Tesla Model S vs. BMW Z4 MPG

Chart is based on 3 fuel economy reports for the Tesla Model S and 87 fuel economy reports for the BMW Z4.

Tesla Model S MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2012	4dr Hatch 416-horsepower Electric 1-speed automatic RWD	flat	lead	none	0	90	0	10	65	86.7

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Tesla Model S Electric Fuel Economy

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2016	4dr Hatch 373-horsepower Electric 1-speed automatic RWD	flat	lead	none	0	33	66	1	60	10.0
2012	4dr Hatch 416-horsepower Electric 1-speed automatic RWD	flat	light	none	10	10	10	70	110	18.4

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BMW Z4 MPG

Year	Body/Powertrain	flat, hilly, or mountainousLand	driving style: very light to "lead foot"Foot	A/C use: none to heavyA/C	constant stop and goTraf %	many stops per mileCity %	stop every mile or twoSub %	fairly steady speedHwy %	Hwy Spd	MPG
2011	2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 335hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD	hills	med	light	0	20	35	45	70	22.8
2010	2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD	flat	med	light	5	15	60	20	80	24.0
2010	2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	lead	light	3	0	20	77	72	24.7
2009	2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 7-speed automated manual RWD	hills	med	hvy	10	5	67	19	120	19.6
2009	2dr Hardtop conv. 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	med	hvy	9	9	27	55	70	26.5
2008	2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	light	light	0	0	0	100	73	27.4
2008	2dr Convertible 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	light	none	0	10	10	80	100	24.2
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2008	2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	med	hvy	17	3	6	75	75	29.8
2007	2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	none	8	22	28	42	65	20.0
2007	2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	lead	light	8	15	8	69	68	26.6
2007	2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	12	16	25	47	72	26.7
2007	2dr Convertible 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	lead	none	50	17	7	27	75	18.0
2007	2dr Convertible 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	7	22	47	25	60	25.7
2007	2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	light	hvy	1	4	25	70	70	30.6
2006	2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	light	none	0	15	60	25	70	28.2
2006	2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	10	10	30	50	65	26.7
2006	2dr Convertible 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	none	8	46	25	20	78	17.7
2006	2dr Convertible 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	med	hvy	0	0	45	55	60	27.0
2006	2dr Convertible 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	2	28	38	32	70	25.2
2006	2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	7	13	25	55	74	27.4
2005	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD	hills	med	light	1	1	23	75	65	28.1
2005	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	lead	hvy	15	25	18	43	60	21.4
2005	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD	hills	light	none	10	40	30	20	65	23.0
2004	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	none	4	20	55	21	67	26.8
2004	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	med	hvy	0	0	33	67	70	27.0
2004	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD	flat	light	none	0	10	80	10	65	29.1
2003	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	flat	med	light	8	8	30	53	70	27.2
2003	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed automated manual RWD	flat	light	light	10	20	50	20	60	26.8
2003	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD	flat	med	light	20	20	20	40	60	25.6
2003	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 6-speed automated manual RWD	flat	light	light	8	5	20	68	70	34.4
2003	2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD	flat	med	none	2	7	31	60	77	26.1

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TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Comment
2013	If the Tesla Model had a conventional gas-powered engine, few people would care about it. Plenty of established companies offer stylish, powerful, and luxurious sedans. Why place a $70,000+ bet on a new car from a new company? The reason just about everyone (and their mom) has heard of this upstart car company and its first completely in-house product is that the Model S, with its battery-powered electric motor, was engineered to render conventional cars passe. For anyone who must have the latest tech, it is the car to get. Two battery sizes are offered, 60 kWh and 85 kWh, the latter an additional $10,000. (A 40-kWh battery--actually a 60-kWh pack electronically limited to two-thirds of its capacity--was initially offered, but few early adopters opted for it and it has been discontinued.) The EPA rates the former for the equivalent of 94 mpg city, 97 mpg highway, the latter for 88/90. For reference, the much smaller, far less powerful Nissan LEAF is rated 129/102, considerably better in city (actually suburban) driving but not much more efficient on the highway. Among gas-powered competitors, the Audi A7 is rated 18/28 and the more powerful S7 is rated 17/27. Tesla's big advantage over other electric cars involves their shared primary limitation, range. In EPA testing, the LEAF's range was 75 miles, and other electrics in its price and size range manage about the same. In the same test, the two Model S packs achieved 208 and 265 miles, respectively. (Note: Range is significantly shorter for all electric cars in cold weather or when running the A/C.) Consider cost per mile, and the Tesla's fuel economy seems even better. At the national daytime average of 12 cents per kWh, the cost per mile is about four cents. (Charge at night, when rates are often discounted, and it's even less.) In comparison, an Audi A7 or S7 has a fuel cost of nearly twenty cents per mile. The average driver can save over $2,000 a year by driving a Model S. The major downside of the Tesla's electric powertrain (beyond purchase price) is the time required to charge its battery pack. With twin onboard chargers ($1,500) and a high-powered wall chargers ($1,200 plus installation) each 62 miles of range requires an hour. Easily practical for typical daily driving, but not for long-distance travel. For long-distance travel, Tesla is building a network of "Superchargers" and battery swapping stations. The Superchargers can provide half a full charge in 20 minutes. Free use of these is a $2,000 option with the regular pack and included in the price of the larger one. You'll be able to have the battery swapped in as little as 90 seconds. But the swap will cost $60 to $80 and you'll have to stop on the return trip to have the original pack re-installed or pay an additional charge. These stations will make long-distance travel feasible, but it will still be less convenient and/or more expensive than in a gas-powered car. see full Tesla Model S review

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the BMW Z4

BMW Z4 Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2007	2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	it gets better fuel economy than the M coupe, but still out performs the 2.5i and 3.0i models. see full BMW Z4 review
2007	2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD	Fuel economy is great. Getting 30 to 33 mpg on trips on 2 lane rural highways at 65 to 70 mph. see full BMW Z4 review
2006	2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	Around town I get about 23 mpg but on the open highway, get 30 to 32 mpg which is huge since the Z only uses premium grade gas. see full BMW Z4 review
2004	2dr Convertible 225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD	Average 26-27mpg combined city/highway in daily commuter driving (no expressway)...even with some spirited driving. see full BMW Z4 review

BMW Z4 Real Gas Mileage: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2007	2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD	City driving only about 17 MPG; highway driving 21 MPG see full BMW Z4 review