Tank Ledger

BMW 528i MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW 528i has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 13 model years, from 1997 to 2016. Across those years its best rated version returned 27 mpg (2012) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1997). The EPA record holds 21 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

27best combined mpg (2012)
19worst combined mpg (1997)
27latest year best (2016)
21configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1997221 mpg19 mpg#30 of 46 (36th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1998220 mpg19 mpg#34 of 47 (28th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1999221 mpg19 mpg#39 of 50 (22th pct)Rear-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
2000321 mpg19 mpg#33 of 50 (35th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2008221 mpg21 mpg#29 of 70 (59th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2009221 mpg21 mpg#32 of 66 (52th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2010222 mpg21 mpg#28 of 63 (56th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2011125 mpg25 mpg#23 of 71 (69th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2012127 mpg27 mpg#24 of 76 (69th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2013127 mpg27 mpg#42 of 92 (55th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2014126 mpg26 mpg#56 of 107 (48th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2015126 mpg26 mpg#53 of 101 (48th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2016127 mpg27 mpg#56 of 112 (50th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 528i placed highest in 2011 at #23 of 71, and lowest in 2014 at #56 of 107. It spent 7 of its 13 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 21 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20162.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233427425.911.0$2,8503386/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233326442.311.4$3,0003387/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop233326442.311.4$3,0003357/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged243327425.911.0$2,8503277/10
20122.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233427425.911.0$2,850329.14814814814815n/a
20113.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium3.0L 6-cyl213125460.011.9$3,100355.48n/a
20103.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20103.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20093.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20093.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20083.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20083.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19992.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19992.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
19982.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$3,300467.7368421052632n/a
19982.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.8L 6-cyl172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19972.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
19972.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS)182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 5 of 7 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1997 → 199821 → 20 mpg-1 mpg575 gal
1998 → 199920 → 21 mpg+1 mpg548 gal
2009 → 201021 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2010 → 201122 → 25 mpg+3 mpg460 gal
2011 → 201225 → 27 mpg+2 mpg426 gal
2013 → 201427 → 26 mpg-1 mpg442 gal
2015 → 201626 → 27 mpg+1 mpg426 gal

What 528i fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2016 BMW 528i burns 426 to 426 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,278$1,278$0
$3.50/gal$1,491$1,491$0
$4.00/gal$1,704$1,704$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2016 model year is $2,850 to $2,850 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 27 mpg the BMW 528i is 2 mpg better the median, which is worth about $119 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other BMW nameplates

Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.