The Mini Cooper Roadster does 29.8 mpg combined (26.8 city, 33.8 highway), which works out to about $1,289 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Mini Cooper Roadster engine, compared
The Mini Cooper Roadster was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 26.8 / 33.8 | 2012–2015 | $1,289 |
What that actually costs
The Mini Cooper Roadster burns a gallon every 29.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 403 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.107 |
| Fuel per year | $1,289 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,445 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$205 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,575 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mini Cooper Roadster gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 33.8 out there against 26.8 in town, a 26% drop worth $297 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 26.8 mpg | $1,433 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 33.8 mpg | $1,136 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (26%) | Typical for its type |
How the Cooper Roadster changed over the years
The Cooper Roadster peaked in 2014 at 30 mpg (27 city, 34 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2015 at 29 — 1 mpg apart, or $44 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2015 car does 29. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2014 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2013 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2012 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Mini Cooper Roadster — 1 engine across 2012–2015. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,575. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mini Cooper Roadster get?
29.8 mpg combined on average — 26.8 in the city and 33.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2012–2015.
How much does a Mini Cooper Roadster cost in fuel per year?
About $1,289 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,445 over five years, or 0.107 dollars a mile.
Which Cooper Roadster engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl at 29.8 mpg.
Is the Cooper Roadster good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Cooper Roadster figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mini Cooper Roadster is $2,575 against the $1,289 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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