2018 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel vs Tesla Model 3
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 30 MPG
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $699 a year to fuel (130 MPGe), versus $1,850 for the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel (30 MPG). That's roughly $1,151 a year, or about $5,753 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- BMW 5 Series Diesel
- Tesla Model 3
Side by side
| BMW 5 Series Diesel | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,850 | Your annual fuel cost | $699 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 130 MPGe |
| 26 MPG | City | 136 MPGe |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 123 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 25.9 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 310 mi |
| 99 cu ft | Passenger volume | 97 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 341 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 10 hrs |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Electric |
| Diesel | Fuel | Electricity |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | Electric motor (202 kW) |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | Single-speed |
| AWD | Drivetrain | RWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
BMW 5 Series Diesel vs Tesla Model 3 across model years
- BMW 5 Series Diesel
- Tesla Model 3
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Tesla Model 3 has more cargo space (15 vs. 14 cu ft).
Among 74 2018 midsize cars, the BMW 5 Series Diesel ranks 36th and the Tesla Model 3 2nd for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Tesla Model 3 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the BMW 5 Series Diesel; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel or the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Measured by cost to drive, the Tesla Model 3. The BMW 5 Series Diesel is rated 30 MPG combined and the Tesla Model 3 130 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel vs. the Tesla Model 3 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,850 for the BMW 5 Series Diesel and $699 for the Tesla Model 3.
Which has more cargo space?
The Tesla Model 3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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