Thought I would share my experiences on a trip I just got back on since is the longest trip I will probably take in my Countryman. The trip was over 700 miles each way and I was thrilled with how well the car did on the trip. I now have just over 3k miles on the car and have been very pleased. I got about 31mpg on the trip but that was doing about 75-80mph. I did get 34.5mpg for about 30 miles while doing about 65mph. I have had no problems with squeaks or rattles and I was very happy about that since I travelled some pretty rough roads. The car had plenty of get up and go in 6th gear which made passing a breeze. The two things I was not as wild about was the comfort of my leather sport seats and the run flats. I have had some issues with my back in the past and I found the seats just a little too hard. The run flats where quiet enough on smooth pavement but on some roads it got pretty obnoxiously loud. I may have replace the run flats with conventional tires.

 

Thank you for posting this. I'll be taking a trip of the same distance, over spring break, and it's nice to read about your experience with your CM, on a trip of that length.

 

In October three of us went about 1400 miles from the SF Bay Area to rural OR to take part in the annual cranberry harvest on a family member's farm, and return. Three people, luggage and harvest apparel, ice chest, etc. - no problem with the driving or our CM4 to and from. Took the signature image on the farm. Got about 33 MPG on the highway to and from. Along the way hit a few stiff bumps with the RFTs - one really dramatic where I hit my head as a passenger, but no damage. We convinced ourselves there would be many more such drives in our future, based on how well the car worked out.

 

I don't get anywhere close to 30+ mpg. My average is 26.4mpg in mixed driving. This is the data for all my fill-ups 0 to 6138 miles, using the drain, fill, record technique:

mpg
27.9
25.5
24.5
26.0
24.4
24.8
28.4
27.3
28.7
27.4
27.5
26.8
26.3
23.0
28.0
24.9
28.6
26.3
25.6
27.4
25.0
25.8
25.8

The computer average shows 26.8. Maybe it's because I live at sea level, where the air is denser and you have the wind blowing at you no matter which direction you go. But at 75 - 80 on the highway I'll be lucky to get 26mpg. Or maybe I'm just unlucky and got a vehicle below the average.

 

My normal mileage around commuting and around the area is closer to yours, about 26. But when I get out on the highway for a while, the mileage goes up dramatically, like 30-33.

 

the OP has an S which should get better mileage than the heavier ALL4. also, 93 octane should give better gas mileage than 91. do you have other occupants in the car? that could reduce gas mileage.

 

This is all very good and accurate information to consider. Mine is a S and I have 18 inch wheels and was running through hilly areas for about half of those 700 miles. Around town I have been getting about 24.5. I have recently added a cold air intake on my car and it doesn't seem to have hurt my fuel economy. My mileage has gotten better as the miles have bee added on. For example, I used to get 21.5 around town and 29.5 hwy on a 300 mile I trip i took when the car only had about 700 miles.

 

The OP does have a FWD S, which is rated 1 MPG higher than the ALL4. Also at 80 mph your aero drag is considerably higher than the drag at the average speeds of the EPA highway test, which gives 31 mpg for the ALL4. The base highway test averages 48 mph and max is less than 60 mph. The newer 'high speed' test has a very short time in the 70-80 range, and still averages 48 mph:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

Another factor may be average temperature in your location (colder = less MPG).

 

Every long term review i've ever read makes the same observation.
Lower MPG than advertised by MINI.

 

This is not a problem exclusive to the Countryman, or MINI, for that matter.
The EPA figures on Monroney stickers are notoriously optimistic.
30+ MPG in an S on the highway is nothing to be upset about in a car as "sporty" as the MINI.

 

That test is ridiculous. I get it now....from the website:

Tested on a dyno, pre-production models, self-testing....lots of wiggle room for gaming the system.

That is why you almost never get what mfrs rate. I didn't even come close with my last car, and some models like the crossovers that claim 29 - 30 hwy are so ridiculously optimistic, I don't know how they keep getting away with it.

I am getting 26 - 27 in the city so I am happy. But hwy is about the same. I'm pretty sure, however, if I lived somewhere else it would be higher.

 

The MPG figures advertised by MINI are specified by US Federal law (the EPA MPG figures). It is true that most reviewers and many owners don't achieve these MPG figures, mostly because of a lack of knowledge on how to drive economically, or a lack of desire to drive that way. Short trips, poor weather, and traffic conditions outside the driver's control do play a part. Especially with a turbocharged, responsive engine, it is very easy to burn too much fuel.

I can consistently beat EPA city and highway MPG with my R53, WHEN I choose to try.

 

Plus, I hear the red ones are faster and get better mileage. ;-)

 

Yeah, I've heard that, too ;-/

 

 

sport button depressed most of the time? id imagine that would decrease mpgs by 5-10 percent.

 

Just to put this into perspective I did a 5712km road trip in 2010 in my Clubman Cooper D, including 1500km on autobahns, I averaged 4.9 litres per 100km, or 48 MPG. I'd expect about the same in the CM for the same trip.

 

My All4 has averaged 29.7 mpg over the first 8,500 miles. The interesting thing is I see a direct correlation between octane, outside air temperature, and MPG. When temps drop below 35 F, the mileage drops. When I use mid-grade fuel, mileage drops. My estimate is:
Optimum mileage - 60-70 deg F, 93 octane - highway under 75 mph = 34 mpg
Drop temperature to below freezing, mileage drops to 29 mpg
Lower Octane to 89, and keep low temp, mileage drops to 26 mpg.

I think the 17" gives a bit better mileage due to the slightly narrower tread.
Also, mileage drops fast over 75 mph.

Still, pretty efficient for an awd car.

Mark

 

great observations mark...what brand of gas do you use? i try to stay with mobil but i am told that mobil/exxon is no longer a tier one gas.

 

Shell is the most common. Speedway is second. Shell is the 93 octane, Speedway is, at best, 91 octane.

Just returned from a 350 mile trip, and averaged 31 MPG. 48 deg F, 93 octane, 65 - 75 mph.

Mark

 

All4 manual with 15,000 miles and I am getting right around 30 combined city / highway. Goes to 32 straight highway 70 mph with the kayak on the roof and 26 or so around town. Mostly Shell 93 oct.

Bill

 

I am finding it hard to believe any of you are getting 30mpg combined. Do you use the drain, fill, record technique? Also, when you fill it up do you go two more clicks of the pump after it stops the first time just like the manual recommends? I posted my data. Sorry, I'm just a doubter -- comes from my scientific background.

"Back off man; I'm a scientist".
~ Peter Venkman

 

I've recorded every drop of fuel input, and every mile logged for over 9,000 miles. The procedure I use is I usually fill at about 2 bars on the gage (usually about 300 miles). I fill till the pump stops, and continue filling till I reach an even $ amount. I then record actual miles, type of fuel, temp, and type of driving, in a log book.

Average to date is now 29.75 MPG.

The individual filling prodecue is only important when comparing trip to trip variations, and means nothing when looking at the long term mileage numbers. There is probably +/- 1/2 gallon for each fill using my procedure, but it is close enough for me.

Mark