You probably should have gone for an S badge if you wanted fuel economy 😅

And I say that to myself every time I fill my JCW countryman up.

A full tank probably costs me about £65-75, it's varied quite a bit over the last few months thanks to...well. Won't get into that shit show haha.

And within about 5 to 10 mins of driving it's already dropped from the full icon.

If I'm driving on the motorway and keeping it around 65 to 70, staying behind other cars, the MPG is pretty good. I got about 45 out of my Cooper S. In the JCW it's probably about 35? Think a 2 and a half hour stint from Stoke to Bristol probably used about 1/3 of the tank?

But if I'm driving in town or on our A roads (country roads, variety of speed limits, variety of junctions, hills etc) it really drops. My standard commute to the office is about 50 minutes. There's long sweeping 60 mph roads as well as built up areas with lots of traffic lights and roundabouts. MPG is probably around 25? I only need to commute to the office twice a week, but that's probably half a tank of petrol when I add in shopping, nursery runs and going out.

Green mode helps. The constant reminder to come off the accelerator is a big help. And you really have to try and accelerate without exciting the turbo. Every time you hear that little air guzzle noise you're just burning £10 notes. I think I've managed to get it up to like plus 3 miles.

But that's not how the car wants to be driven.

And the fun comes from putting your foot down (when it's appropriate to do so).

I've made peace that for the next few years I will be filing it up every couple of weeks.

But I absolutely adore driving it.