2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Lexus CT

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
$1,107/ year to fuel
42 MPG

FWD · 1.8L 4-cyl · CVT · 42 MPG

The 2016 Lexus CT 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 $1,107 a year to fuel (42 MPG), versus $1,586 for the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel (35 MPG). That's roughly $479 a year, or about $2,393 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
  • Lexus CT

Side by side

BMW 3 Series DieselLexus CT
$1,586 Your annual fuel cost $1,107
35 MPG Combined efficiency 42 MPG
31 MPG City 43 MPG
42 MPG Highway 40 MPG
96 cu ft Passenger volume 86 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 14 cu ft
284 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 212 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 9/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 9/10
Diesel Powertrain Hybrid
Diesel Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.8L 4-cyl
8-speed automatic Transmission CVT
RWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ 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 Lexus CT across model years

  • BMW 3 Series Diesel
  • Lexus CT

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. 86 cu ft); the Lexus CT has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Diesel ranks 24th and the Lexus CT 5th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel, while the Lexus CT is a full hybrid.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel or the 2016 Lexus CT?

Measured by cost to drive, the Lexus CT. The BMW 3 Series Diesel is rated 35 MPG combined and the Lexus CT 42 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs. the Lexus CT 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 $1,107 for the Lexus CT.

Which has more cargo space?

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

BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Lexus CT in other years

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