2020 BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid vs gas: is the plug-in worth it?
530e iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid RWD vs 530i RWD
Yes. Cheaper to buy and to run.
$161less a year to run
- Plug-in: same price. Saves $161 a year.
- No gas trim with the same name. Cheapest gas 2WD trim used.
- 12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents a kWh. Plug-ins: 50% of miles on electricity.
Every plug-in pair
| Pair | MSRP | Rating | Energy a year | Price gap | Saves a year | Payback | Ahead after 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 530e iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid RWD 530i RWD | $53,900 $53,900 | 27 mpg, 49 kWh/100 mi 28 mpg | $1,211 $1,371 | $0 | $161 | None needed | Plug-in, $963 |
| 530e xDrive Hybrid Plug-in iPerformance Sedan AWD 530i xDrive AWD | $56,200 $56,200 | 25 mpg, 52 kWh/100 mi 27 mpg | $1,298 $1,422 | $0 | $124 | None needed | Plug-in, $743 |
What changes the answer
- No price gap to pay back.
What you give up
| Measure | Plug-in | Gas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 248 hp | 248 hp | about the same |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | +52 lb-ft |
| Cargo, seats up | 14.5 cu ft | 18.7 cu ft | -4.2 cu ft |
What this cannot tell you
Incentives, insurance, upkeep and resale are not included.
Your own mpg will differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree