2026 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2026 Audi A5 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.
AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed dual-clutch · 26 MPG
AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 68 MPGe + 25 MPG
The 2026 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 $1,714 a year to fuel (68 MPGe + 25 MPG), versus $2,279 for the 2026 Audi A5 (26 MPG). That's roughly $565 a year, or about $2,827 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 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| Audi A5 | BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,279 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,714 |
| 26 MPG | Combined efficiency | 68 MPGe + 25 MPG |
| 22 MPG | City | 65 MPGe / 22 MPG |
| 32 MPG | Highway | 73 MPGe / 28 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 49 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 430 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 34 mi |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 98 cu ft |
| 23 cu ft | Cargo volume | 14 cu ft |
| 345 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 133 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 9/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 2 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo |
| 7-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| 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.
Audi A5 vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- Audi A5
- 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 Audi A5 has more cargo space (23 vs. 14 cu ft).
Among 31 2026 midsize cars, the Audi A5 ranks 24th and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 16th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A5 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 2026 Audi A5 or the 2026 BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid. The Audi A5 is rated 26 MPG combined and the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid 68 MPGe + 25 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Audi A5 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 $2,279 for the Audi A5 and $1,714 for the BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi A5, with 23 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Audi A5 vs BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid in other years
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