2017 head-to-head · Compact Car
2017 Audi A4 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 2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,542 a year to fuel (36 MPG), versus $1,911 for the 2017 Audi A4 (31 MPG). That's roughly $370 a year, or about $1,848 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 A4
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
Side by side
| Audi A4 | BMW 3 Series Diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,911 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,542 |
| 31 MPG | Combined efficiency | 36 MPG |
| 27 MPG | City | 31 MPG |
| 37 MPG | Highway | 43 MPG |
| 92 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 284 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 285 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Diesel |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Diesel |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 7-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 A4 vs BMW 3 Series Diesel across model years
- Audi A4
- 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. 92 cu ft).
Among 50 2017 compact cars, the Audi A4 ranks 30th and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 22nd for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A4 is a conventional gas model, while the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Audi A4 or the 2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The Audi A4 is rated 31 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 36 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Audi A4 vs. the BMW 3 Series Diesel per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $1,911 for the Audi A4 and $1,542 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel.
Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series Diesel in other years
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