2021 head-to-head · Compact Car
2021 Audi A4 Hybrid 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.
The 2021 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 $1,826 a year to fuel (64 MPGe + 26 MPG), versus $2,116 for the 2021 Audi A4 Hybrid (28 MPG). That's roughly $290 a year, or about $1,451 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 Hybrid
- BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| Audi A4 Hybrid | BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,116 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,826 |
| 28 MPG | Combined efficiency | 64 MPGe + 26 MPG |
| 25 MPG | City | 59 MPGe / 24 MPG |
| 34 MPG | Highway | 72 MPGe / 29 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 49 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 340 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 21 mi |
| 92 cu ft | Passenger volume | 99 cu ft |
| 12 cu ft | Cargo volume | 10 cu ft |
| 311 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 178 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 9/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 3 hrs |
| Hybrid | 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 |
| 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 A4 Hybrid vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- Audi A4 Hybrid
- 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 Hybrid has more cargo space (12 vs. 10 cu ft).
Among 37 2021 compact cars, the Audi A4 Hybrid ranks 22nd and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 19th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A4 Hybrid is a full hybrid, while the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Audi A4 Hybrid or the 2021 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A4 Hybrid is rated 28 MPG combined and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 64 MPGe + 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Audi A4 Hybrid 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 $2,116 for the Audi A4 Hybrid and $1,826 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi A4 Hybrid, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A4 Hybrid vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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