BMW averages 23.4 mpg combined across 160 models (1984–2027). The best on record does 124 mpg, the thirstiest 12 — a yearly fuel gap of about $2,890.
What that actually costs
What a BMW costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 23.4 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,641 |
| Most frugal on record | 124 mpg — $310 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 12 mpg — $3,200 a year |
BMW models by fuel economy
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW i4 | 120 / 109 | $333 | |
| BMW i5 | 116 / 105 | $352 | |
| BMW iX | 118 / 86 | $412 | |
| BMW i7 | 90 / 88 | $432 | |
| BMW i3 | 124 / 31 | $498 | |
| BMW 328d | 36 / 35 | $1,073 | |
| BMW 228 | 31 / 31 | $1,239 | |
| BMW 535d | 30 / 30 | $1,280 | |
| BMW 230i | 30 / 27 | $1,338 | |
| BMW 330e | 31 / 27 | $1,338 | |
| BMW 430i | 31 / 27 | $1,347 | |
| BMW 540d | 30 / 27 | $1,347 | |
| BMW 320i | 28 / 28 | $1,371 | |
| BMW M440i | 30 / 26 | $1,371 | |
| BMW i8 | 28 / 27 | $1,386 | |
| BMW 228i | 28 / 27 | $1,396 | |
| BMW 530e | 29 / 26 | $1,412 | |
| BMW X2 | 28 / 26 | $1,417 | |
| BMW 335d | 27 / 27 | $1,422 | |
| BMW 428i | 27 / 27 | $1,422 | |
| BMW M235 | 27 / 27 | $1,422 | |
| BMW M340i | 29 / 25 | $1,438 | |
| BMW 330i | 31 / 21 | $1,455 | |
| BMW M235i | 27 / 24 | $1,488 | |
| BMW X1 | 28 / 21 | $1,488 | |
| BMW 750e | 28 / 24 | $1,494 | |
| BMW M2 | 27 / 24 | $1,494 | |
| BMW M240i | 26 / 24 | $1,524 | |
| BMW 440i | 25 / 25 | $1,536 | |
| BMW ActiveHybrid 7 | 25 / 25 | $1,536 | |
| BMW 530i | 31 / 18 | $1,542 | |
| BMW 435i | 25 / 24 | $1,555 | |
| BMW 340i | 25 / 23 | $1,567 | |
| BMW 550e | 25 / 24 | $1,567 | |
| BMW 640i | 26 / 23 | $1,567 | |
| BMW 840i | 25 / 24 | $1,574 | |
| BMW Z4 | 28 / 19 | $1,580 | |
| BMW 528i | 27 / 20 | $1,634 | |
| BMW 335is | 27 / 21 | $1,641 | |
| BMW 328i | 27 / 20 | $1,662 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
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How we count
Fuel-economy figures come from EPA fueleconomy.gov — the same laboratory numbers printed on the window sticker. We don't adjust them; real-world consumption depends on how and where you drive.
What we add is money. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon — change either and the ranking stays, only the size of the bill moves. Cost per mile is the same figure divided out, useful when comparing a commute against a weekend car.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average BMW mpg?
23.4 mpg combined across 160 models rated between 1984 and 2027. That averages everything the brand has offered, so a long history of trucks pulls it down.
Which BMW model is the most economical?
See the table above — models are sorted from the most frugal down, with what each costs in fuel per year.
How much does a BMW cost to run?
About $1,641 a year in fuel on average, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon.
Why does the average look low for a modern brand?
Because it covers every model year on record, back to the 1980s. Cars built before the mid-2000s were markedly thirstier — that era is included.