2015 head-to-head · Large Car

2015 BMW X1 vs Tesla Model S

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
$2,279/ year to fuel
26 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$891/ year to fuel
101 MPGe

The 2015 Tesla Model S 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 $891 a year to fuel (101 MPGe), versus $2,279 for the 2015 BMW X1 (26 MPG). That's roughly $1,388 a year, or about $6,939 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 X1
  • Tesla Model S

Side by side

BMW X1Tesla Model S
$2,279 Your annual fuel cost $891
26 MPG Combined efficiency 101 MPGe
22 MPG City 101 MPGe
32 MPG Highway 102 MPGe
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 33 kWh
— Driving range 240 mi
98 cu ft Passenger volume 94 cu ft
25 cu ft Cargo volume 26 cu ft
348 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 12 hrs
Gas Powertrain Electric
Premium gasoline Fuel Electricity
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor Electric motor (70 kW)
8-speed automatic Transmission Single-speed
AWD Drivetrain AWD

✓ 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 X1 vs Tesla Model S across model years

  • BMW X1
  • Tesla Model S

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 X1 has more passenger space (98 vs. 94 cu ft); the Tesla Model S has more cargo space (26 vs. 25 cu ft).

Among 29 2015 large cars, the BMW X1 ranks 18th and the Tesla Model S 1st for lowest fuel cost.

Because the Tesla Model S 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 X1; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 BMW X1 or the 2015 Tesla Model S?

Measured by cost to drive, the Tesla Model S. The BMW X1 is rated 26 MPG combined and the Tesla Model S 101 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 BMW X1 vs. the Tesla Model S per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $2,279 for the BMW X1 and $891 for the Tesla Model S.

Which has more cargo space?

The Tesla Model S, with 26 cu ft of luggage volume versus 25 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW X1 vs Tesla Model S in other years

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