Tank Ledger

BMW 325i Convertible MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW 325i Convertible has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1989 to 1995. Across those years its best rated version returned 20 mpg (1994) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1989). The EPA record holds 13 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Minicompact Cars.

20best combined mpg (1994)
18worst combined mpg (1989)
20latest year best (1995)
13configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1989218 mpg18 mpg#53 of 71 (26th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1990218 mpg18 mpg#54 of 65 (17th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1991218 mpg18 mpg#60 of 73 (18th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1992218 mpg18 mpg#57 of 69 (18th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1993118 mpg18 mpg#52 of 64 (19th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1994220 mpg20 mpg#4 of 12 (73th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars
1995220 mpg20 mpg#5 of 12 (64th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 325i Convertible placed highest in 1994 at #4 of 12, and lowest in 1991 at #60 of 73. It spent 2 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 13 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19952.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)182620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19952.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19942.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)182620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19942.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19932.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19922.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19922.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19912.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19912.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)152218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19902.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19902.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)162318638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19892.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)162118638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/a
19892.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) (MPFI)162218638.916.5$3,450493.72222222222223n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1993 → 199418 → 20 mpg+2 mpg575 gal

What 325i Convertible fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1995 BMW 325i Convertible burns 575 to 575 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,725$1,725$0
$3.50/gal$2,013$2,013$0
$4.00/gal$2,300$2,300$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 1995 model year is $3,900 to $3,900 a year in fuel, or $8,250 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 20 mpg the BMW 325i Convertible is 4 mpg below the median, which is worth about $335 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other BMW nameplates

Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.