BMW 3 Series
Compact car · every model year 2016–2026
| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 0 | ★★★★★ | 31 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid | B | 1 | 4 | ★★★★★ | 31 mpg | |
| 2024 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | D | 3 | 8 | ★★★★★ | 29 mpg | |
| 2023 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | F | 5 | 10 | ★★★★★ | 29 mpg | |
| 2022 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | D | 3 | 14 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | |
| 2021 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | F | 9 | 33 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2020 | Gas | F | 11 | 52 | — | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2019 | Gas | F | 9 | 41 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2018 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 7 | 72 | ★★★★★ | 36 mpg | Park outside |
| 2017 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 4 | 77 | ★★★★★ | 36 mpg | Park outside |
| 2016 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 6 | 100 | ★★★★★ | 35 mpg | Park outside |
What changed year to year
- 2025: dropped gas, plug-in hybrid; best combined mpg 29 → 31; 6 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2023: best combined mpg 30 → 29
- 2022: added hybrid; 4 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2021: added plug-in hybrid; 2 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2020: 5 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2019: dropped plug-in hybrid, diesel; best combined mpg 36 → 30; 17 → 5 EPA configurations
- 2017: best combined mpg 35 → 36
Best 3 Series years to buy used
- 2025 — Safety B, 1 recalls, 4 complaints
- 2022 — Safety D, 3 recalls, 14 complaints
- 2024 — Safety D, 3 recalls, 8 complaints
- 2023 — Safety F, 5 recalls, 10 complaints
- 2017 — Safety F, 4 recalls, 77 complaints
Ranked by Safety Signal, then fewest complaints. Older years have had more time to accumulate both.