2018 head-to-head · Compact Car
2018 BMW 3 Series 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 2018 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 $2,116 for the 2018 BMW 3 Series (28 MPG). That's roughly $574 a year, or about $2,872 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
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
Side by side
| BMW 3 Series | BMW 3 Series Diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,116 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,542 |
| 28 MPG | Combined efficiency | 36 MPG |
| 24 MPG | City | 31 MPG |
| 35 MPG | Highway | 43 MPG |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 323 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 285 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 6/10 | 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 |
| 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 BMW 3 Series Diesel across model years
- BMW 3 Series
- 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
Among 44 2018 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series ranks 33rd and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 20th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series is a conventional gas model, while the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 BMW 3 Series or the 2018 BMW 3 Series Diesel?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The BMW 3 Series is rated 28 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series Diesel 36 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 BMW 3 Series 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 $2,116 for the BMW 3 Series and $1,542 for the BMW 3 Series Diesel.
BMW 3 Series vs BMW 3 Series Diesel in other years
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