2019 head-to-head · Compact Car

2019 Audi A4 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.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,975/ year to fuel
30 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,732/ year to fuel
72 MPGe + 29 MPG

The 2019 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 $1,732 a year to fuel (72 MPGe + 29 MPG), versus $1,975 for the 2019 Audi A4 (30 MPG). That's roughly $243 a year, or about $1,214 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 A4
  • BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid

Side by side

Audi A4BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
$1,975 Your annual fuel cost $1,732
30 MPG Combined efficiency 72 MPGe + 29 MPG
27 MPG City 70 MPGe / 27 MPG
34 MPG Highway 75 MPGe / 30 MPG
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 46 kWh
— Driving range 370 mi
— All-electric range 16 mi
92 cu ft Passenger volume 99 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
292 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 193 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 2 hrs
Gas Powertrain Plug-in hybrid
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gas + electricity
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
7-speed dual-clutch Transmission 8-speed automatic
FWD 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 A4 vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years

  • Audi A4
  • 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 Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (99 vs. 92 cu ft); the Audi A4 has more cargo space (13 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 43 2019 compact cars, the Audi A4 ranks 25th and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 23rd for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Audi A4 is a conventional gas model, while the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Audi A4 or the 2019 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A4 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 2019 Audi A4 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 $1,975 for the Audi A4 and $1,732 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.

Which has more cargo space?

The Audi A4, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Audi A4 vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid in other years

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