2020 head-to-head · Compact Car

2020 Acura TLX vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,194/ year to fuel
27 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,757/ year to fuel
69 MPGe + 27 MPG

The 2020 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $1,757 a year to fuel (69 MPGe + 27 MPG), versus $2,194 for the 2020 Acura TLX (27 MPG). That's roughly $438 a year, or about $2,189 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

  • Acura TLX
  • BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid

Side by side

Acura TLXBMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
$2,194 Your annual fuel cost $1,757
27 MPG Combined efficiency 69 MPGe + 27 MPG
23 MPG City 65 MPGe / 25 MPG
33 MPG Highway 75 MPGe / 31 MPG
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 47 kWh
— Driving range 350 mi
— All-electric range 21 mi
94 cu ft Passenger volume 99 cu ft
14 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
330 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 170 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 3 hrs
Gas Powertrain Plug-in hybrid
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gas + electricity
2.4L 4-cyl Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed dual-clutch Transmission 8-speed automatic
FWD 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.

Acura TLX vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years

  • Acura TLX
  • BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid

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 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (99 vs. 94 cu ft); the Acura TLX has more cargo space (14 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 34 2020 compact cars, the Acura TLX ranks 26th and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 18th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Acura TLX is a conventional gas model, while the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 Acura TLX or the 2020 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The Acura TLX is rated 27 MPG combined and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 69 MPGe + 27 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 Acura TLX vs. the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $2,194 for the Acura TLX and $1,757 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.

Which has more cargo space?

The Acura TLX, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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