2021 head-to-head · Large Car

2021 Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid vs BMW 7 Series

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
$2,170/ year to fuel
53 MPGe + 23 MPG

AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 53 MPGe + 23 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,370/ year to fuel
25 MPG

The 2021 Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,170 a year to fuel (53 MPGe + 23 MPG), versus $2,370 for the 2021 BMW 7 Series (25 MPG). That's roughly $200 a year, or about $1,000 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

  • Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid
  • BMW 7 Series

Side by side

Audi A8 Plug-in HybridBMW 7 Series
$2,170 Your annual fuel cost $2,370
53 MPGe + 23 MPG Combined efficiency 25 MPG
49 MPGe / 21 MPG City 22 MPG
60 MPGe / 26 MPG Highway 29 MPG
63 kWh Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) —
420 mi Driving range —
18 mi All-electric range —
111 cu ft Passenger volume 114 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 14 cu ft
213 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 360 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
2.4 hrs Charge time at 240V —
Plug-in hybrid Powertrain Gas
Premium gas + electricity Fuel Premium gasoline
3.0L 6-cyl turbo Engine / motor 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
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.

Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid vs BMW 7 Series across model years

  • Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid
  • BMW 7 Series

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 7 Series has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 27 2021 large cars, the Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid ranks 13th and the BMW 7 Series 18th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid, while the BMW 7 Series is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid or the 2021 BMW 7 Series?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid is rated 53 MPGe + 23 MPG combined and the BMW 7 Series 25 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid vs. the BMW 7 Series per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,170 for the Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid and $2,370 for the BMW 7 Series.

Which has more cargo space?

The BMW 7 Series, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid vs BMW 7 Series in other years

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