2015 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2015 Audi S3 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.
AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed dual-clutch · 26 MPG
RWD · Electric motor (125 kW) · Single-speed · 124 MPGe · 81 mi
The 2015 BMW i3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $729 a year to fuel (124 MPGe), versus $2,279 for the 2015 Audi S3 (26 MPG). That's roughly $1,550 a year, or about $7,749 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 i3
Side by side
| Audi S3 | BMW i3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,279 | Your annual fuel cost | $729 |
| 26 MPG | Combined efficiency | 124 MPGe |
| 23 MPG | City | 137 MPGe |
| 31 MPG | Highway | 111 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 27 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 81 mi |
| 86 cu ft | Passenger volume | 84 cu ft |
| 10 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 340 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 4 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Electric |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | Electric motor (125 kW) |
| 6-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | Single-speed |
| AWD | 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 S3 vs BMW i3 across model years
- Audi S3
- 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. 10 cu ft).
Among 36 2015 subcompact cars, the Audi S3 ranks 20th 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 S3; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Audi S3 or the 2015 BMW i3?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The Audi S3 is rated 26 MPG combined and the BMW i3 124 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Audi S3 vs. the BMW i3 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $2,279 for the Audi S3 and $729 for the BMW i3.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW i3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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