BMW 525i Sport Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW 525i Sport Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 2001 to 2003. Across those years its best rated version returned 20 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (2001). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 20 mpg | 19 mpg | #10 of 12 (18th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons |
| 2002 | 2 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #10 of 13 (25th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons |
| 2003 | 2 | 20 mpg | 19 mpg | #11 of 14 (23th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 525i Sport Wagon placed highest in 2001 at #10 of 12, and lowest in 2003 at #11 of 14. It spent 0 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2003 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2002 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2002 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2001 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2001 | 2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 → 2002 | 20 → 19 mpg | -1 mpg | 605 gal |
| 2002 → 2003 | 19 → 20 mpg | +1 mpg | 575 gal |
What 525i Sport Wagon fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2003 BMW 525i Sport Wagon burns 575 to 605 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,725 | $1,816 | $91 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,013 | $2,118 | $106 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,300 | $2,421 | $121 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2003 model year is $3,900 to $4,100 a year in fuel, or $8,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Station Wagons
Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 20 mpg the BMW 525i Sport Wagon is 7 mpg below the median, which is worth about $522 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Station Wagons rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other BMW nameplates
Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.