2021 BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid vs gas: is the plug-in worth it?
330e Plug-In Hybrid RWD vs 330e RWD
Yes. Cheaper to buy and to run.
$227less a year to run
- Plug-in: same price. Saves $227 a year.
- 12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents a kWh. Plug-ins: 50% of miles on electricity.
Every plug-in pair
| Pair | MSRP | Rating | Energy a year | Price gap | Saves a year | Payback | Ahead after 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330e Plug-In Hybrid RWD 330e RWD | $44,550 $44,550 | 28 mpg, 45 kWh/100 mi 28 mpg | $1,145 $1,371 | $0 | $227 | None needed | Plug-in, $1,360 |
| 330e Plug-In Hybrid North America RWD 330i RWD | $44,550 $41,250 | 28 mpg, 45 kWh/100 mi 30 mpg | $1,145 $1,280 | $3,300 | $135 | 24.4 years | Gas, $2,488 |
| 330e xDrive Hybrid Plug-in AWD 330e xDrive AWD | $46,550 $46,550 | 25 mpg, 50 kWh/100 mi 25 mpg | $1,278 $1,536 | $0 | $258 | None needed | Plug-in, $1,548 |
| 330e xDrive Plug-In Hybrid North America 330i xDrive AWD | $46,550 $43,250 | 25 mpg, 50 kWh/100 mi 28 mpg | $1,278 $1,371 | $3,300 | $93 | 35.3 years | Gas, $2,739 |
What changes the answer
- No price gap to pay back.
What you give up
| Measure | Plug-in | Gas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 288 hp | 288 hp | about the same |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | +52 lb-ft |
| Cargo, seats up | 13.2 cu ft | 17.0 cu ft | -3.8 cu ft |
What this cannot tell you
Incentives, insurance, upkeep and resale are not included.
Your own mpg will differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree