FuelFacts

2021 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

Every gas trim of this model takes premium.

27–29
MPG combined (23–26 city / 33–34 hwy)
$2,421–$2,600
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Premium
gas type

Is the 2021 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop good on gas?

At up to 29 MPG combined, the 2021 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop is better than average for a Subcompact Cars — that class averages about 22.8 MPG across 5,756 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,421/year (roughly $202/month, about $16.14 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 517 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2021 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
2.0L 4-cyl, S8 automatic, FWDPREMIUM29$2,421
2.0L 4-cyl, 6-spd manual, FWDPREMIUM27$2,600
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2021 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options2.0L 4-cyl turbo
TransmissionS8 automatic · 6-spd manual
Drive typeFWD
EPA body classSubcompact Cars
FuelPremium
Tailpipe CO₂305–329 g/mi

Other years of the MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop

2020 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop2019 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop2018 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop2017 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop2016 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop

Similar cars (Subcompact Cars)

2021 BMW i32021 BMW i3s2021 BMW i3 with Range Extender2021 BMW i3s with Range Extender2021 Audi A5 quattro2021 BMW 230i Convertible

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

2 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.