BMW 3 Series Touring estate - MPG, running costs & CO2
Popular diesel models can return over 50mpg and the plug-in hybrid is even better
Customers are well catered for because the 3 Series Touring is available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains to suit your lifestyle, preferences and budget. For those travelling shorter distances, or prioritising driving dynamics, petrols should fit the bill. High-mileage drivers are still likely to favour diesel but the 330e plug-in hybrid could also be a great option for them, particularly if they're company-car drivers thanks to its low BiK rating.
BMW 3 Series Touring MPG & CO2
The entry-level BMW 318d Touring and the best-selling 320d are the most efficient of the diesel line-up, managing up to 58.9mpg. Both are also affordable choices for private and business drivers alike, thanks to new mild-hybrid technology that gets CO2 emissions as low as 126g/km. Upgrading to four-wheel drive and a more lavish spec in the 320d xDrive M Sport cuts fuel-efficiency to 53.3mpg with emissions starting at 138g/km. The BMW 330d with rear-wheel drive returns 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions starting at 137g/km. Adding xDrive four-wheel drive to the 330d means economy falls to 50.4mpg with CO2 emissions starting from 146g/km, making it much more expensive to run for both private and company-car buyers.
The petrol 318i, 320i and 330i all use the same engine but with different power outputs, and all have broadly similar economy figures, with the 318i and 320i offering up to 42.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 153-161g/km and the 330i returning 40.9mpg and 157-165g/km. A plug-in hybrid BMW 330e Touring is available for the first time in rear or four-wheel drive, promising an electric range of between 34 and 37 miles and economy of 156.9-201.8mpg. CO2 emissions range from 32-42g/km, making it the cheapest version for company-car tax (Benefit-in-Kind), and exempt from low-emission zones such as the expanded London ULEZ zone.
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Regular diesel and petrol versions incur the regular VED (tax) rate, with the 330e plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid engines taxed at the discounted rate. Any 3 Series Touring costing more than £40,000 incurs the additional annual surcharge in the first five renewal years.
Insurance groups
The cheapest insurance premiums in the BMW 3 Series Touring range should belong to the 318d, because it sits in either group 25 or 26 (out of 50), depending on trim level. Choose a 320d and it’ll occupy a group between 28-32, while the 330d is more expensive to insure, sitting as it does in groups 38 and 39. Most petrols sit in 29-33, except the range-topping M340i xDrive which sits in group 38. Insurance groups for the 318i and 330e models are yet to be announced.
Warranty
Every new BMW comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, with three years of roadside assistance thrown in. It's slightly more generous than Audi's policy and matches that of Mercedes. For an extra outlay, the warranty can also be extended on an annual basis.
Servicing
The BMW 3 Series is fitted with a number of sensors that can determine when a service is required, depending on how the car is driven. This means service intervals can vary, but are usually no longer than two years or 20,000 miles apart.