TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the 2014 BMW 3-Series
2014 BMW 3-Series Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year
Comment
2014
Both the tested BMW 328d and the tested Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTEC were fitted with optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems. This cost them an mpg or two, but kept the playing field level.
The more compact BMW weighs much less, 3,620 vs. 4,409 pounds, and has an engine tuned to produce considerably less peak torque (280 vs. 369 lb-ft) and a bit less peak horsepower (180 vs. 195), so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that it earns a significantly higher EPA city rating, 31 vs. 27 mpg. But on the highway the Benz nearly bridges the gap, 43 vs. 42 mpg. (All figures here with AWD. With rear-wheel-drive the cars rate 32/45 and 28/45.)
Diesel enthusiasts argue that the EPA's testing regimen penalizes the compression-ignition engines, and that real world figures tend to be higher.
Unfortunately, I drove the two cars on much different roads under much different conditions. In straight 65-mph highway driving in balmy temps, the Mercedes-Benz's trip computer reported averages in the low 40s, very close to the EPA rating. On a fairly aggressive drive in the hills south of San Francisco, this average dropped to 28, which is still better than the EPA city rating. And on a cruise along one of the less curvy portions of the California coastal highway it managed a two-way average around 39. Not too shabby for such a heavy car.
I drove the BMW 328d in suburban Detroit during some especially cold weather (thank you, polar vertex), which harms fuel economy. Even so, with a fairly heavy foot and a cold start it managed 33 mpg while driving my son the eight miles to his school. On the way back, with a lighter right foot and a warm engine, it managed 44. The highest observed average was 49. At a steady 65 miles-per-hour on the highway the trip computer reported just under 40 mpg. Correct for the much colder temperature, and this is at least as good as the Mercedes, but a much tighter race than in around-town driving.
My initial impression was that the 328d's trip computer reports weren't much better than the gas-powered 328i's surprisingly good numbers. Then I checked my review. Even though the 328i wasn't penalized by all-wheel-drive, and the ambient temperature wasn't quite as low, its averages were between two-thirds (moderately heavy foot) and four-fifths (ultra-light foot) as high as the 328d's. Overall, figure three-quarters as efficient, at best. Impressive for a quick, gas-powered car, but no match for the diesel, even considering that diesel tends to cost more than premium gasoline (this varies by local area).
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TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the 2014 BMW 3-Series
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