BMW 5 Series

The redesigned 5 Series ups the ante on luxury, refinement, technology, and fuel efficiency, delivering an exceptional driving experience in most ways. The 530i xDrive we tested is powered by a potent and pleasing turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Along with the car’s agile handling, comfortable ride, supportive seats, and high-quality cabin, it’s no wonder that the 5 Series’ stellar road-test score lands it near the top of the midsized luxury sedan segment. The 5 Series’ biggest downside is that the controls have become more difficult to use. Other small quibbles include the steering’s overly light feel, and that the cabin—in particular the rear seat—is a bit tight, considering the car’s size; this, in spite of the fact that the new 5 Series is slightly larger than its predecessor. We bought a BMW 530i xDrive—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review.

The 530i xDrive’s powertrain is superb. The 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides energetic and refined forward thrust, while the eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth shifts. The car’s 48-volt mild-hybrid setup ensures accessories work uninterrupted when the automatic stop/start system turns off the engine at stoplights to save fuel and reduce emissions, and it gets the car going again quickly with hardly any shudder. Our test car’s optional “xDrive” all-wheel-drive system (rear-wheel drive comes standard on the 530i) provides confidence-inspiring performance in varying weather conditions. 

The 530i xDrive’s 6.6-second run from 0 to 60 mph is not only about a half-second quicker than the previous model, but the car also sees a 3-mpg boost in fuel economy, now up to 29 mpg overall on the required premium fuel. That’s pretty impressive for an all-wheel-drive midsized luxury sedan. If you crave a bit more zip, the 540i xDrive benefits from a 375-hp, turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. We’re also testing the fully electric i5, and a plug-in hybrid version of the 5 Series is coming for 2025.

Handling is taut and balanced, endowing the 530i with a controlled and solid feel. But we were disappointed by the steering—it turns into corners more quickly than before, but the power assist effort is overly light and it gives little feedback to the driver about road texture or tire grip. Even with that, the 530i performed admirably when pushed to its limits around our track, posting a competitively high speed through our avoidance maneuver test, which simulates swerving quickly—with a left, right, left steering sequence—to avoid a vehicle or an obstacle on the road. The firm ride is relatively pampering considering the car’s keen handling, and it feels planted and controlled at higher speeds. Panic-brake stopping distances are impressively short, and the cabin is very quiet.

The front seats are well-shaped and supportive, both equipped with four-way lumbar adjustment, which aids comfort on long drives. But our drivers were mixed on these seats; some found them excellent, others complained of odd pressure points. The center console hems in the driver’s right knee, but in most other ways the driving position is quite good, with ample headroom and well-padded and placed armrests. Some of our drivers were thrown off by the odd feeling of the not-quite-round steering wheel. 

Rear-seat room is cozy, with squished toe space under the front seats and tight headroom for taller adults. Still, most of our passengers found it reasonably comfortable—in spite of the seatback’s upright angle—thanks to the generous under-leg support. 

The cabin is luxurious but understated, with an abundance of leather, metallic accents, and soft-touch surfaces. It has a high-tech vibe, thanks to the 14.9-inch center-dash touchscreen and the 12.3-inch all-digital driver’s instrument panel. Although the updated infotainment screen is highly customizable, the overload of information it offers draws the driver’s eyes away from the road. And unfortunately most climate controls have been moved to the touchscreen, which results in some basic tasks requiring extra steps, such as adjusting the fan speed, airflow mode, or the heated seats. We’re also not fans of the slit-like dash vents, which are too low and a bit tricky to adjust. On the other hand, BMW’s optional head-up display is one of the best on the market, with large, clear graphics. Besides showing the car’s current speed, it’s also handy for accessing recent phone calls or scrolling through radio stations.

Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance are optional. The available active driving assistance system also includes a lane-change assist feature which works very well.