BMW iX vs Tesla Model Y: Specs Compared

Also searched as Tesla Model Y vs BMW iX specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the BMW iX, a 41 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.

Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model Y leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2022–2026

BMW iX

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 35 configurations

97mpg combined (best)
All BMW iX specs

2020–2026

Tesla Model Y

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 27 configurations

138mpg combined (best)
All Tesla Model Y specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricBMW iXTesla Model Y
Best combined MPG97 mpg138 mpg ✓
Best city MPG99 mpg148 mpg ✓
Best highway MPG94 mpg129 mpg ✓
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$800$550 ✓
Lowest CO2 outputNot availableNot available
Engines offeredNot availableNot available
TransmissionsAutomatic (A1)Automatic (A1)
DrivetrainsAll-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Years covered2022–20262020–2026
Configurations on record3527

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

BMW iX vs Tesla Model Y dimensions and size

The BMW iX is 6.3 inches longer than the Tesla Model Y on a wheelbase 4.3 inches longer, and 1,325 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.

BMW iX versus Tesla Model Y exterior dimensions
DimensionBMW iX (2026)Tesla Model Y (2026)Difference
Length194.9 in188.6 in6.3 in
Width (excl. mirrors)77.2 in78 in0.8 in
Height66.5 in63.8 in2.8 in
Wheelbase118.1 in113.8 in4.3 in
Curb weight5,688 lbs4,363 lbs1,325 lbs

Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.

BMW iX vs Tesla Model Y: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model Y burns about $550 of fuel annually against $800 for the BMW iX. That $250 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,250 over five years and $2,000 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 Y leads in both cycles — 148 mpg city and 129 mpg highway against 99 and 94 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW iX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model Y 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 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

iX vs Model Y: common questions

Which is better on gas, the BMW iX or the Tesla Model Y?

The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the BMW iX, a 41 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model Y runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $800 for the BMW iX — a difference of roughly $250 per year.

What engines do the iX and Model Y offer?

BMW iX: no engine data on record. Tesla Model Y: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the BMW iX as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Tesla Model Y as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More iX comparisons

More Model Y comparisons

Comparison id: bmw-ix-vs-tesla-model-y