The BMW 740i does 22 mpg combined (19.2 city, 26.4 highway), which works out to about $1,745 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl Hybrid does 27.8 mpg while 4L 8-cyl does 16.7 — a difference of $918 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every BMW 740i engine, compared
Gas mileage on the BMW 740i ranges from 27.8 down to 16.7 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $918 a year across 4 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 25 / 31 | 2023–2026 | $1,381 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 20.1 / 28.1 | 2011–2022 | $1,670 | |
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 15 / 22 | 1997–2001 | $2,133 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 14.7 / 21 | 1993–1995 | $2,299 |
What that actually costs
The BMW 740i burns a gallon every 22 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 545 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.145 |
| Fuel per year | $1,745 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,725 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$185 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,546 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The BMW 740i gives up 7.2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.4 out there against 19.2 in town, a 38% drop worth $545 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 19.2 mpg | $2,000 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.4 mpg | $1,455 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.2 mpg (38%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 740i changed over the years
The 740i peaked in 2026 at 28 mpg (25 city, 31 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 at 16 — 12 mpg apart, or $1,029 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 28. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2025 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2024 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2023 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2022 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2021 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2019 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2018 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2016 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2014 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2013 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2011 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1999 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1998 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1997 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1995 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1994 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 1993 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 24 EPA ratings of the BMW 740i — 4 engines across 1993–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,546. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the BMW 740i get?
22 mpg combined on average — 19.2 in the city and 26.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1993–2026.
How much does a BMW 740i cost in fuel per year?
About $1,745 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,725 over five years, or 0.145 dollars a mile.
Which 740i engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl Hybrid at 27.8 mpg, against 16.7 for the 4L 8-cyl — a difference of about $918 a year.
Is the 740i good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world 740i figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the BMW 740i is $3,546 against the $1,745 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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