2016 head-to-head · Compact Car
2016 Audi A4 vs BMW 3 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.
The 2016 BMW 3 Series is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,116 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $2,194 for the 2016 Audi A4 (27 MPG). That's roughly $78 a year, or about $392 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 A4
- BMW 3 Series
Side by side
| Audi A4 | BMW 3 Series | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,194 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,116 |
| 27 MPG | Combined efficiency | 28 MPG |
| 24 MPG | City | 23 MPG |
| 31 MPG | Highway | 35 MPG |
| 91 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 341 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 323 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| CVT | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| FWD | 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 A4 vs BMW 3 Series across model years
- Audi A4
- BMW 3 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 3 Series has more passenger space (96 vs. 91 cu ft); the BMW 3 Series has more cargo space (13 vs. 12 cu ft).
Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Audi A4 ranks 40th and the BMW 3 Series 37th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Audi A4 or the 2016 BMW 3 Series?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series. The Audi A4 is rated 27 MPG combined and the BMW 3 Series 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Audi A4 vs. the BMW 3 Series per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,194 for the Audi A4 and $2,116 for the BMW 3 Series.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 3 Series, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series in other years
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