Tank Ledger

BMW 328i MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW 328i has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 12 model years, from 1999 to 2016. Across those years its best rated version returned 27 mpg (2012) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (2000). The EPA record holds 25 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

27best combined mpg (2012)
19worst combined mpg (2000)
27latest year best (2016)
25configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1999221 mpg20 mpg#38 of 50 (24th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
2000321 mpg19 mpg#32 of 50 (37th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2007222 mpg21 mpg#25 of 47 (48th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2008222 mpg21 mpg#28 of 55 (50th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2009222 mpg21 mpg#29 of 54 (47th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2010222 mpg22 mpg#34 of 59 (43th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2011222 mpg22 mpg#40 of 64 (38th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2012227 mpg26 mpg#31 of 76 (60th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2013226 mpg26 mpg#47 of 84 (45th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2014227 mpg26 mpg#45 of 96 (54th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2015227 mpg26 mpg#47 of 102 (54th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2016227 mpg26 mpg#51 of 108 (53th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 328i placed highest in 2007 at #25 of 47, and lowest in 2016 at #51 of 108. It spent 5 of its 12 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 25 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20162.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop223326442.311.4$3,0003406/10
20162.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233527425.911.0$2,8503306/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop223326442.311.4$3,0003446/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233427425.911.0$2,8503277/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop223326442.311.4$3,0003417/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233427425.911.0$2,8503277/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233326442.311.4$3,0003417/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged223326442.311.4$3,0003407/10
20122.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233326442.311.4$3,000341.8076923076923n/a
20122.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233427425.911.0$2,850329.14814814814815n/a
20113.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl192822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20113.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20103.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20103.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20093.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20093.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20083.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20083.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl192822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20073.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20073.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl162519605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19992.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19992.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2000 → 200721 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2011 → 201222 → 27 mpg+5 mpg426 gal
2012 → 201327 → 26 mpg-1 mpg442 gal
2013 → 201426 → 27 mpg+1 mpg426 gal

What 328i fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2016 BMW 328i burns 426 to 442 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$1,278$1,327$49
$3.50/gal$1,491$1,548$57
$4.00/gal$1,704$1,769$66

EPA’s own estimate for the 2016 model year is $2,850 to $3,000 a year in fuel, or $3,750 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 27 mpg the BMW 328i is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $57 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.