from connectivity to consumption information. By the way, what makes it feel a bit like you’ve entered a racing game is the augmented-reality display in the navigation. Here, the image in front of the car is provided with arrows pointing in the direction of your exit.

For the driver, there’s also a head-up display, so you don’t have to look at the central screen all the time. The whole thing looks modern, yet typical Mini: quirky, reasonably uncluttered, but mostly a playful twist.













We are absolutely fans of the sporty and high-end finish of the Aceman JCW. In this area, Mini makes it a party for the driver. The party would be complete if the seat of the seats were a little longer, especially for those with long legs. In the middle you will find a funny cluster of buttons, including the aforementioned dial to start the engine. As far as we are concerned, Mini would have added physical buttons here for climate control as well, for a little more connection to the past and ease of operation.

You do prefer to sit in the front

The Aceman is larger than the Cooper and more mini than the Countryman. So, it offers more space on paper, but is it comfortable in the back seat? If you were adults sitting in the back seat, it doesn’t stop there. The back of the sports seat shortens your legroom nicely. So in the back, there is mostly the space for your minis.

Behind the rear seat, the luggage space is 300 liters as standard, which is expandable to 1,005 liters. By comparison, the Cooper E has 211 liters of luggage space, the Countryman 450 liters.

The choice is vast

Not every Aceman has to be a JCW. Mini offers three variants of the Aceman. The range starts with the Aceman E, good for 184 hp (135 kW) and a range of up to 309 kilometers (WLTP). One step up is the Aceman SE, which produces 218 hp (160 kW) and gets you up to 405 kilometers (405 miles). And then the Aceman JCW: 258 hp (190 kW), 330 Nm of torque, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and a range of 355 kilometers (WLTP). All have the same compact crossover size and front-wheel drive, but the JCW has that extra bit of spice.

Surprisingly efficient in practice

Under the hood, or rather in the floor, lies a battery pack with a capacity of 54.2 kWh gross, which makes 49.2 kWh net. This is good for a WLTP range of 355 kilometers. Charging can be done with 11 kW AC or 95 kW DC. Those are not groundbreaking figures, but it satisfies just fine in practice.

Something that does stand out in practice is that the Aceman JCW still proves to be reasonably efficient. During a quiet highway drive with favorable outside temperature, we noted a consumption of 15.4 kWh per 100 km. If you calculate that, you could get over 300 kilometers on one battery charge. Very neat if you take into account the factory numbers of 355 km WLTP.

We do have to admit that it did take effort to avoid popping the gas pedal through the aforementioned noise barrier. Consumption on other trips fluctuated between 17 and 18 kW per 100 km on average, so this is more realistic in practice. And remember, competing crossovers can get further thanks to greater battery capacity. More on that later.

How does the Aceman ride?

Who says Mini, of course says… Kart feeling! Anyway, you also know that karts are extremely compact and low to the ground. So what about the slightly taller and roomier Aceman? The typical kart feel is also there in the Aceman JCW, although you have to keep it in perspective. It gets off the spot seriously hard and feels lively, but it is not as sharp and nimble as a Cooper. That difference remains: a Cooper is tighter on the road and steers even more direct.

The Aceman is more of a crossover, and you can tell. Still, it dives eagerly into corners, helped by the low center of gravity of the battery pack. The steering is nice and light and quick, the car playful and agile. The suspension is on point to give you a smile. But, that also means it does have firm suspension. Not uncomfortable, but you still notice that the car bumps a bit on stretches of highway that have just not settled in nicely. Then, when the asphalt is nice and smooth again, you enjoy a stable companion for longer distances.

The Aceman is not your average crossover

From the outside, the Aceman JCW also immediately shows that it is no average crossover. At 4.08 meters in length, 1.75 meters in width and 1.51 meters in height, it looks compact, but with its muscular wheel arches and short overhangs it stands firmly on the road. In this JCW trim it stands out even more: special rims fill the wheel arches, JCW emblems can be found everywhere and the bodywork is decorated with decals and color accents that give it a decidedly sporty look. We are very fans of the gradient on the roof. It is exactly those details that remind you every time that you are on the road in something special.













Is there competition for the Aceman?

The compact electric crossover segment is on the move. For example, the Aceman rivals cars like the Volvo EX30, Kia EV3 or the Škoda Elroq. These are also models with a bit more space and a slightly higher entry level. Anyway, in terms of fun factor, these of course pale in comparison to the Aceman.

For those who really want something with character, there are options from the Stellantis corner like the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Opel Mokka GSE. From the VAG corner, consider the ID3 GTX or the sporty Škoda Elroq RS. The Aceman JCW nestles right in this segment of sporty crossovers and still best measures up to the Abarth, Alfa and Opel.

Who wins the traffic light sprint?

On paper, these cars offer almost the same numbers. The Aceman JCW has 258 hp, goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, aided by 330 Nm of torque. All this from a price of 46,990 euros. The sporty Stellantis makes do with 280 hp, 345 Nm of torque and the sprint to 100 km/h is completed in 5.85 seconds. The Abarth comes from 45,990 euros.

The Elroq and ID3 GTX make it a bit more bonkers. While the price of the Elroq is higher than that of the Aceman, starting at 52,990 euros, it does offer 340 hp, all-wheel drive, 679 Nm of torque and thus pops to the 100 km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds. The ID3 GTX compares nicely with the Elroq, as it has 326 hp and goes to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Oh yeah, and it has a 79 kWh battery pack and a price tag starting at 47,990 euros. Surely that’s more close.

So yes, on paper there are some hijackers on the coast. In a way, they also pass the Aceman by. Not only at the stoplight, but also when you consider price, battery capacity and fast-charging capability, for example. However, Mini has done an excellent job of bringing a quirky character to the Aceman JCW. That’s worth a lot, too.

Conclusion Mini Aceman JCW

On paper, the Mini Aceman JCW is a rational purchase. It is compact, but roomier than the Cooper. It’s easier to take the family and groceries with you. It is an all-new electric model that perfectly fills the gap between the Cooper and the Countryman. If you go easy on the gas pedal, it is even efficient enough in practice.

But the real story is in the experience. Mini has found ways to make you smile. Whether that’s with a supersonic sound, a nostalgic dial or an interior full of sporty details. This crossover manages to offer a remarkable amount of fun, in addition to all the practical extras. And it does so in its own unique way.

Mini Aceman JCW technical data.