2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Cadillac ATS

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
$1,586/ year to fuel
35 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,788/ year to fuel
26 MPG

The 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,586 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,788 for the 2016 Cadillac ATS (26 MPG). That's roughly $203 a year, or about $1,014 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

  • BMW 3 Series Diesel
  • Cadillac ATS

Side by side

BMW 3 Series DieselCadillac ATS
$1,586 Your annual fuel cost $1,788
35 MPG Combined efficiency 26 MPG
31 MPG City 22 MPG
42 MPG Highway 32 MPG
96 cu ft Passenger volume 91 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
284 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 348 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Diesel Powertrain Gas
Diesel Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.5L 4-cyl
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
RWD 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.

BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Cadillac ATS across model years

  • BMW 3 Series Diesel
  • Cadillac ATS

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. 91 cu ft); the BMW 3 Series Diesel has more cargo space (13 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Diesel ranks 24th and the Cadillac ATS 29th for lowest fuel cost.

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel or the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The BMW 3 Series Diesel is rated 35 MPG combined and the Cadillac ATS 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs. the Cadillac ATS per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,586 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel and $1,788 for the Cadillac ATS.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW 3 Series Diesel, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Cadillac ATS in other years

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