FuelFacts

2006 BMW X5 4.8is MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

Every gas trim of this model takes premium.

16
MPG combined (14 city / 20 hwy)
$4,388
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Premium
gas type

Is the 2006 BMW X5 4.8is good on gas?

At up to 16 MPG combined, the 2006 BMW X5 4.8is is worse than average for a Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD — that class averages about 17.3 MPG across 2,078 EPA-tested versions, so it's on the thirsty side for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

This 2006 model was originally EPA-tested under the pre-2008 2-cycle method, which didn't account for highway speeds over 60 mph, air-conditioner use, or cold starts. When EPA overhauled the test for model year 2008, city ratings fell by about 12% and highway by about 8% on average industry-wide — and EPA retroactively adjusted every 1984-2007 rating to the stricter standard so old and new cars could be compared fairly. The MPG above is already on that modern scale — the window sticker on this car when it was new likely showed a higher, pre-2008-method number.

At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $4,388/year (roughly $366/month, about $29.25 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 938 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2006 BMW X5 4.8is trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
4.8L 8-cyl, S6 automatic, AWDPREMIUM16$4,388
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2006 BMW X5 4.8is specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options4.8L 8-cyl
TransmissionS6 automatic
Drive typeAWD
EPA body classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
FuelPremium

Other years of the BMW X5 4.8is

2005 BMW X5 4.8is

Similar cars (Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD)

2006 Subaru Baja AWD2006 Lexus RX 330 4WD2006 BMW X32006 Jeep Wrangler/TJ 4WD2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 4WD2006 BMW X5

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1 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.