Fuel consumption and costs in the test: BMW 330i xDrive - this is what the petrol engine really costs

For the dramatic? The BMW 3 Series has been a favorite since it rediscovered its dynamics in the G20 generation in 2019. Absolutely dynamic, even, when it comes to the test cars BMW sends us. They almost always feature the M Sport package, which equips them with a sports suspension, variable-speed steering, brakes, seats, and aerodynamic package to increase agility. They succeed in doing this during the slalom on the test track. Otherwise, not so much.

Because this test car also overdoes it. Even with its adaptive dampers in the Comfort setting, the 330i jolts harshly over bumps. It particularly thumps over transverse joints, which are no shortage on highways. In addition, the nervous steering fidgets with straight-line stability. The setup is simply a bit over the top to maintain the minimum level of long-distance comfort that one has come to expect in this class.

BMW states a WLTP fuel consumption of 7.4 liters per 100 kilometers for the 330i xDrive M Sport package. This figure is lower in everyday driving. We determined an average fuel consumption of 8.7 liters, resulting in fuel costs of €14.01 per 100 kilometers. On the Eco lap, the BMW consumed 6.2 liters, while on the commuter route it consumed 8.9 liters. When driving the 330i xDrive M Sport package in a sporty manner, fuel consumption rose to 10.5 liters. Fuel consumption figures are calculated based on the current daily fuel price on our partner portal mehr-tanken.de (April 10, 2025 / Super: €1.61/liter).

If you drive as resource-efficiently as we did on our Eco-Route, you'll reduce fuel costs per 100 kilometers to €9.98. The more aggressive driving results in a total of €16.91. Vehicle tax for the BMW 330i xDrive M Sport package costs €226 per year, and liability insurance is €505. Partial and fully comprehensive insurance add an additional €536 and €1,312, respectively. Monthly maintenance costs of €398 are charged for those who drive the BMW 15,000 kilometers per year. If the mileage is doubled, the total rises to €698. We're not including depreciation in this calculation.

In the auto motor und sport test, the €68,200 BMW 330i xDrive M Sport package averaged 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers. This translates to a fuel cost of €14.01 for this distance. Monthly maintenance costs are €398 (15,000 km annual mileage) or €698 (30,000 km annual mileage).

The auto motor und sport test consumption is comprised of three differently weighted fuel consumption trips. 70 percent is the so-called "commuter consumption." This is a trip from home to work, averaging 21 kilometers. A particularly economical, approximately 275-kilometer Eco lap accounts for 15 percent of the rating. The remaining 15 percent is accounted for by the Sport Driver lap. The length is roughly the same as the Eco lap, but the route includes a larger portion of highway and thus, on average, higher speeds. The basis for calculating fuel costs is always the price quoted on the "mehr Tanken" portal on the day the article was written.

Monthly maintenance costs include maintenance, wear parts, and vehicle taxes, assuming annual mileage of 15,000 and 30,000 kilometers without depreciation. The calculation is based on test fuel consumption, a three-year ownership period, a no-claims bonus of SF12 for liability and fully comprehensive insurance with Allianz Direct, including discounts for garage parking, and a restriction to certain drivers (accident-free/annual 15,000 km/resident in the 70174 postal code area/not under 21/partner driver over 25 years old).

In the picture gallery you can see all the vehicles in the comparison test, on whose data this cost and real consumption article is based.