BMW 5 Series vs Nissan Altima: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Nissan Altima burns about $1,900 of fuel annually against $2,450 for the BMW 5 Series. That $550 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,750 over five years and $4,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the BMW 5 Series is the stronger commuter at 29 mpg city, while the Nissan Altima pulls ahead on the interstate at 39 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the BMW 5 Series is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI; PHEV, SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV), the Nissan Altima with 4 (SIDI, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; VCR). Across 85 recorded BMW 5 Series configurations and 46 for the Nissan Altima, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW 5 Series is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Nissan Altima with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Midsize Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW 5 Series emits 133 g/mile of CO2 versus 278 g/mile for the Nissan Altima. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.