2026 BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid vs gas: is the plug-in worth it?
550e xDrive AWD vs 540i xDrive AWD
No. Does not pay back in 6 years.
83.5years to pay back
- Plug-in: $7,800 more. Saves $93 a year.
- Break-even: 1,001,800 miles.
- No gas trim with the same name. Cheapest gas AWD/4WD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 550e xDrive AWD 540i xDrive AWD | $75,500 $67,700 | 25 mpg, 50 kWh/100 mi 28 mpg | $1,278 $1,371 | $7,800 | $93 | 83.5 years | Gas, $7,239 |
What changes the answer
- Gas price for a 6-year payback: $9.60.
- Miles a year for a 6-year payback: 167,000.
What you give up
| Measure | Plug-in | Gas | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 483 hp | 375 hp | +108 hp |
| Cargo, seats up | 18.4 cu ft | 18.4 cu ft | about the same |
| Cargo, seats down | 18.4 cu ft | 18.4 cu ft | about the same |
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