2017 head-to-head · Compact Car
2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
RWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 71 MPGe + 30 MPG
The 2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,542 a year to fuel (36 MPG), versus $1,722 for the 2017 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid (71 MPGe + 30 MPG). That's roughly $180 a year, or about $899 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
- BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| BMW 3 Series Diesel | BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,542 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,722 |
| 36 MPG | Combined efficiency | 71 MPGe + 30 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 66 MPGe / 28 MPG |
| 43 MPG | Highway | 78 MPGe / 34 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 47 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 350 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 14 mi |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 9 cu ft |
| 285 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 189 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 9/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 2 hrs |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Diesel | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| RWD | 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.
BMW 3 Series Diesel vs BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
- BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid
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 cargo space (13 vs. 9 cu ft).
Among 50 2017 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Diesel ranks 22nd and the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid 27th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel, while the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel or the 2017 BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The BMW 3 Series Diesel is rated 36 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid 71 MPGe + 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs. the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,542 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel and $1,722 for the BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 3 Series Diesel, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 9 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW 3 Series Diesel vs BMW 3 Series Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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