BMW i5 vs Hyundai Ioniq 6: Specs Compared

Also searched as Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs BMW i5 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 140 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 24 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.

Across 4 measured categories, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2024–2027

BMW i5

Compact Cars · 30 configurations

116mpg combined (best)
All BMW i5 specs

2023–2027

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Midsize Cars · 16 configurations

140mpg combined (best)
All Hyundai Ioniq 6 specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricBMW i5Hyundai Ioniq 6
Best combined MPG116 mpg140 mpg ✓
Best city MPG120 mpg153 mpg ✓
Best highway MPG113 mpg127 mpg ✓
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$650$550 ✓
Lowest CO2 outputNot availableNot available
Engines offeredNot availableNot available
TransmissionsAutomatic (A1)Automatic (A1)
DrivetrainsAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classCompact CarsMidsize Cars
Years covered2024–20272023–2027
Configurations on record3016

Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.

BMW i5 vs Hyundai Ioniq 6: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Hyundai Ioniq 6 burns about $550 of fuel annually against $650 for the BMW i5. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 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 and highway economy: the Hyundai Ioniq 6 leads in both cycles — 153 mpg city and 127 mpg highway against 120 and 113 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW i5 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-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 Compact Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

i5 vs Ioniq 6: common questions

Which is better on gas, the BMW i5 or the Hyundai Ioniq 6?

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 140 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 24 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i5 — a difference of roughly $100 per year.

What engines do the i5 and Ioniq 6 offer?

BMW i5: no engine data on record. Hyundai Ioniq 6: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the BMW i5 as Compact Cars and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More i5 comparisons

More Ioniq 6 comparisons

Comparison id: bmw-i5-vs-hyundai-ioniq-6