2017 head-to-head · Compact Car
2017 BMW 3 Series vs Lexus IS
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 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,116 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $2,279 for the 2017 Lexus IS (26 MPG). That's roughly $163 a year, or about $814 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
- Lexus IS
Side by side
| BMW 3 Series | Lexus IS | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,116 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,279 |
| 28 MPG | Combined efficiency | 26 MPG |
| 23 MPG | City | 22 MPG |
| 35 MPG | Highway | 32 MPG |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 90 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 11 cu ft |
| 323 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 345 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | 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 |
| 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 vs Lexus IS across model years
- BMW 3 Series
- Lexus IS
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. 90 cu ft); the BMW 3 Series has more cargo space (13 vs. 11 cu ft).
Among 50 2017 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series ranks 35th and the Lexus IS 39th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 BMW 3 Series or the 2017 Lexus IS?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series is rated 28 MPG combined and the Lexus IS 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 BMW 3 Series vs. the Lexus IS per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,116 for the BMW 3 Series and $2,279 for the Lexus IS.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 3 Series, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 11 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW 3 Series vs Lexus IS in other years
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