What's the difference?
Mini and electricity were always destined to be together. Of course a sporty, prestigious and quirky little car favoured by urban dwellers was going to be the perfect match for an electric powertrain.
And while the Aceman SUV isn't the first fully electric vehicle for the brand it is a welcome addition that's quintessentially Mini, even if it is made in China.
The Aceman fills the gap between the Mini Cooper hatch and Countryman SUV and rivals a range of small electric premium SUVs such as the Alfa Romeo Junior and even the Volvo EX30.
The variant of this four-door, five-seater Aceman we are testing is the SE.
Looking across BYD's line-up, you'd think you were reading the attractions for the local aquarium! And now the Sealion 7 has entered the splash zone, or more accurately, the most popular car segment - the mid-size SUV.
It fights for pole position against the long-running electric favourite, the Tesla Model Y but newcomer Cupra Tavascan also offers some sporty competition.
For this review we're testing the flagship Performance grade to see whether or not it offers family-friendly fun.
The Aceman could be the perfect Mini - bigger than a Cooper, smaller than a Countryman. It’s also surprisingly spacious and practical. The price is about right compared to rivals, and so is the battery size and range.
What the Mini has that others don’t is its unique and playful design and ‘attitude’. True to the Mini ethos it's not a restrained car, it’s whimsical in its design but serious in its ability. It's a great car to drive both dynamically and in terms of comfort.
The BYD Sealion 7 Performance is well-priced and well-equipped. It more than holds its own against its mid-size electric SUV rivals. It has great motor outputs and it handles comfortably on the road. There's a lot to like here but some of the technology needs to be tweaked.