BMW i4 vs Tesla Model 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Tesla Model 3 vs BMW i4 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Tesla Model 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 142 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 22 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model 3 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i4 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 120 mpg | 142 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 122 mpg | 150 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 119 mpg | 133 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $550 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2022–2026 | 2017–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 33 | 42 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i4 vs Tesla Model 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model 3 burns about $550 of fuel annually against $650 for the BMW i4. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Tesla Model 3 leads in both cycles — 150 mpg city and 133 mpg highway against 122 and 119 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the BMW i4 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model 3 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
i4 vs Model 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i4 or the Tesla Model 3?
The Tesla Model 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 142 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the BMW i4, a 22 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model 3 runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i4 — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the i4 and Model 3 offer?
BMW i4: no engine data on record. Tesla Model 3: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i4 as Subcompact Cars and the Tesla Model 3 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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