Tank Ledger

BMW M5 MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW M5 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 20 model years, from 1991 to 2021. Across those years its best rated version returned 17 mpg (2013) and its thirstiest returned 13 mpg (1991). The EPA record holds 28 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

17best combined mpg (2013)
13worst combined mpg (1991)
17latest year best (2021)
28configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1991113 mpg13 mpg#58 of 60 (3th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1992114 mpg14 mpg#53 of 58 (9th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1993114 mpg14 mpg#54 of 55 (2th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2000115 mpg15 mpg#49 of 50 (2th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2001115 mpg15 mpg#61 of 62 (2th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2002115 mpg15 mpg#64 of 64 (0th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2003115 mpg15 mpg#61 of 64 (5th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2006113 mpg13 mpg#57 of 61 (7th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2007213 mpg13 mpg#65 of 68 (4th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2008213 mpg13 mpg#67 of 70 (4th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2009213 mpg13 mpg#63 of 66 (5th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2010213 mpg13 mpg#61 of 63 (3th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2013217 mpg16 mpg#88 of 92 (4th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2014217 mpg16 mpg#101 of 107 (6th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2015217 mpg16 mpg#95 of 101 (6th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2016217 mpg16 mpg#107 of 112 (5th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2018117 mpg17 mpg#121 of 125 (3th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2019117 mpg17 mpg#122 of 127 (4th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2020117 mpg17 mpg#115 of 124 (7th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2021117 mpg17 mpg#108 of 116 (7th pct)All-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 M5 placed highest in 2000 at #49 of 50, and lowest in 2019 at #122 of 127. It spent 0 of its 20 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 28 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20214.4L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152117676.517.5$4,5505203/10
20204.4L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152117676.517.5$4,5505183/10
20194.4L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152117676.517.5$4,5505213/10
20184.4L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152117676.517.5$4,5505213/10
20164.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop142016718.818.6$4,8505533/10
20164.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152217676.517.5$4,5505163/10
20154.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop142016718.818.6$4,8505533/10
20154.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152217676.517.5$4,5505164/10
20144.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop142016718.818.6$4,8505523/10
20144.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop152217676.517.5$4,5505173/10
20134.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged142016718.818.6$4,8505523/10
20134.4L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged152217676.517.5$4,5505164/10
20105.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20105.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20095.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20095.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) PremiumSMG TRANS111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20085.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20085.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) PremiumSMG TRANS111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20075.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20075.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) PremiumSMG TRANS111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20065.0L 10-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S7) Premium5.0L 10-cyl111713884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a
20034.9L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumGUZZLER121915766.719.8$5,150592.4666666666667n/a
20024.9L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumGUZZLER121915766.719.8$5,150592.4666666666667n/a
20014.9L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumGUZZLER121915766.719.8$5,150592.4666666666667n/a
20004.9L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumGUZZLER121915766.719.8$5,150592.4666666666667n/a
19933.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)112114821.421.3$5,550634.7857142857143n/a
19923.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI)112114821.421.3$5,550634.7857142857143n/a
19913.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)101913884.622.9$5,950683.6153846153846n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1991 → 199213 → 14 mpg+1 mpg821 gal
1993 → 200014 → 15 mpg+1 mpg767 gal
2003 → 200615 → 13 mpg-2 mpg885 gal
2010 → 201313 → 17 mpg+4 mpg676 gal

What M5 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2021 BMW M5 burns 676 to 676 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$2,029$2,029$0
$3.50/gal$2,368$2,368$0
$4.00/gal$2,706$2,706$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2021 model year is $4,550 to $4,550 a year in fuel, or $11,500 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 17 mpg the BMW M5 is 8 mpg below the median, which is worth about $758 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.