2020 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2020 Audi A3 vs BMW i3
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 2020 BMW i3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $805 a year to fuel (113 MPGe), versus $1,550 for the 2020 Audi A3 (30 MPG). That's roughly $745 a year, or about $3,727 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 A3
- BMW i3
Side by side
| Audi A3 | BMW i3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $805 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 113 MPGe |
| 27 MPG | City | 124 MPGe |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 102 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 29.8 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 153 mi |
| 86 cu ft | Passenger volume | 84 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 293 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 7 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Electric |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | Electric motor (125 kW) |
| 7-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | Single-speed |
| 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 A3 vs BMW i3 across model years
- Audi A3
- BMW i3
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 i3 has more cargo space (15 vs. 12 cu ft).
Among 39 2020 subcompact cars, the Audi A3 ranks 6th and the BMW i3 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Because the BMW i3 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Audi A3; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 Audi A3 or the 2020 BMW i3?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The Audi A3 is rated 30 MPG combined and the BMW i3 113 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 Audi A3 vs. the BMW i3 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,550 for the Audi A3 and $805 for the BMW i3.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW i3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A3 vs BMW i3 in other years
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