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.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | #30 of 46 (36th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 20 mpg | 19 mpg | #34 of 47 (28th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1999 | 2 | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | #39 of 50 (22th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2000 | 3 | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | #33 of 50 (35th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2008 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #29 of 70 (59th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2009 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #32 of 66 (52th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2010 | 2 | 22 mpg | 21 mpg | #28 of 63 (56th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2011 | 1 | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | #23 of 71 (69th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2012 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #24 of 76 (69th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2013 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #42 of 92 (55th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2014 | 1 | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | #56 of 107 (48th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2015 | 1 | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | #53 of 101 (48th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2016 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #56 of 112 (50th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize 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.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 23 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 338 | 6/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 338 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 23 | 33 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 335 | 7/10 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 33 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 327 | 7/10 |
| 2012 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 2011 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 21 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $3,100 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 2010 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2010 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2009 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2009 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2000 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 2.8L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2000 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 2.8L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2000 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 2.8L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1999 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1999 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $2,950 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1998 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1998 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.8L 6-cyl | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1997 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1997 | 2.8L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/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.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 → 1998 | 21 → 20 mpg | -1 mpg | 575 gal |
| 1998 → 1999 | 20 → 21 mpg | +1 mpg | 548 gal |
| 2009 → 2010 | 21 → 22 mpg | +1 mpg | 523 gal |
| 2010 → 2011 | 22 → 25 mpg | +3 mpg | 460 gal |
| 2011 → 2012 | 25 → 27 mpg | +2 mpg | 426 gal |
| 2013 → 2014 | 27 → 26 mpg | -1 mpg | 442 gal |
| 2015 → 2016 | 26 → 27 mpg | +1 mpg | 426 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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.
- All Midsize Cars 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.