As I sit down to pen a review on the new Mini Aceman SE, I’m met with a familiar sense of dread. Another electric vehicle, another laundry list of complaints about charging times, range anxiety, and the inevitable comparisons to its gas-guzzling counterparts.
Don’t get me wrong, these issues are real, and they’re worth discussing. But as I’ve churned out review after review, I’ve started to feel like I’m stuck in a rut. Every EV review starts to sound the same: “The car is great, but the charging infrastructure is lacking.” “The range is impressive, but the charging times are a chore.”
I’m tired of writing the same negative review over and over again. I’m tired of focusing on the limitations of EVs instead of their merits as cars. I want to get back to reviewing cars based on how they drive, how they handle, and how they make me feel.
I want to talk about the thrill of accelerating from 0-100 in a car that’s quieter than a whisper. I want to rave about the futuristic design of a car that looks like it was plucked straight from a sci-fi movie. I want to geek out over the tech that’s integrated seamlessly into the driving experience.
But most of all, I want to judge cars on their own merits, rather than holding them up to some impossible standard of perfection. Or worse still, an outdated technology, beloved as it was. I want to celebrate the cars that get it right, even if they’re not perfect. And I want to critique the cars that get it wrong, without getting bogged down in the details of their electric powertrains.
So, as I move forward with my car reviews, I’m making a conscious effort to shift my focus. I’m going to try to see EVs for what they are: cars, with their own strengths and weaknesses. And I’m going to try to review them with the same enthusiasm and nuance that I would any other car. Oh, and the Aceman was great by the way.