Head to head
Tesla Model S vs BMW i5
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 Tesla Model S leads in 4 areas and the BMW i5 in 1.
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