2024 MINI Aceman SE Review

Malaysia's current C-segment electric vehicle market is gradually becoming a focal point for family users and young consumers, with an increasing emphasis on meeting the practicality of daily commuting while considering brand recognition and configuration experience. As the brand's first all-electric five-door C-segment car, the 2024 MINI Aceman SE enters the market with iconic MINI design language, an official range of 406km, and a wealth of intelligent features, directly addressing users' dual expectations of a "personalized electric car + practical space." In this test drive, we will focus on verifying whether its space performance meets family needs, whether its power response maintains MINI's agility, and whether the configuration experience justifies its price tag of RM 210,000.

From a distance, the 2024 MINI Aceman SE still retains the iconic round headlights and trapezoidal front grille of the MINI family, but with electrified adjustments in the details: a closed front grille paired with chrome trim around it continues the classic recognition while emphasizing its all-electric identity. The body lines are more stretched compared to traditional MINIs, and the 4076mm length and 1754mm width make the side profile appear elongated. The inwardly recessed waistline at the lower part of the doors adds muscularity, and the 18-inch multi-spoke wheels further enhance the sporty vibe. The rear design is simple and clean, with LED taillights featuring MINI's iconic ring-shaped light strip, offering high recognition when illuminated. The diffuser design under the rear bumper adds a touch of sportiness. Overall, the exterior retains MINI's adorable genes while adopting bolder lines and a five-door design to appeal to family users' aesthetics.

Stepping inside, the interior of the MINI Aceman SE continues the brand's typical retro and technology fusion style. The most striking feature on the dashboard is the 9.4-inch OLED round display, which boasts excellent resolution and color performance. The built-in MINI OS 9 system supports voice control, CarPlay connectivity, and online navigation, offering a very smooth operating experience. For the seats, the front row is equipped with Nappa leather material, and the driver's seat supports electric adjustment, memory, and massage functions. The passenger seat also features electric adjustment, ensuring comfort for long periods of sitting. The rear seats are manually adjustable, but the backrest angle is adjustable to accommodate different passengers' needs. In terms of space, the 2606mm wheelbase provides about two fists of rear legroom, and headroom is also about one fist, making it fully sufficient for passengers up to 175cm tall. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 300 liters, which can expand to 1005 liters with the rear seats folded down, enough to fit a stroller or two 28-inch suitcases, meeting the storage needs for short family trips. Configuration-wise, features like a HUD head-up display, 360-degree panoramic imaging, automatic parking, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and a Harman Kardon audio system come standard, balancing practicality and luxury.

Starting the vehicle, the MINI Aceman SE is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering a maximum power of 160kW (218PS) and a maximum torque of 330N·m, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration of 7.1 seconds. During daily driving, the power response is very direct, providing a noticeable pushback feel with a light press of the accelerator. Mid-to-late acceleration is also strong enough, allowing for overtaking without needing to press the pedal hard. There are three driving modes: Sport, Comfort, and Eco. In Sport mode, power delivery is more aggressive, and the steering wheel feels heavier; Comfort mode is more suitable for daily commuting, with the suspension tuned on the softer side to filter out most road bumps; in Eco mode, power delivery is slightly reduced, but the range performance improves. In terms of the chassis, the combination of the front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link independent suspension provides good support when cornering. The vehicle's body roll is well-controlled, maintaining the signature agility of MINI. When passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension quickly absorbs vibrations, avoiding obvious jolts. Noise control is impressive, with minimal wind and tire noise during high-speed driving, and the electric motor runs very quietly, providing excellent cabin quietness.

In terms of range testing, we drove 200km under mixed road conditions (60% urban roads + 40% highways), and the indicated range dropped by 220km, achieving a rate of about 90%, which is quite good; in fast charging mode (maximum power of 100kW), charging from 30% to 80% only took 30 minutes, meeting the needs for short trips. Regarding energy consumption, the power consumption is approximately 14kWh/100km on urban roads, around 16kWh/100km on highways, and 15kWh/100km on average. Based on the 54.2kWh battery capacity, the actual range is about 360km, which can basically cover a week of daily commuting.

Overall, the key advantages of the 2024 MINI Aceman SE lie in its iconic design, rich configurations, flexible handling, and practical space. Compared to competitors in the same segment like the Volkswagen ID.3 or Honda e:NS1, it offers more comprehensive features (such as standard massage seats, HUD, and a Harman Kardon audio system), superior space performance, while also keeping MINI's unique driving pleasure. This car is suitable for users who value distinctive design, configuration experience, and family practicality. Whether it's for young couples or families with children, it can meet the needs of daily commuting and short-distance travel. If you are looking for an electric car with brand recognition that also balances practicality and driving pleasure, the MINI Aceman SE is worth considering.