My 2006 MINI is used for everyday short trip suburban driving, the MPG is 18.5 on average, not close to the 27 promised. I relly didn't expect 27 but I'd be happy with 22, or 23. Anyone else having this issue? I haven't had it to the dealer since purchasing it 8 months ago. State inspection is due next month at which time I'll discuss this with the service folks at the dealer.

 

The short trips are the biggest problem. Until the car warms up to full operating temperature it is running in a rich mode which by its very nature consumes more fuel. If most of your trips are under 15 minutes, you can expect horrible fuel consumption. Also, all MINIs will experience radically different fuell economy based on how the car is driven. On in-town driving, my average fuel economy will range from 16 mpg up to 24mpg depending on how agressively I am driving.

 

MCS or MC? Because with my 07 MC, I get 30-32mpg in Seattle town driving, and I don't even consider myself a particularly efficient driver...that's something I'd get checked out, 18mpg is really low...

 

Comparison of 2007 and 2008 models is irelevant since the engines are completely different. I am driving a 2007 R56S and get about 32 MPH overall. A considerable amout of my driving is rural or semi-rural. My previous MINI was a 2006 standard Cooper and I got about the same gas mileage with the same driving profile. I'm surprise that milage can be as low as yours for urban driving, but I think I would have it checked out.

 

That is very low compared to mine - I would spend some $$ on a diagnoses / tune up rather than on gas.

 

I have a MCS. On my last tank, I used my car only to go to and from work (gas lasted like a month woo). There is very little freeway driving on my path. I still averaged 22 mpg. With all freeway driving I get about 25mpg. I'd say this is low compared to what its "rated at" but im happy with it considering my integra ls got only 18 mpg. I think you should definitely get your car checked out, hopefully its an easy fix.

 

Comparison of exact mileage figures between the 06 and 07 models is yeah, irrelevant, but they should be in the same range at least, like upper 20's to low 30s. (And from what I've heard from friends with 06 cars, the mileage should be pretty close, fwiw).

Even really urban driving shouldn't get you teens. Unless you frequent track days, its worth getting the car checked out for that kind of fuel economy.

 

For an MCS I wouldn't be surprised, I never manage to get the best milage out of the MINIs and our 05 MCS would do around 20MPG, and that's with a short freeway commute. If it were all in town, I'd expect near your numbers. It is possible to be more economical, but it gets mind numbingly boring in a hurry.

 

With our '08 MCa we are getting any where from 26-29 (29 when I drive solo) on our 40 mile round trip commute, we average 25mph or less, OBC is reset every Fill-up (Friday's), I'm happy with the MPG, just wish it were better...too. I did a 3,000+ round trip back in March, I ran 10 Over the Speed Limit and still averaged 33mpg. Now that I WON'T complain about!!

 

blescia has a Gen 1 car. Folks comparing with Gen 2 cars are providing irrelevant data. My wife gets 28 mpg around town in the '09 JCW the way she drives and I generally get 18mpg around town in the '02 the way I drive. I don't think there is anything wrong with blescia's car if it's an mcs. An mc, however, should do better.

 

My brand new 09' MCS has been averaging 34mpg and I drive it like I stole it. Thats based on both the distance covered/liters put in the tank and the onboard computers assesment. I'm guessing the earlier cars are much thirstier with the supercharger.. but you should still be seeing high 20's!

 

I was never ovewhelmed with the fuel economy on my '03 MCS, but it still does better than 18mpg. I average about 25 with it, but my driving is a fairly even mix of city/hiway miles in my daily commute.

Are all the OP's miles done in stop and go city driving? That's the only thing I can think of that would cause that low of mileage - well, that and track driving! I get about 9 mpg on the track!

 

18 mpg in urban driving for a Gen1 MCS is low, but not impossible, especially with heavy traffic, short trips, hills, mods, and lots of idling. I'd say 20-25 is more typical - I get 21-23 mpg.

The Gen2 cars get considerably better - everything else being equal, about 4 mpg better. You can easily get into the low-30's with a Gen2 MCS... something that is virtually impossible in a Gen1 MCS. The absolute best I've ever seen in about 29mpg in my 2004 MCS and that is only in steady highway driving at moderate speeds.

- Mark

 

I have an '05 MCSm with a 15% pulley. I get 18-19 in town. My "in town" is strictly stop and go with no freeway at all. I drive 10 minutes to work which is from one stop light to the next. My gas mileage decreased when I had the pulley put on. I was getting 20-21 in town. Disappointed on that happening. It seems like most people on the forum say their mpg increased after they had the pulley put on.

 

Stock '05 MCSa here; most driving is short distance, in town -- tho not so much actual stop-and-start in traffic. Averaging ~24 mpg.

 

I'm getting the sense I should be getting better mpg on my '06 MC. I have an appointment at the dealer this Friday for inspection and I'll diffinitely have them check things out. At 31.5K I shouldn't need a tune-up. When did Gen2 begin?

 

'06 MCSa daily driver...32-33 mpg...has an ecu tune, 15% pulley and other stuff.

'03 MC CVT...35+ mpg, mostly to car shows