2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs Volvo S60

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
$1,614/ year to fuel
72 MPGe + 31 MPG

RWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 72 MPGe + 31 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$1,550/ year to fuel
30 MPG

The 2016 Volvo S60 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,550 a year to fuel (30 MPG), versus $1,614 for the 2016 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid (72 MPGe + 31 MPG). That's roughly $64 a year, or about $320 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 Plug-in Hybrid
  • Volvo S60

Side by side

BMW 3 Series Plug-in HybridVolvo S60
$1,614 Your annual fuel cost $1,550
72 MPGe + 31 MPG Combined efficiency 30 MPG
67 MPGe / 28 MPG City 26 MPG
78 MPGe / 36 MPG Highway 37 MPG
47 kWh Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) —
350 mi Driving range —
14 mi All-electric range —
96 cu ft Passenger volume 93 cu ft
9 cu ft Cargo volume 12 cu ft
184 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 296 g/mi
9/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
10/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
2 hrs Charge time at 240V —
Plug-in hybrid Powertrain Gas
Premium gas + electricity Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
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 Plug-in Hybrid vs Volvo S60 across model years

  • BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid
  • Volvo S60

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 Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (96 vs. 93 cu ft); the Volvo S60 has more cargo space (12 vs. 9 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid ranks 26th and the Volvo S60 21st for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid, while the Volvo S60 is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid or the 2016 Volvo S60?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volvo S60. The BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid is rated 72 MPGe + 31 MPG combined and the Volvo S60 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs. the Volvo S60 per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity, $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,614 for the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid and $1,550 for the Volvo S60.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volvo S60, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 9 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs Volvo S60 in other years

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