2021 head-to-head · Midsize Car vs Compact Car
2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid 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.
The 2021 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 $1,826 a year to fuel (64 MPGe + 26 MPG), versus $2,194 for the 2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid (27 MPG). That's roughly $369 a year, or about $1,843 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 Hybrid
- BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| BMW 5 Series Hybrid | BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,194 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,826 |
| 27 MPG | Combined efficiency | 64 MPGe + 26 MPG |
| 23 MPG | City | 59 MPGe / 24 MPG |
| 32 MPG | Highway | 72 MPGe / 29 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 49 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 340 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 21 mi |
| 99 cu ft | Passenger volume | 99 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 10 cu ft |
| 330 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 178 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 9/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 3 hrs |
| Hybrid | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-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.
BMW 5 Series Hybrid vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- BMW 5 Series Hybrid
- 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 Hybrid has more cargo space (14 vs. 10 cu ft).
The powertrains differ: the BMW 5 Series Hybrid is a full hybrid, while the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid or the 2021 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The BMW 5 Series Hybrid is rated 27 MPG combined and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 64 MPGe + 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 BMW 5 Series Hybrid 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 BMW 5 Series Hybrid and $1,826 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 5 Series Hybrid, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
BMW 5 Series Hybrid vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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