Tank Ledger

BMW 330i MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW 330i has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 2001 to 2021. Across those years its best rated version returned 30 mpg (2019) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (2001). The EPA record holds 23 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

30best combined mpg (2019)
20worst combined mpg (2001)
30latest year best (2021)
23configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2001221 mpg20 mpg#39 of 62 (38th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2002222 mpg20 mpg#32 of 64 (51th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2003322 mpg20 mpg#33 of 64 (49th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2004321 mpg20 mpg#44 of 65 (33th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2005321 mpg20 mpg#47 of 66 (29th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2006321 mpg20 mpg#31 of 51 (40th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2017227 mpg25 mpg#48 of 100 (53th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2018227 mpg25 mpg#45 of 95 (53th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2019130 mpg30 mpg#24 of 86 (73th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2020130 mpg30 mpg#21 of 79 (74th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2021130 mpg30 mpg#25 of 79 (69th 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 330i placed highest in 2020 at #21 of 79, and lowest in 2017 at #48 of 100. It spent 6 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 23 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20212.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop263630383.39.9$2,6002986/10
20202.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop263630383.39.9$2,6002997/10
20192.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop263630383.39.9$2,6002997/10
20182.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop213225460.011.9$3,1003605/10
20182.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop243427425.911.0$2,8503246/10
20172.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop213225460.011.9$3,1003605/10
20172.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233427425.911.0$2,8503246/10
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20033.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20033.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20033.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20023.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20023.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20013.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20013.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/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
2001 → 200221 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2003 → 200422 → 21 mpg-1 mpg548 gal
2006 → 201721 → 27 mpg+6 mpg426 gal
2018 → 201927 → 30 mpg+3 mpg383 gal

What 330i fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2021 BMW 330i burns 383 to 383 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$1,150$1,150$0
$3.50/gal$1,342$1,342$0
$4.00/gal$1,533$1,533$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2021 model year is $2,600 to $2,600 a year in fuel, or $1,750 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 30 mpg the BMW 330i is 4 mpg better the median, which is worth about $206 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.