BMW X3 vs GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 32 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the BMW X3, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the GMC Terrain leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
BMW X3
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 47 configurations
2015–2027
GMC Terrain
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW X3 | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 30 mpg | 32 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 27 mpg | 28 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg | 39 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,600 | $2,200 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 204 g/mi ✓ | 316 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV | SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic 8-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium, Premium and Electricity, Diesel | Regular, Premium, Diesel |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 47 | 47 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
X3 vs Terrain: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW X3 or the GMC Terrain?
The GMC Terrain is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 32 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the BMW X3, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the GMC Terrain runs about $2,200 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,600 for the BMW X3 — a difference of roughly $400 per year.
What engines do the X3 and Terrain offer?
BMW X3: SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV. GMC Terrain: SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW X3 as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the GMC Terrain as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More X3 comparisons
Comparison id: bmw-x3-vs-gmc-terrain