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 big-selling BMW 320d can manage up to 57.6mpg with CO2 emissions from 129g/km, thanks to new mild-hybrid technology, making it an affordable choice for private and business drivers alike. Add four-wheel drive and a more lavish spec and you get the 320d xDrive M Sport, cutting fuel-efficiency to 54mpg with 137g/km. Moving up to a powerful six-cylinder diesel like the BMW 330d xDrive means economy falls to 44.8mpg with CO2 emissions of 158g/km, making it much more expensive 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 152-161g/km and the 330i returning 40.9mpg and 156-166g/km. A plug-in hybrid BMW 330e Touring is available for the first time, promising an electric range of up to 37 miles and up to 200mpg. CO2 emissions start at just 32g/km, making it the cheapest version for company-car tax (Benefit-in-Kind) and exempt from the London Congestion Charge.
Diesel and petrol versions will cost £150 a year in road tax, reduced to £140 for the plug-in hybrid 330e and the mild-hybrid engines. Any car costing more than £40,000 is also hit with a £325 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, as 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 should you ever need it. It's slightly more generous than Audi's policy and matches 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.
