BMW 318i/318is MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW 318i/318is has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1992 to 1998. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (1997) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 17 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as 318i/318is and 318i/318iS. The figures below cover every one of them.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #37 of 69 (47th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1993 | 2 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #38 of 64 (41th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1994 | 4 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #31 of 56 (45th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1995 | 2 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #22 of 50 (57th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1996 | 2 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #20 of 38 (49th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1997 | 4 | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | #16 of 37 (58th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | #17 of 42 (61th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 318i/318is placed highest in 1997 at #16 of 37, and lowest in 1993 at #38 of 64. It spent 3 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 17 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 19 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1998 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 20 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 20 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.8L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 → 1994 | 22 → 23 mpg | +1 mpg | 500 gal |
| 1996 → 1997 | 23 → 24 mpg | +1 mpg | 479 gal |
What 318i/318is fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1998 BMW 318i/318is burns 479 to 500 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,438 | $1,500 | $63 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,677 | $1,750 | $73 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,917 | $2,000 | $83 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1998 model year is $2,600 to $2,700 a year in fuel, or $2,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 24 mpg the BMW 318i/318is is exactly at the median.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other BMW nameplates
Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.