Overview
Now in its eighth generation, the BMW 5-series continues to serve as the ultimate compromise in the Bavarian brand’s star-studded sedan lineup. Larger than the sporty, compact 3-series but smaller than the limo-like 7-series, the 5er strikes a nice balance between nimble driving dynamics, luxury, and size—although the newest version is bigger than it has ever been and gives up some of its trademark athleticism compared to previous generations.
Three buttery-smooth turbocharged powertrains are available, including an efficient but mighty four-cylinder in the 530i, a potent inline-six in the 540i, and a seamless plug-in hybrid arrangement in the range-topping 550e model. No matter which version you choose, the 5-series offers plenty of space for passengers and a list of luxury and technology features that keep pace with other premium sedan rivals.
Expert Tip: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a perennial 5-series rival, earned a spot on our 2026 10Best list for blending old-school luxury with a smooth driving character that is also subtly athletic—traits that the 5-series has been historically known for.
What’s New for 2027?
The 5-series was revamped with a new look and updated hardware for the 2024 model year, which wasn’t that long ago in automotive terms. We don’t expect there to be any notable changes to the 5er for 2027.
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BMW is known for its brilliantly smooth and powerful inline-six engines, and the one in the 540i xDrive is too good to live without. The 540i comes with the added benefit of standard all-wheel drive—xDrive in BMW parlance—so it strikes the best balance of price and capability.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance Engines: 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (530i), 375-hp turbocharged inline-six (540i), 483 horsepower (combined) inline-six cylinder with one electric motor (550e) Transmission: 8-speed automatic Drivetrains: rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive
The 5-series is offered in 530i, 540i, and 550e guises, with the 530i getting a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and either rear- or all-wheel drive. The 540i comes with all-wheel drive standard as well as a 375-hp turbocharged inline-six. Both are augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system. The plug-in hybrid 550e is powered by an inline-six and a single electric motor that combine for 483 horsepower; all-wheel drive is standard. In our experience with a 530i, the ride is smooth but still provides a sense of subtle athleticism. The heavier 540i skews more towards luxury than sport. Cornering grip is reasonable, especially with the M Sport package’s upgraded suspension, but the newest 5-series lacks the outright driving engagement typical of previous 5er generations.
0–60-MPH Times C/D 60-mph Test: 5.5 seconds (530i xDrive), 4.0 seconds (540i xDrive)
In Comparison: The BMW 5-series is quicker than its Mercedes-Benz equivalent, with the Benz taking 4.4 seconds to reach 60 mph in E450 4Matic (six-cylinder, all-wheel drive) trim and 5.8 seconds in E350 4Matic (four-cylinder, all-wheel drive) guise.
Additional ResearchRange, Charging, and Battery Life EPA EV Range: 34 miles (550e)
The 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid is fitted with a 19.0-kWh battery pack that the EPA estimates will provide 34 miles of all-electric driving range per charge. The battery has a peak charge rate of 11 kW when plugged into a Level 2 AC charger, which will recharge the 550e fully in three to four hours, according to BMW. When we get a chance to test the 550e for ourselves, we’ll update this story with real-world results.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Tests: 35 mpg (530i xDrive), 37 mpg (540i xDrive) EPA City Ratings: 26-28 mpg EPA Highway Ratings: 32-35 mpg
The EPA hasn’t released any fuel economy information for the 2027 5-series yet, but last year’s four-cylinder 530i model earned ratings of 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway; the 540i was rated for 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The plug-in hybrid 550e was rated at 68 MPGe combined in electric mode and 25 mpg when operating in hybrid mode. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV vehicle fuel efficiency. When we tested a four-cylinder, 2024 530i xDrive on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, it returned 35 mpg. We also tested a 2024 540i xDrive, which returned 37 mpg, which is even more impressive in that it’s the more powerful, six-cylinder model. For more information about the 5-series’ fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
First Row: Inside the 5-series’ cabin, there is plenty of room for adult riders to get comfortable in the front seats, and the interior looks appropriately deluxe. While leather upholstery remains an option, BMW also offers a vegan-friendly choice called Veganza. All models come with automatic climate control with vents that are cleverly integrated into the dashboard design to hide them from view.
Second Row: While the 5-series’ second row isn’t as capacious as the one found in the size-up 7-series, there is plenty of space for adult passengers to lounge comfortably.
Cargo Capacity: We managed to slip six carry-on suitcases into the 5-series’ trunk, which ties it with the last Mercedes-Benz E450 that we tested.
Infotainment and Connectivity Infotainment: 14.9-inch touchscreen (standard) Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Audio System: 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system (standard), 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system (optional)
All 5-series models come with a large curved digital panel that incorporates a 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge display and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system is also used in other BMW models, such as the 7-series sedan and the iX electric SUV, and has proven quite competent in our experience. However, the infotainment screen’s vast suite of apps and functions can be overwhelming when trying to make adjustments on the fly.
A head-up display is optional, but all models come standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Harman/Kardon stereo system, and a video game system BMW calls AirConsole that can only be used when the car is parked.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 5-series offers the expected driver-assistance features as standard, including automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, but more advanced features—including BMW’s Highway Assistant hands-free driving mode—are optional.
Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Optional Safety Features: adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving mode
For information about the 5-series’ crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
BMW’s warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance are about average for the segment. The company does offer three years of complimentary maintenance, though.
Limited Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles Complimentary Maintenance: three years or 36,000 milesC/D Test Results and Specs
Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that’s because this vehicle hasn’t changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.
Specifications
Specifications
2024 BMW 530i xDrive
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $61,195/$70,745
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1998 cm3
Power: 255 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.7-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Continental EcoContact 6 Q
F: 245/35R-21 96Y ★ MO
R: 275/30R-21 98Y ★ MO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.9 in
Length: 199.2 in
Width: 74.8 in
Height: 59.6 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 55/46 ft3
Trunk Volume: 18 ft3
Curb Weight: 4090 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.2 sec @ 96 mph
100 mph: 15.4 sec
130 mph: 30.6 sec
140 mph: 40.3 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.5 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 155 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 156 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 318 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.92 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 35 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 550 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 30/27/35 mpg
2024 BMW 540i xDrive
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $65,895/$83,59
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 183 in3, 2998 cm3
Power: 375 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 398 lb-ft @ 1850 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.8-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Continental EcoContact 6 Q
F: 245/35R-21 102Y Extra Load ★ MO
R: 275/30R-21 96Y Extra Load ★ MO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.9 in
Length: 199.2 in
Width: 74.8 in
Height: 59.6 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 55/46 ft3
Trunk Volume: 18 ft3
Curb Weight: 4365 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.0 sec
100 mph: 10.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.5 sec @ 111 mph
130 mph: 18.2 sec
150 mph: 26.8 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.0 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.8 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 152 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 328 ft
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 37 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 580 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 28/26/33 mpg
