The BMW M5 does 15.2 mpg combined (12.9 city, 19.7 highway), which works out to about $2,526 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4.4L 8-cyl does 17 mpg while 5L 10-cyl does 13 — a difference of $695 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every BMW M5 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the BMW M5 ranges from 17 down to 13 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $695 a year across 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 15 / 21.4 | 2013–2023 | $2,259 | |
| 4.9L 8-cyl | 12 / 19 | 2000–2003 | $2,560 | |
| 4.4L 8-cyl Hybrid | 12 / 18 | 2025–2026 | $2,743 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 10.7 / 20.3 | 1991–1993 | $2,803 | |
| 5L 10-cyl | 11 / 17 | 2006–2010 | $2,954 |
What that actually costs
The BMW M5 burns a gallon every 15.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 789 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.211 |
| Fuel per year | $2,526 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,630 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$141 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,158 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The BMW M5 gives up 6.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 19.7 out there against 12.9 in town, a 53% drop worth $1,028 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 | 12.9 mpg | $2,977 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 19.7 mpg | $1,949 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.8 mpg (53%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the M5 changed over the years
The M5 peaked in 2023 at 17 mpg (15 city, 21 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2010 at 13 — 4 mpg apart, or $695 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 14. 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 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2025 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2023 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2022 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2021 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2020 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2019 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2018 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2016 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2015 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2014 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2013 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2010 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2009 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2008 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2007 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2006 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2002 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2001 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1993 | 11 / 21 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1992 | 11 / 21 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1991 | 10 / 19 | 1 | $2,954 |
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 M5 — 5 engines across 1991–2026. 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 $5,158. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the BMW M5 get?
15.2 mpg combined on average — 12.9 in the city and 19.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–2026.
How much does a BMW M5 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,526 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,630 over five years, or 0.211 dollars a mile.
Which M5 engine is the most economical?
The 4.4L 8-cyl at 17 mpg, against 13 for the 5L 10-cyl — a difference of about $695 a year.
Is the M5 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world M5 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 M5 is $5,158 against the $2,526 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 17 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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