2026 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2026 Audi S3 vs BMW 2 Series

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
$2,279/ year to fuel
26 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed dual-clutch · 26 MPG

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

The 2026 BMW 2 Series is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,911 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $2,279 for the 2026 Audi S3 (26 MPG). That's roughly $368 a year, or about $1,838 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 S3
  • BMW 2 Series

Side by side

Audi S3BMW 2 Series
$2,279 Your annual fuel cost $1,911
26 MPG Combined efficiency 31 MPG
23 MPG City 27 MPG
31 MPG Highway 39 MPG
87 cu ft Passenger volume 91 cu ft
8 cu ft Cargo volume 12 cu ft
346 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 279 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
5/10 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
7-speed dual-clutch Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
AWD 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.

Audi S3 vs BMW 2 Series across model years

  • Audi S3
  • BMW 2 Series

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 2 Series has more passenger space (91 vs. 87 cu ft); the BMW 2 Series has more cargo space (12 vs. 8 cu ft).

Among 26 2026 subcompact cars, the Audi S3 ranks 12th and the BMW 2 Series 7th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Audi S3 or the 2026 BMW 2 Series?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 2 Series. The Audi S3 is rated 26 MPG combined and the BMW 2 Series 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Audi S3 vs. the BMW 2 Series per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,279 for the Audi S3 and $1,911 for the BMW 2 Series.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW 2 Series, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 8 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi S3 vs BMW 2 Series in other years

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