2015 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2015 Audi A3 Diesel vs BMW i8
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed dual-clutch · 35 MPG
AWD · 1.5L 3-cyl turbo · 6-speed automatic · 76 MPGe + 28 MPG
The 2015 Audi A3 Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,586 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,759 for the 2015 BMW i8 (76 MPGe + 28 MPG). That's roughly $173 a year, or about $867 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 Diesel
- BMW i8
Side by side
| Audi A3 Diesel | BMW i8 | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,586 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,759 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 76 MPGe + 28 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 80 MPGe / 28 MPG |
| 41 MPG | Highway | 72 MPGe / 29 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 43 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 330 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 15 mi |
| 86 cu ft | Passenger volume | 81 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 5 cu ft |
| 292 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 198 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 9/10 |
| 8/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 2 hrs |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Diesel | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.5L 3-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | AWD |
✓ 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 Diesel vs BMW i8 across model years
- Audi A3 Diesel
- BMW i8
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 Audi A3 Diesel has more passenger space (86 vs. 81 cu ft); the Audi A3 Diesel has more cargo space (12 vs. 5 cu ft).
Among 36 2015 subcompact cars, the Audi A3 Diesel ranks 9th and the BMW i8 11th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A3 Diesel is a diesel, while the BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Audi A3 Diesel or the 2015 BMW i8?
Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A3 Diesel. The Audi A3 Diesel is rated 35 MPG combined and the BMW i8 76 MPGe + 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Audi A3 Diesel vs. the BMW i8 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,586 for the Audi A3 Diesel and $1,759 for the BMW i8.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi A3 Diesel, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 5 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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