2002 MINI Cooper: MPG and fuel economy
The 2002 MINI Cooper is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 25 combined MPG, with 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Minicompact Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2002 MINI Cooper. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 30% better combined MPG than the average car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 2002 model year (19.2 MPG class average).
- The 2002 MINI Cooper is the most efficient car in the Minicompact Cars class for the 2002 model year, with its 25 MPG rating leading the segment.
- The MINI Cooper has gained 7 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2002 MINI Cooper at 25 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $3,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2002 MINI Cooper. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
| City MPG | 22 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 29 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,750 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 355 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2002 MINI Cooper compares
The 2002 MINI Cooper returns 25 combined MPG. Cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year average 19.2 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 30%.
Within the Minicompact Cars class for the 2002 model year, the MINI Cooper is the leader. No other car in the same class beat its 25 MPG rating. The bar chart below shows it alongside the class average and the average new car for some additional context.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2002 model year (across all classes) returns 18.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2002 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 600 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,375 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,750 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,583 |
Year-over-year MPG for the MINI Cooper
The EPA has rated the MINI Cooper across 12 model years, from 2002 MINI Cooper through 2013 MINI Cooper. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2002 MINI Cooper returned 25 MPG. The most recent 2013 MINI Cooper returns 32 MPG. That is an improvement of 7 MPG over 11 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 32 MPG | 2013 MINI Cooper |
| 2012 | 32 MPG | 2012 MINI Cooper |
| 2011 | 32 MPG | 2011 MINI Cooper |
| 2010 | 32 MPG | 2010 MINI Cooper |
| 2009 | 32 MPG | 2009 MINI Cooper |
| 2008 | 32 MPG | 2008 MINI Cooper |
| 2007 | 31 MPG | 2007 MINI Cooper |
| 2006 | 28 MPG | 2006 MINI Cooper |
| 2005 | 28 MPG | 2005 MINI Cooper |
| 2004 | 28 MPG | 2004 MINI Cooper |
| 2003 | 28 MPG | 2003 MINI Cooper |
| 2002 | 25 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Minicompact Cars for 2002
If you are cross-shopping the 2002 MINI Cooper, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
Specifications
The 2002 MINI Cooper runs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Minicompact Cars
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2002 MINI Cooper
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2002 MINI Cooper.
-
Is the 2002 MINI Cooper fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2002 MINI Cooper returns 25 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Minicompact Cars class for the same model year by about 30%. -
What MPG does the 2002 MINI Cooper get?
The EPA rates the 2002 MINI Cooper at 25 combined MPG, 22 MPG in city driving, and 29 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 MINI Cooper per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,750 for the 2002 MINI Cooper. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2002 MINI Cooper require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2002 MINI Cooper as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the MINI Cooper become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated MINI Cooper, the 2002 MINI Cooper, returned 25 combined MPG. The most recent 2013 MINI Cooper returns 32 MPG, an improvement of 7 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2002 MINI Cooper emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 355 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,332 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2002 MINI Cooper?
City driving returns 22 MPG and highway driving returns 29 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2002 MINI Cooper?
The 2002 MINI Cooper has a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2002 MINI Cooper have?
The 2002 MINI Cooper comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
Is the 2002 MINI Cooper the most efficient car in its class?
Yes. Among cars in the Minicompact Cars class for the 2002 model year, the MINI Cooper returns the highest combined MPG at 25 MPG. No other car in the same class beats that figure.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.