Head to head
BMW i5 vs Tesla Model S
A side-by-side comparison of published US specifications, including EPA range figures.
The verdict
The Tesla Model S offers more range — 405 miles EPA against 295, a gap of about 110 miles between charges. The Tesla Model S is the better fit for families needing extra cargo space, with 793 litres and 5 seats versus 490 litres and 5 in the BMW i5. On price the BMW i5 starts about $6,090 lower, while the quicker of the two to 60mph is the Tesla Model S at 3.1s.
On the measured specifications below, the BMW i5 leads in 1 area and the Tesla Model S in 4.
Specs side by side
Price from (new)(Lower is better)
Range (EPA)
Battery
Body type
Seats
Cargo space
0–60 mph(Lower is better)
Standout feature
How they score
Each attribute is a percentile against every EV on sale in the US — 100 means best in the dataset. These are the same attributes our recommender uses.
Range
Price
Family space
Performance
Tech