The BMW M235i does 25.8 mpg combined (22.5 city, 31.9 highway), which works out to about $1,488 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 26.4 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 24.7 — a difference of $100 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every BMW M235i engine, compared
Gas mileage on the BMW M235i ranges from 26.4 down to 24.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $100 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 23.4 / 32.4 | 2020–2024 | $1,455 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 21 / 31 | 2014–2016 | $1,555 |
What that actually costs
The BMW M235i burns a gallon every 25.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 465 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.124 |
| Fuel per year | $1,488 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,440 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$6 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,994 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The BMW M235i gives up 9.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.9 out there against 22.5 in town, a 42% drop worth $503 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.9 mpg | $1,204 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +9.4 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the M235i changed over the years
The M235i peaked in 2024 at 27 mpg (24 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2016 at 24 — 3 mpg apart, or $178 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2024 car does 27. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2023 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2022 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2021 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2020 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2015 | 21 / 31 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2014 | 22 / 32 | 1 | $1,536 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 8 EPA ratings of the BMW M235i — 2 engines across 2014–2024. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,994. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the BMW M235i get?
25.8 mpg combined on average — 22.5 in the city and 31.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2014–2024.
How much does a BMW M235i cost in fuel per year?
About $1,488 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,440 over five years, or 0.124 dollars a mile.
Which M235i engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 26.4 mpg, against 24.7 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $100 a year.
Is the M235i good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world M235i figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the BMW M235i is $2,994 against the $1,488 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.