2017 head-to-head · Compact Car

2017 Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series

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
$1,911/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2017 Audi A4 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,911 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $2,116 for the 2017 BMW 3 Series (28 MPG). That's roughly $205 a year, or about $1,024 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

Side by side

Audi A4BMW 3 Series
$1,911 Your annual fuel cost $2,116
31 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
27 MPG City 23 MPG
37 MPG Highway 35 MPG
92 cu ft Passenger volume 96 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
284 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 323 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
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 across model years

  • Audi A4
  • BMW 3 Series

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 has more passenger space (96 vs. 92 cu ft).

Among 50 2017 compact cars, the Audi A4 ranks 30th and the BMW 3 Series 35th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Audi A4 or the 2017 BMW 3 Series?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A4. The Audi A4 is rated 31 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Audi A4 vs. the BMW 3 Series per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,911 for the Audi A4 and $2,116 for the BMW 3 Series.

Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series in other years

More 2017 comparisons

Or compare the 2017 Audi A4 with anything else:

Keep exploring