DecodedCars2015 MINI John Cooper Works
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2015 models.
- Class
- Two Seaters
- Engines
- 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 29 combined · 26 city / 34 hwy
- Length
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 29 MPG combined — 39% better than the average 2015 two seaters (20.8 MPG).
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 6 similar 2015 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2015 MINI John Cooper Works is a two seaters offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 29 MPG combined (26 city / 34 highway), 39% better than the 2015 two seaters average of 20.8 MPG, for an estimated $2,850 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file.
What changed for 2015
- Engine added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Compared with 2014; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2014 John Cooper Works →
Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Cooper Works Coupe | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | +39% | $2,850 | 306 |
| John Cooper Works Convertible | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | +26% | $2,850 | 306 |
| John Cooper Works Coupe | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +35% | $2,950 | 316 |
| John Cooper Works Convertible | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +21% | $2,950 | 316 |
| John Cooper Works Hardtop | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 31 / 27 | +14% | $3,050 | 325 |
| John Cooper Works Hardtop | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 25 | +5% | $3,300 | 347 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2015 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2015 MINI John Cooper Works.
Similar 2015 two seaterss
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 MINI John Cooper Works (this car) | 29 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2015 Mazda MX-5 | 24 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2015 smart fortwo | 36 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2015 Nissan 370z | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2015 Honda CR-Z | 36 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2015 MINI Cooper | 32 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2015 MINI Roadster | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Oct 7, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V628000 · 6,073 vehicles
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
- Fix
- MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Structure › Body · Jul 17, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V450000 · 30,456 vehicles
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles and 2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop 2 Door vehicles. The affected vehicles do not meet the side impact performance requirements for the rear seat passengers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
- Risk
- If the side impact performance requirements are not met, rear seat passengers may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- MINI will notify owners, and dealers will install additional energy absorption material between the rear interior side panels and the exterior vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525. Note: this recall supersedes 14V-815.
Not every 2015 MINI John Cooper Works is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
No owner complaints for the 2015 MINI John Cooper Works in NHTSA's database since 2015.
Used 2015 MINI John Cooper Works buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2015 MINI John Cooper Works. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other John Cooper Works years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 John Cooper Works | 30 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 John Cooper Works | 30 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 John Cooper Works | 30 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 John Cooper Works | 29 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 John Cooper Works | 29 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 John Cooper Works | 29 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 John Cooper Works | 29 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 John Cooper Works | 29 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 John Cooper Works | 28 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 John Cooper Works | 28 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 John Cooper Works | 28 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 John Cooper Works | 27 | – | Not rated | 1 | 0 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or MINI. How we calculate this →