2021 head-to-head · Small SUV

2021 BMW X3 vs Lincoln Nautilus

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
$2,194/ year to fuel
27 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,022/ year to fuel
23 MPG

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $2,022 a year to fuel (23 MPG), versus $2,194 for the 2021 BMW X3 (27 MPG). That's roughly $173 a year, or about $864 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 X3
  • Lincoln Nautilus

Side by side

BMW X3Lincoln Nautilus
$2,194 Your annual fuel cost $2,022
27 MPG Combined efficiency 23 MPG
25 MPG City 21 MPG
29 MPG Highway 26 MPG
332 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 387 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
RWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ 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 X3 vs Lincoln Nautilus across model years

  • BMW X3
  • Lincoln Nautilus

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 92 2021 small SUVs, the BMW X3 ranks 66th and the Lincoln Nautilus 59th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 BMW X3 or the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus?

Measured by cost to drive, the Lincoln Nautilus. The BMW X3 is rated 27 MPG combined and the Lincoln Nautilus 23 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 BMW X3 vs. the Lincoln Nautilus per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $2,194 for the BMW X3 and $2,022 for the Lincoln Nautilus.

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