BMW 3-series – MPG and running costs
The 3-series can be surprisingly frugal, with the 330e PHEV boasting an impressive all-electric range
Assuming you have access to a charger and don’t spend your days doing lengthy journeys, the plug-in hybrid 330e will offer the lowest running costs of the 3-series range. Official economy figures of up to 353.1mpg can be taken with a pinch (or tablespoon) of salt, but with an all-electric range of up to 63 miles, most commutes can be tackled on battery power alone. Combine this with a low BiK rate for company car drivers and the 330e is a very attractive proposition.
The pure-combustion 320i posts good economy figures too, with a quoted 43.5mpg, but we do miss the combination of performance and economy you got from the old diesel models – the old 335bhp M340d, for instance, achieved a quoted 46.3mpg.
The least economical of the range is the M340i xDrive, with its 369bhp 3-litre straight-six achieving a 36.2mpg WLTP figure. Surprisingly, this isn't too hard to reach on a long run thanks to its 48-volt mild-hybrid tech, although a hard drive will see economy drop to the low teens.
