2018 BMW 540d xDrive: MPG and fuel economy
The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 30 combined MPG, with 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive. 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.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $2,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive. 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 | 30 MPG |
| City MPG | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 36 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,700 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 341 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
How the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive compares
The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive returns 30 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 32.6 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 8%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG. The bar chart below puts the BMW 540d xDrive alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2018 model year (across all classes) returns 25.6 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 2018 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 diesel, which is $5.40/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 500 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,350 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,700 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,500 |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2018
If you are cross-shopping the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive, 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, 106 MPG ahead of the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive.
Specifications
The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through all-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
- 3L 6-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S8)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive.
-
Is the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive returns 30 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year sits at 32.6 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive get?
The EPA rates the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive at 30 combined MPG, 26 MPG in city driving, and 36 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 2018 BMW 540d xDrive per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,700 for the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive. 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. -
What fuel does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive use?
The EPA lists the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive as running on diesel. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 341 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,115 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive?
City driving returns 26 MPG and highway driving returns 36 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 2018 BMW 540d xDrive?
The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive has a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive have?
The 2018 BMW 540d xDrive comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 combined MPG. The BMW 540d xDrive returns 30 MPG, a gap of 106 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much more does the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2018 BMW 540d xDrive will cost about $2,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.
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.