BMW i5 vs Lexus ES: Specs Compared
Also searched as Lexus ES vs BMW i5 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Lexus ES is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 127 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 11 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Lexus ES leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i5 | Lexus ES |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 116 mpg | 127 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 120 mpg | 135 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 113 mpg | 118 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $600 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | 191 g/mi |
| Engines offered | Not available | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5, 3.5 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (A1), Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Premium, Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2024–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 30 | 40 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i5 vs Lexus ES: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lexus ES burns about $600 of fuel annually against $650 for the BMW i5. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $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 and highway economy: the Lexus ES leads in both cycles — 135 mpg city and 118 mpg highway against 120 and 113 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Powertrain choice: the BMW i5 is recorded with no distinct engine configurations, the Lexus ES with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5). Across 30 recorded BMW i5 configurations and 40 for the Lexus ES, 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 i5 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Lexus ES with Front-Wheel Drive, All-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 ES: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i5 or the Lexus ES?
The Lexus ES is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 127 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 11 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Lexus ES runs about $600 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the BMW i5 — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the i5 and ES offer?
BMW i5: no engine data on record. Lexus ES: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, 2.5, 3.5.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i5 as Compact Cars and the Lexus ES as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More i5 comparisons
More ES comparisons
Comparison id: bmw-i5-vs-lexus-es