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BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Mercedes Citan Transporter comparison

Compare performance (530 HP vs 131 HP), boot space and price (39,900 £ vs 21,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – BMW 3 Series Saloon or Mercedes Citan Transporter?

BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Mercedes Citan Transporter: Key differences

BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • clearly more power
  • significantly more efficient
  • clearly quicker 0–100 km/h
details

Mercedes Citan Transporter

  • clearly cheaper
  • considerably more electric range
  • somewhat lighter
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By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

3 Series Saloon

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Mercedes Citan Transporter is clearly cheaper – starting at 21,700 £ , while the BMW 3 Series Saloon costs 39,900 £ . That’s a price difference of around 18,201 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the BMW 3 Series Saloon uses 2.4 L/100km and is significantly more efficient than the Mercedes Citan Transporter with 5.1 L/100km. The difference is about 2.7 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Mercedes Citan Transporter offers considerably more range – reaching up to 290 km, about 189 km more than the BMW 3 Series Saloon.

Citan Transporter

Engine and Performance:

Under the bonnet, it becomes clear which model is tuned for sportiness and which one takes the lead when you hit the accelerator.

When it comes to engine power, the BMW 3 Series Saloon offers clearly more power – delivering 530 HP compared to 131 HP. That’s roughly 399 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the BMW 3 Series Saloon is clearly quicker – completing the sprint in 3.5 s, while the Mercedes Citan Transporter takes 11.7 s. That’s about 8.2 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the BMW 3 Series Saloon delivers substantially more torque with 700 Nm compared to 270 Nm. That’s about 430 Nm more.

3 Series Saloon

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Mercedes Citan Transporter is somewhat lighter – 1,381 kg compared to 1,575 kg. The difference is around 194 kg.

When it comes to payload, the Mercedes Citan Transporter carries noticeably more – 787 kg compared to 495 kg. That’s a difference of about 292 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is decisively ahead in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £39,900
3 Series Saloon

BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • Engine Type Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission Automatic, Manuel
  • Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 150 - 530 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
  • Electric Range 96 - 101 km
details

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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

BMW 3 Series Saloon

The BMW 3 Series saloon is a driver's car in a suit, blending poised handling with a cabin that feels more premium than its practicality suggests. It’s composed enough for daily duties yet playful enough to keep weekend drives interesting, making it a sensible choice for buyers who still want to have fun.

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Reviews BMW 3 Series Saloon

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

Mercedes Citan Transporter

The Mercedes Citan is a practical, city-friendly van that blends Mercedes' premium touches with sensible commercial utility — it's nimble in tight streets, easy to load, and feels more polished than its price suggests. For small-business owners who want something professional-looking without fuss, the Citan is a dependable workhorse that won’t embarrass you at client meetings and is surprisingly pleasant to drive.

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Reviews Mercedes Citan Transporter

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

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Costs and Consumption
Price
39,900 - 92,200 £
Price
21,700 - 33,300 £
Consumption L/100km
2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.1 - 6.9 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
18.7 - 21.1 kWh/100km
Electric Range
96 - 101 km
Electric Range
262 - 290 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
45 kWh
co2
54 - 227 g/km
co2
0 - 156 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
54 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Sedan
Body Type
Cargo Van
Seats
5
Seats
2 - 5
Doors
-
Doors
4 - 5
Curb weight
1,575 - 1,960 kg
Curb weight
1,381 - 1,939 kg
Trunk capacity
375 - 480 L
Trunk capacity
-
Length
-
Length
4,498 - 4,922 mm
Width
1,827 - 1,903 mm
Width
1,859 mm
Height
-
Height
1,819 - 1,830 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
2,900 - 3,620 L
Payload
405 - 495 kg
Payload
449 - 787 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Diesel, Petrol, Electric
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox, Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic, Reduction Gearbox
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
150 - 530 HP
Power HP
95 - 131 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.5 - 8.6 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
11.7 - 13.8 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
132 - 183 km/h
Torque
250 - 700 Nm
Torque
240 - 270 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
110 - 390 kW
Power kW
70 - 96 kW
Engine capacity
1,995 - 2,998 cm3
Engine capacity
1,332 - 1,461 cm3

General
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
Model Year
2,021 - 2,024
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E, F, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
E, F, D, A
Brand
BMW
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Is the BMW 3 Series Saloon offered with different drivetrains?

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is available as Rear-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.