2016 head-to-head · Compact Car
2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
RWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed automatic · 51 MPGe + 30 MPG
The 2016 BMW 3 Series 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 $1,837 for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid (51 MPGe + 30 MPG). That's roughly $251 a year, or about $1,254 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 Diesel
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| BMW 3 Series Diesel | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,586 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,837 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 51 MPGe + 30 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 45 MPGe / 28 MPG |
| 42 MPG | Highway | 61 MPGe / 32 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 56 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 410 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 11 mi |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 10 cu ft |
| 284 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 215 g/mi |
| 8/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 9/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 1.5 hrs |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Diesel | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 7-speed automatic |
| RWD | 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.
BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- BMW 3 Series Diesel
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
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 Diesel has more passenger space (96 vs. 91 cu ft); the BMW 3 Series Diesel has more cargo space (13 vs. 10 cu ft).
Among 51 2016 compact cars, the BMW 3 Series Diesel ranks 24th and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid 30th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the BMW 3 Series Diesel is a diesel, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 3 Series Diesel. The BMW 3 Series Diesel is rated 35 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid 51 MPGe + 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW 3 Series Diesel vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid 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 BMW 3 Series Diesel and $1,837 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 3 Series Diesel, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW 3 Series Diesel vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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