2018 head-to-head · Large Car

2018 BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid 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
$1,908/ year to fuel
64 MPGe + 27 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 64 MPGe + 27 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$880/ year to fuel
103 MPGe

The 2018 Tesla Model S 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 $880 a year to fuel (103 MPGe), versus $1,908 for the 2018 BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid (64 MPGe + 27 MPG). That's roughly $1,028 a year, or about $5,141 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 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid
  • Tesla Model S

Side by side

BMW 7 Series Plug-in HybridTesla Model S
$1,908 Your annual fuel cost $880
64 MPGe + 27 MPG Combined efficiency 103 MPGe
62 MPGe / 25 MPG City 102 MPGe
68 MPGe / 29 MPG Highway 105 MPGe
52 kWh Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 32.6 kWh
340 mi Driving range 259 mi
14 mi All-electric range —
114 cu ft Passenger volume 94 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 26 cu ft
214 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
9/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
3 hrs Charge time at 240V 12 hrs
Plug-in hybrid Powertrain Electric
Premium gas + electricity Fuel Electricity
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor Electric motor (75 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 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs Tesla Model S across model years

  • BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid
  • 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

The BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid goes farther between stops: about 340 miles on a full tank and charge, compared with 259 miles for the Tesla Model S.

Per EPA interior volume figures, the BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (114 vs. 94 cu ft); the Tesla Model S has more cargo space (26 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 31 2018 large cars, the BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid ranks 10th and the Tesla Model S 2nd 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 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid or the 2018 Tesla Model S?

Measured by cost to drive, the Tesla Model S. The BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid is rated 64 MPGe + 27 MPG combined and the Tesla Model S 103 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs. the Tesla Model S per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,908 for the BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid and $880 for the Tesla Model S.

Which has more range?

The BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid: about 340 miles versus 259 miles.

Which has more cargo space?

The Tesla Model S, with 26 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid vs Tesla Model S in other years

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