17 MPG combined is what you get with the 2023 BMW M5 Competition Sedan. It’s a world of fast acceleration, sharp handling, and luxury that rivals some private jets. This isn’t a car bought for fuel efficiency; it’s bought for the thrill of its strong 4.4L twin-turbo V8, a powerplant that values fun over efficiency.

City and highway performance

The M5 Competition’s fuel economy shows its two sides. The EPA rates it at 15 MPG in the city, which matches its stop-and-go performance. The engine, equipped with technologies to help efficiency, spends most of its time generating torque, especially when driving in the city. Out on the open road, the MPG goes up a bit, reaching 21 MPG on the highway. This is partly because of the smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission which allows the engine to run at lower RPMs when it can. But, even on the highway, wanting to put the V8 to work will bring that number down. It’s a car made for driving, and fuel consumption reflects that.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA estimates the annual fuel cost for the 2023 BMW M5 Competition at $3,400. This number is based on driving 15,000 miles per year, with 55% in the city and 45% on the highway, using current national gas prices. Think of this number as a general idea, because based on driving and where you buy gas, the actual cost could be more. Owners of the M5 Competition are usually more interested in performance and how the car feels than in saving money on gas.

Real-world expectations

If you’re thinking about buying an M5 Competition, you should know that the EPA’s numbers are the best-case scenario. Driving hard will definitely lower gas mileage. Driving fast, track days, and accelerating often will really cut down fuel economy. Some drivers might get 21 MPG on long highway trips, but most owners will probably see closer to 17 MPG, or even less. The desire to use the car’s power means that thinking about gas mileage goes out the window.

How it compares

The M5 Competition isn’t the only car like it. Cars like the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Sedan have similar performance, with an EPA-rated 16 MPG combined. The Audi RS 7, does 18 MPG combined. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S, gets around 17 MPG combined. These numbers show that high-performance sedans with lots of power often use more gas. Buyers in this group know that this is part of owning these cars. Explore all Bmw fuel economy data and M5 MPG across all years for more comparison.

Tips to Maximize Efficiency

The M5 Competition isn’t made to save gas, but here are some ways to drive more efficiently although they might take some of the fun out of driving. Don’t let the car idle; even though the auto start-stop feature is there, turning off the engine while waiting in traffic can help.

Choose the car’s driving modes wisely. “Sport” and “Sport+” give you all the engine’s power, but they also use more fuel. Choose “Comfort” mode for normal driving to focus on fuel economy without losing too much performance.

Check tire pressure often. Low tire pressure increases rolling resistance, which lowers fuel efficiency. Keeping the tires at the right pressure helps performance and saves fuel. This is a good idea for any performance car.

Avoid accelerating and braking hard. Driving smoothly uses less gas than speeding up and then braking hard. Accelerating slowly and braking lightly helps the engine work more efficiently.