Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) · Facelift 2003 330CivsMazda RX-8 1.3 Wankel

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) · Facelift 2003

330Ci

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe2003-2006

Mazda RX-8

1.3 Wankel

231 hp1308 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe2003-2012

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci

Fastest top speed
260 km/h
162 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
231 hp
172 kW
Highest torque
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Lowest combined fuel consumption
9.1 L/100 km
25.8 mpg US
31.0 mpg UK
Lowest city consumption
12.8 L/100 km
18.4 mpg US
22.1 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
6.9 L/100 km
34.1 mpg US
40.9 mpg UK
Best estimated range
692 km
430 mi
Largest trunk
410 L
Best overall score
57/100
Best performance score
58/100
Best economy score
82/100
Best practicality score
56/100

Mazda RX-8 1.3 Wankel

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.4 s
Lightest
1,379 kg
3,040 lb
Best power-to-weight
168 hp/t
125 kW/t
6.0 kg/hp

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel
Power	231hp172kW	231hp172kW
Torque	300Nm221lb-ft	211Nm156lb-ft
Curb weight	1,430kg3,153lb	1,379kg3,040lb
Gross weight	1,920kg4,233lb	1,815kg4,001lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	234 km/h 145 mph
To 99% top speed	90.5s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	72.6s99% target: 232 km/h / 144 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.5s	6.4s
0-200 km/h	23.7s Calculated	26.7s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.2s Calculated	6.1s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.1L/100 km25.8mpg US31.0mpg UK	11.2L/100 km21mpg US25.2mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	12.8L/100 km18.4mpg US22.1mpg UK	15.6L/100 km15.1mpg US18.1mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	6.9L/100 km34.1mpg US40.9mpg UK	8.7L/100 km27mpg US32.5mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.5s Calculated	14.5s Calculated
Power-to-weight	162hp/t120kW/t73hp/1000 lb Calculated	168hp/t125kW/t76hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	210Nm/t140lb-ft/ton Calculated	153Nm/t102lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	692km430mi Calculated	545km338mi Calculated
Displacement	2,979cc182cu in	1,308cc80cu in
Length	4,488mm177in	4,430mm174in
Width	1,757mm69in	1,770mm70in
Height	1,369mm54in	1,340mm53in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,500mm59in
Rear track	1,483mm58in	1,505mm59in
Ground clearance	-	140mm6in
Trunk volume	410L	290L
Doors	2	2
Seats	5	4
Fuel tank	63L	61L
CO2 emissions	-	284g/km

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330CiMazda RX-8 1.3 WankelPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	5,900 rpm	3,500 rpm	6,150 rpm
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	8,200 rpm	5,500 rpm	9,000 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.2 s	6.1 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.5 s	6.4 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	23.7 s	26.7 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Limited	234 km/h 145 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.4 s	2.4 s
330 ft 101 m	6.4 s	6.3 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.5 s	9.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.3 s	12.2 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.5 s	14.5 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	161 km/h 100 mph	159 km/h 99 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	231 hp 172 kW
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	231 hp 172 kW

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	300 Nm 221 lb-ft
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	211 Nm 156 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	1,430 kg 3,153 lb
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	1,379 kg 3,040 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	234 km/h 145 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	6.5 s
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	6.4 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Mazda RX-8 1.3 Wankel and BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci: 0.1 s.

Fuel consumption comparison

Bar comparison chart for Fuel consumption. Lower is better · L/100 km / mpg US / mpg UK

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	9.1 L/100 km 25.8 mpg US 31.0 mpg UK
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	11.2 L/100 km 21.0 mpg US 25.2 mpg UK

The biggest fuel consumption difference is between BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci and Mazda RX-8 1.3 Wankel: 2.1 L/100 km.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	162 hp/t 120 kW/t 6.2 kg/hp
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	168 hp/t 125 kW/t 6.0 kg/hp

Estimated range comparison

Bar comparison chart for Estimated range. Higher is better · km / mi

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	692 km 430 mi
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	545 km 338 mi

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	231 hp 172 kW	6.5 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	231 hp 172 kW	6.4 s	234 km/h 145 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,369 mm 53.9 in

MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.4 s
Top speed 234 km/h 145 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	290 L 10.2 cu ft
Length	4,430 mm 174.4 in
Height	1,340 mm 52.8 in

Performance vs fuel economy

Cars closer to the top-right corner combine stronger performance with better fuel economy scores.

Vehicle

Performance score

Fuel economy score

BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

9.1 L/100 km

25.8 mpg US

31.0 mpg UK

MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.4 s
Top speed 234 km/h 145 mph

11.2 L/100 km

21.0 mpg US

25.2 mpg UK

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci is closest to the top-right balance target for performance and fuel economy.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption

Cars closer to the lower-left corner offer a better mix of quick acceleration and low fuel consumption.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Fuel consumption, L/100 km	0-100 km/h, s
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	9.1 L/100 km 25.8 mpg US 31.0 mpg UK	6.5 s
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	11.2 L/100 km 21.0 mpg US 25.2 mpg UK	6.4 s

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption

The shaded area favors higher power-to-weight with lower combined fuel consumption.

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Power-to-weight, hp/t	Fuel consumption, L/100 km
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	162 hp/t 120 kW/t 6.2 kg/hp	9.1 L/100 km 25.8 mpg US 31.0 mpg UK
MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel	168 hp/t 125 kW/t 6.0 kg/hp	11.2 L/100 km 21.0 mpg US 25.2 mpg UK

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci

MazdaRX-81.3 Wankel

Power

231 hp

172 kW

231 hp

172 kW

Torque

300 Nm

221 lb-ft

211 Nm

156 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.5 s

6.4 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

234 km/h

145 mph

Lightness

1,430 kg

3,153 lb

1,379 kg

3,040 lb

Fuel consumption

9.1 L/100 km

25.8 mpg US

31.0 mpg UK

11.2 L/100 km

21.0 mpg US

25.2 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,369 mm 53.9 in

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	290 L 10.2 cu ft
Length	4,430 mm 174.4 in
Height	1,340 mm 52.8 in

Range score

692 km

430 mi

545 km

338 mi

CO2 score

284 g/km

Trunk score

410 L

14.5 cu ft

290 L

10.2 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

162 hp/t

120 kW/t

6.2 kg/hp

168 hp/t

125 kW/t

6.0 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci	Mazda RX-8 1.3 Wankel
Consumption	9.1 L/100 km25.8 mpg US31 mpg UK	11.2 L/100 km21 mpg US25.2 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	15.92 LC100 km	19.60 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	25.63 LC100 mi	31.54 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,365 L361 US gal300 UK gal	1,680 L444 US gal370 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,389 LC/year	2,940 LC/year