2019 BMW 530i: MPG and fuel economy
The 2019 BMW 530i is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 27 combined MPG, with 24 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Midsize Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2019 BMW 530i. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 25% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year (35.9 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG.
- The BMW 530i has gained 10 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1994 BMW 530i at 18 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $2,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2019 BMW 530i. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 27 MPG |
| City MPG | 24 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 34 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,550 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 324 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2019 BMW 530i compares
The 2019 BMW 530i returns 27 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 35.9 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 25%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG. The bar chart below puts the BMW 530i alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2019 model year (across all classes) returns 26.8 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2019 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 555.6 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,275 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,550 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,250 |
Year-over-year MPG for the BMW 530i
The EPA has rated the BMW 530i across 14 model years, from 1994 BMW 530i through 2021 BMW 530i. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 1994 BMW 530i returned 18 MPG. The most recent 2021 BMW 530i returns 28 MPG. That is an improvement of 10 MPG over 27 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 MPG | 2021 BMW 530i |
| 2020 | 28 MPG | 2020 BMW 530i |
| 2019 | 27 MPG | this page |
| 2018 | 27 MPG | 2018 BMW 530i |
| 2017 | 27 MPG | 2017 BMW 530i |
| 2007 | 22 MPG | 2007 BMW 530i |
| 2006 | 21 MPG | 2006 BMW 530i |
| 2005 | 21 MPG | 2005 BMW 530i |
| 2004 | 21 MPG | 2004 BMW 530i |
| 2003 | 22 MPG | 2003 BMW 530i |
| 2002 | 22 MPG | 2002 BMW 530i |
| 2001 | 21 MPG | 2001 BMW 530i |
| 1995 | 18 MPG | 1995 BMW 530i |
| 1994 | 18 MPG | 1994 BMW 530i |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2019
If you are cross-shopping the 2019 BMW 530i, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric leads this group at 136 MPG, 109 MPG ahead of the 2019 BMW 530i.
Specifications
The 2019 BMW 530i runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Engine
- 2L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S8)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 11 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2019 BMW 530i
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2019 BMW 530i.
-
Is the 2019 BMW 530i fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2019 BMW 530i returns 27 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 25%. -
What MPG does the 2019 BMW 530i get?
The EPA rates the 2019 BMW 530i at 27 combined MPG, 24 MPG in city driving, and 34 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 BMW 530i per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,550 for the 2019 BMW 530i. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2019 BMW 530i require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2019 BMW 530i as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the BMW 530i become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated BMW 530i, the 1994 BMW 530i, returned 18 combined MPG. The most recent 2021 BMW 530i returns 28 MPG, an improvement of 10 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2019 BMW 530i emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 324 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,860 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2019 BMW 530i?
City driving returns 24 MPG and highway driving returns 34 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2019 BMW 530i?
The 2019 BMW 530i has a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2019 BMW 530i have?
The 2019 BMW 530i comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2019 BMW 530i compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 combined MPG. The BMW 530i returns 27 MPG, a gap of 109 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.