2017 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2017 MINI Cooper vs Volkswagen Beetle
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,661 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $1,852 for the 2017 MINI Cooper (32 MPG). That's roughly $191 a year, or about $954 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- MINI Cooper
- Volkswagen Beetle
Side by side
| MINI Cooper | Volkswagen Beetle | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,852 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,661 |
| 32 MPG | Combined efficiency | 28 MPG |
| 28 MPG | City | 24 MPG |
| 37 MPG | Highway | 33 MPG |
| 76 cu ft | Passenger volume | 81 cu ft |
| 5 cu ft | Cargo volume | 7 cu ft |
| 281 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 322 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.5L 3-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed manual | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
MINI Cooper vs Volkswagen Beetle across model years
- MINI Cooper
- Volkswagen Beetle
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Beetle has more passenger space (81 vs. 76 cu ft); the Volkswagen Beetle has more cargo space (7 vs. 5 cu ft).
Among 43 2017 subcompact cars, the MINI Cooper ranks 12th and the Volkswagen Beetle 8th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 MINI Cooper or the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Beetle. The MINI Cooper is rated 32 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Beetle 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 MINI Cooper vs. the Volkswagen Beetle per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,852 for the MINI Cooper and $1,661 for the Volkswagen Beetle.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Beetle, with 7 cu ft of luggage volume versus 5 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
MINI Cooper vs Volkswagen Beetle in other years
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