2018 head-to-head · Midsize Car vs Compact Car
2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel 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.
AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 30 MPG
The 2018 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,732 a year to fuel (72 MPGe + 29 MPG), versus $1,850 for the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel (30 MPG). That's roughly $118 a year, or about $589 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
- BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| BMW 5 Series Diesel | BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,850 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,732 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 72 MPGe + 29 MPG |
| 26 MPG | City | 70 MPGe / 27 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 75 MPGe / 31 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 46 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 370 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 16 mi |
| 99 cu ft | Passenger volume | 99 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 10 cu ft |
| 341 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 193 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 2 hrs |
| Diesel | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Diesel | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 3.0L 6-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 Diesel vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- BMW 5 Series Diesel
- 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 Diesel has more cargo space (14 vs. 10 cu ft).
The powertrains differ: the BMW 5 Series Diesel is a diesel, while the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel or the 2018 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The BMW 5 Series Diesel is rated 30 MPG combined and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 72 MPGe + 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 BMW 5 Series Diesel vs. the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel, 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,850 for the BMW 5 Series Diesel and $1,732 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW 5 Series Diesel, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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