2025 head-to-head · Compact Car

2025 BMW 3 Series Hybrid vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI

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
$1,911/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,722/ year to fuel
27 MPG

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 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 $1,722 a year to fuel (27 MPG), versus $1,911 for the 2025 BMW 3 Series Hybrid (31 MPG). That's roughly $189 a year, or about $945 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 Hybrid
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Side by side

BMW 3 Series HybridVolkswagen Golf/GTI
$1,911 Your annual fuel cost $1,722
31 MPG Combined efficiency 27 MPG
28 MPG City 24 MPG
35 MPG Highway 32 MPG
94 cu ft Passenger volume 93 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
286 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 326 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Hybrid Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
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 3 Series Hybrid vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI across model years

  • BMW 3 Series Hybrid
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI

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 Volkswagen Golf/GTI has more cargo space (16 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 26 2025 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Hybrid ranks 13th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 12th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Hybrid is a full hybrid, while the Volkswagen Golf/GTI is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2025 BMW 3 Series Hybrid or the 2025 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI. The BMW 3 Series Hybrid is rated 31 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 27 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2025 BMW 3 Series Hybrid vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,911 for the BMW 3 Series Hybrid and $1,722 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Golf/GTI, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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