2016 head-to-head · Compact Car
2016 Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid 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.
The 2016 Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,317 a year to fuel (86 MPGe + 39 MPG), versus $1,586 for the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel (35 MPG). That's roughly $269 a year, or about $1,344 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
- Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
Side by side
| Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid | BMW 3 Series Diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,317 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,586 |
| 86 MPGe + 39 MPG | Combined efficiency | 35 MPG |
| 86 MPGe / 37 MPG | City | 31 MPG |
| 87 MPGe / 41 MPG | Highway | 42 MPG |
| 38 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | — |
| 430 mi | Driving range | — |
| 17 mi | All-electric range | — |
| 89 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 138 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 284 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| 2.5 hrs | Charge time at 240V | — |
| Plug-in hybrid | Powertrain | Diesel |
| Premium gas + electricity | Fuel | Diesel |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 6-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.
Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid vs BMW 3 Series Diesel across model years
- Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid
- 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. 89 cu ft); the Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid ranks 7th and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 24th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid, while the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid or the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel?
Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid is rated 86 MPGe + 39 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid vs. the BMW 3 Series Diesel per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $1,317 for the Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid and $1,586 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid vs BMW 3 Series Diesel in other years
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