BMW 318ti MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW 318ti has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1995 to 1999. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (1997) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (1995). The EPA record holds 12 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 | 23 mpg | 21 mpg | #24 of 60 (61th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1996 | 2 | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | #26 of 52 (51th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1997 | 4 | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | #15 of 46 (69th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | #16 of 47 (67th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1999 | 2 | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | #18 of 50 (65th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 318ti placed highest in 1997 at #15 of 46, and lowest in 1996 at #26 of 52. It spent 5 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1999 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 20 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1998 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 1.9L 4-cyl | 20 | 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) | 20 | 29 | 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 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 20 | 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) | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | 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 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 → 1997 | 23 → 24 mpg | +1 mpg | 479 gal |
What 318ti fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1999 BMW 318ti 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 1999 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 Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 24 mpg the BMW 318ti is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $129 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact 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.