2015 head-to-head · Compact Car

2015 Acura TLX vs BMW 3 Series Diesel

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,542/ year to fuel
36 MPG

The 2015 BMW 3 Series Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,542 a year to fuel (36 MPG), versus $2,116 for the 2015 Acura TLX (28 MPG). That's roughly $574 a year, or about $2,872 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

  • Acura TLX
  • BMW 3 Series Diesel

Side by side

Acura TLXBMW 3 Series Diesel
$2,116 Your annual fuel cost $1,542
28 MPG Combined efficiency 36 MPG
24 MPG City 31 MPG
35 MPG Highway 43 MPG
93 cu ft Passenger volume 96 cu ft
14 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
321 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 285 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 9/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Gas Powertrain Diesel
Premium gasoline Fuel Diesel
2.4L 4-cyl Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed dual-clutch Transmission 8-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ 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.

Acura TLX vs BMW 3 Series Diesel across model years

  • Acura TLX
  • BMW 3 Series Diesel

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 BMW 3 Series Diesel has more passenger space (96 vs. 93 cu ft); the Acura TLX has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 52 2015 compact cars, the Acura TLX ranks 42nd and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 19th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Acura TLX is a conventional gas model, while the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Acura TLX or the 2015 BMW 3 Series Diesel?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The Acura TLX is rated 28 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 36 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Acura TLX vs. the BMW 3 Series Diesel per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $2,116 for the Acura TLX and $1,542 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel.

Which has more cargo space?

The Acura TLX, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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