2019 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2019 Audi A5 vs BMW i3
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
The 2019 BMW i3 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 $805 a year to fuel (113 MPGe), versus $2,194 for the 2019 Audi A5 (27 MPG). That's roughly $1,390 a year, or about $6,949 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
Side by side
| Audi A5 | BMW i3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,194 | Your annual fuel cost | $805 |
| 27 MPG | Combined efficiency | 113 MPGe |
| 23 MPG | City | 124 MPGe |
| 34 MPG | Highway | 102 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 29.8 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 153 mi |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 84 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 328 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 | 5 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Electric |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | Electric motor (125 kW) |
| 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 across model years
- Audi A5
- BMW i3
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 has more cargo space (15 vs. 12 cu ft).
Among 43 2019 subcompact cars, the Audi A5 ranks 18th and the BMW i3 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Because the BMW i3 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 Audi A5; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Audi A5 or the 2019 BMW i3?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i3. The Audi A5 is rated 27 MPG combined and the BMW i3 113 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Audi A5 vs. the BMW i3 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 $805 for the BMW i3.
Which has more cargo space?
The BMW i3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A5 vs BMW i3 in other years
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