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Mercedes Citan Transporter vs BMW 3 Series Saloon comparison

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

Mercedes Citan Transporter vs BMW 3 Series Saloon: Key differences

Mercedes Citan Transporter

  • clearly cheaper
  • clearly more electric range
  • a bit lighter
details

BMW 3 Series Saloon

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

By Achim Sedelmaier

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

Citan Transporter

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are often the first things buyers look at. Here it becomes clear which model has the long-term edge – whether at the pump, the plug, or in purchase price.

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 clearly more range – reaching up to 290 km, about 189 km more than the BMW 3 Series Saloon.

3 Series Saloon

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

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 significantly more torque with 700 Nm compared to 270 Nm. That’s about 430 Nm more.

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 a bit 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 markedly 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 clearly superior overall 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
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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

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

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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

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

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

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

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

Available configurations include Front-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.