2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 BMW 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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
$2,194/ year to fuel
27 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,116/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 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 BMW 4 Series (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

  • BMW 4 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Side by side

BMW 4 SeriesMercedes-Benz C-Class
$2,194 Your annual fuel cost $2,116
27 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
23 MPG City 25 MPG
34 MPG Highway 34 MPG
90 cu ft Passenger volume 90 cu ft
9 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
338 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 315 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
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 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class across model years

  • BMW 4 Series
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has more cargo space (13 vs. 9 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the BMW 4 Series ranks 41st and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 38th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 BMW 4 Series or the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Measured by cost to drive, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The BMW 4 Series is rated 27 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 BMW 4 Series vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,194 for the BMW 4 Series and $2,116 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Which has more cargo space?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 9 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class in other years

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