2019 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2019 Audi A5 vs BMW i3 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 · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed dual-clutch · 27 MPG
RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · Single-speed · 100 MPGe + 31 MPG
The 2019 BMW i3 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 $948 a year to fuel (100 MPGe + 31 MPG), versus $2,194 for the 2019 Audi A5 (27 MPG). That's roughly $1,247 a year, or about $6,233 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 A5
- BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| Audi A5 | BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,194 | Your annual fuel cost | $948 |
| 27 MPG | Combined efficiency | 100 MPGe + 31 MPG |
| 23 MPG | City | 107 MPGe / 30 MPG |
| 34 MPG | Highway | 93 MPGe / 31 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 32 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 200 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 126 mi |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 84 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 328 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 22 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 7 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 0.6L 2-cyl |
| 7-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | Single-speed |
| 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.
Audi A5 vs BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- Audi A5
- BMW i3 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 i3 Plug-in Hybrid has more cargo space (15 vs. 12 cu ft).
Among 43 2019 subcompact cars, the Audi A5 ranks 18th and the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid 3rd for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A5 is a conventional gas model, while the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Audi A5 or the 2019 BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A5 is rated 27 MPG combined and the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid 100 MPGe + 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Audi A5 vs. the BMW i3 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 Audi A5 and $948 for the BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A5 vs BMW i3 Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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