It turns out the third-generation Mini hatchback isn’t as fuel efficient as BMW originally promised, and the EPA is forcing a ratings downgrade.
The EPA issued revised ratings for the 2014 Mini Cooper and Cooper S hatches on Wednesday, with the biggest drop coming from the manual transmission-equipped Cooper S, falling from 38 MPG on the highway from BMW to 34 according to the EPA. The standard Cooper manual transmission goes from 42 to 40 under the revised ratings.
In combined city/highway ratings, the Mini hatch falls just one MPG over the original BMW ratings.
The EPA conducted what it calls a fuel economy audit on the new Mini and compared the ratings BMW submitted for certification. While this may not be as high profile of an MPG scandal as recent ones from Ford and Hyundai/Kia, it may be of interest to those considering the new Mini because of its lofty MPG figures.
By Zac Estrada
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