MINI Convertible (2009-2015) - MPG, running costs & CO2
Remarkably economical, with prepaid servicing softening the initial high price
The MINI Convertible costs around £2,500 more than the hatchback, which is itself already a fairly expensive car to buy. The good news is that there are some economical engines on offer, particularly the diesels, meaning the car doesn’t have to be as expensive to run as it was to buy, relatively speaking.
Insurance is slightly higher than for rivals like the Citroen DS3 convertible, but the service pack on offer does make maintaining the MINI pretty reasonable for what is seen as a very upmarket model.
MINI Convertible MPG and CO2
If you want the best of both worlds, balancing performance and economy, then the Cooper D version of the MINI Convertible is the best choice. Its diesel engine returns an impressive 70.6mpg fuel economy and emits only 105g/km of CO2, which doesn’t quite make the car free to tax, but does limit your annual road tax bill to just £20. For a quick convertible, the emissions figures for this model are excellent.
The basic One petrol model returns 49.6mpg and emits 133g/km of CO2, while the Cooper S petrol, which can go from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, returns 47.1mpg and emits 139g/km. Both these cars will cost you £130 a year to tax.
MINI Convertible insurance group
There are several levels of performance to choose from when buying a MINI Convertible and the insurance ratings reflect this. Go for the basic MINI One model and you’ll get a car that sits in group 14. The MINI Cooper Convertible is in group 18, with the diesel version in group 19. The very nippy diesel Cooper SD and petrol Cooper S are in groups 23 and 30 respectively, while the fastest model, the John Cooper Works, is in group 36.
MINI Convertible servicing
MINI offers a TLC package that you can buy up to 60 days after you’ve bought a new car from your dealer. It ensures you benefit from fixed-cost servicing for five years or 50,000 miles, whichever you reach first, and you can extend this with TLC XL to eight years or 80,000 miles should you wish. The initial cost of buying a MINI can be high compared to rivals, but the TLC package does help to keep the costs of ownership down if you decide to go for it.
MINI Convertible warranty
All MINIs come with a three-year warranty. That’s pretty average for the industry (though some manufacturers like Kia, Hyundai and Mitsubishi offer five or more years) but it does at least come with unlimited mileage.
