BMW i5 vs Tesla Model S: Specs Compared
Also searched as Tesla Model S vs BMW i5 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Tesla Model S is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 124 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 8 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model S leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW i5 | Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 116 mpg | 124 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 120 mpg | 132 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 113 mpg | 116 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $600 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Compact Cars | Large Cars |
| Years covered | 2024–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 30 | 62 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW i5 vs Tesla Model S: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model S 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 Tesla Model S leads in both cycles — 132 mpg city and 116 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 Tesla Model S 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 Large Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
i5 vs Model S: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW i5 or the Tesla Model S?
The Tesla Model S is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 124 mpg combined versus 116 mpg for the BMW i5, a 8 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 Tesla Model S 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 Model S offer?
BMW i5: no engine data on record. Tesla Model S: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the BMW i5 as Compact Cars and the Tesla Model S as Large Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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