2016 head-to-head · Small SUV

2016 BMW X3 Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

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
$1,850/ year to fuel
30 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 30 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2016 BMW X3 Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,850 a year to fuel (30 MPG), versus $2,116 for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (28 MPG). That's roughly $266 a year, or about $1,330 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 X3 Diesel
  • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Side by side

BMW X3 DieselMercedes-Benz GLA-Class
$1,850 Your annual fuel cost $2,116
30 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
27 MPG City 25 MPG
33 MPG Highway 34 MPG
— Passenger volume 91 cu ft
— Cargo volume 42 cu ft
345 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 312 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Diesel Powertrain Gas
Diesel Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
AWD 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 X3 Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class across model years

  • BMW X3 Diesel
  • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

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

Among 60 2016 small SUVs, the BMW X3 Diesel ranks 22nd and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class 39th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the BMW X3 Diesel is a diesel, while the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW X3 Diesel or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW X3 Diesel. The BMW X3 Diesel is rated 30 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW X3 Diesel vs. the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,850 for the BMW X3 Diesel and $2,116 for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class.

BMW X3 Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class in other years

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