2021 BMW 5 Series Review

　　

2021 BMW 5 Series Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　For much of the 1990s and 2000s, the BMW 5 Series was the quintessential midsize luxury sport sedan. With a keen mix of strong power, engaging handling and refined comfort, it fit in perfectly between BMW's smaller 3 Series and larger 7 Series. To the disappointment of some, more recent versions of the 5 Series have focused more on luxury. But it's still one of the preeminent midsize sedans on the market.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$165/mo  for 5 Series 530i

　　5 Series 530i

　　530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $54,200 MSRP530i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $56,500 MSRP530e 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $57,200 MSRP540i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $59,450 MSRP530e xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $59,500 MSRP540i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $61,750 MSRPM550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $76,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　For 2021, BMW has updated the 5 Series with a restyled front end, a larger infotainment touchscreen and improved voice controls. There's also a new 48-volt mild hybrid system for the 540i that slightly improves fuel efficiency and smooths out the operation of the engine's stop-start system at stoplights. How does it compare against the likes of Audi's tech-forward A6  and Mercedes-Benz's impressive E-Class? Across individual categories, the BMW doesn't always come out on top. But on the whole, the 5 Series is a satisfying luxury sedan that deserves a close look. Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth evaluation.

　　

What's it like to live with?

To find out what life is like with the current-generation BMW 5 Series, check out our Long Term blog of our time with a 2018 540i xDrive. Some (minor) changes have been made to the 5 Series since then but our findings and impressions are still very relevant.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the 5 Series drive? If the driving experience is truly important to you, then the 5 Series is a sedan to consider. Most of the models are well-rounded performers. In our testing, the four-cylinder 530i managed to cover 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, a good showing for a base engine. We also tested a 540i xDrive and recorded an impressive sprint of just 4.6 seconds.

　　Our test 530i had ultra-smooth M Sport brakes that stopped the car from 60 mph in just 108 feet, an admirable result for a midsize luxury sedan. The steering is nicely weighted but somewhat numb. Thankfully, the chassis is both balanced and communicative.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 5 Series? The 5 Series is a supremely comfortable car, especially with the optional multi-contour front seats. We are also impressed with the ride quality — it's comfortable and relatively plush yet well damped so it doesn't feel floaty. And while there's a mild amount of road noise that creeps in, there's no wind noise and the engine is barely audible when cruising.

　　Our only issue with the climate system was its capacity to keep us properly chilled. While the dual-temp, dual-fan speed controls offer a lot of variabilities, the fan speed was never quite strong enough to deal with temperature extremes.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The 530i's cabin is an excellent place to spend time. Front passengers have ample room. And thanks to the highly adjustable seat and steering wheel, drivers of just about all sizes should be able to find a comfortable position. Climbing in or out is a breeze thanks to generous door openings with plenty of head clearance. Rear legroom is spacious, and rear headroom is sufficient but not exceptional.

　　BMW is great at minimizing button count, but that leaves a lot for iDrive to control. The iDrive menus are pretty straightforward and easy to navigate, but it takes time to wrap your head around all the options and customizations available. It can be a little intimidating. We do like the clear views the 5 Series provides. The windows are nicely sized, especially in the rear. The optional surround-view camera system helps a lot too.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? BMW is one of the more aggressive manufacturers when it comes to innovative features. Most of them are useful, while some are cool parlor tricks, but we appreciate them all. The stereo provides high-quality sound and responds well to gesture controls. BMW's voice assistant works as expected with natural language commands to control many vehicle functions.

　　The 5 Series' driver safety aids work extremely well. The adaptive cruise, for instance, maintains a tight gap behind the car ahead, and the actuating brakes stop hard yet smoothly when needed. The most impressive feature of the 5 Series is its parking cameras that help render an amazing 3D image of the outside of the car.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The 530i has a fairly generous trunk with flexible cargo configurations. The 530i's trunk is larger than most in the segment. The trunk has a wide opening and a low liftover, but it narrows a fair amount toward the back of the rear seats. The folding rear seats are split 40/20/40, which provides some nice flexibility.

　　BMW has done a decent job with in-cabin storage: water bottle pockets on all the doors, a retractable cover that houses a bin for wireless phone charging up front, and a decent-size glovebox and center armrest space. It's still not a lot of storage, but it's sufficient for a European luxury sedan.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The 530i is rated at 28 mpg combined. We achieved 27 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, but we usually exceed combined mpg on this route. And our overall test average of 23.1 mpg fell below the city rating. Both are disappointing but unsurprising for a modern downsized turbocharged engine such as the four-cylinder in the 530i. Our test of the 540i was more favorable in matching EPA estimates.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the 5 Series a good value? The quality of BMW's electronics is top-notch, from the central touchscreen to the driver's gauge cluster. Interior panel fit is also nice, but the materials used for the wood trim and leather can come across as slightly fake. You'll pay for every option you add, but prices are fair for the segment and worth it considering the quality of the upgrades.

　　BMW's four-year/50,000-mile warranty coverage is on par for a German brand, though some American and Asian brands offer more. But the three-year/36,000-mile free maintenance coverage is uncommon in the luxury segment.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　We're relieved to see BMW focusing on driving dynamics again, which is what ultimately defines the personality of its cars. But we do wish BMW would take a little more risk on the exterior design. There's very little that differentiates this latest generation from the previous 5 Series.

　　

Which 5 Series does zzdcar recommend?

For the best experience, we recommend starting with the 540i. The turbocharged six-cylinder engine's balance of power and efficiency is laudable for a car of this size. We'd also spring for the Driving Assistant Plus package for its adaptive cruise control and other useful driver aids and the Parking Assistance package for its surround-view camera and parking sensors. If you'd like a little extra performance, you should definitely opt for the M Sport package, which includes a sport suspension, grippy tires and unique exterior styling.

　　

2021 BMW 5 Series models

The 2021 BMW 5 Series is available in four trim levels, all with different powertrains. The 530i (248 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) and the 530e plug-in hybrid (288 hp, 310 lb-ft) are powered by variants of BMW's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates you can go about 21 miles on electric power in the 530e before switching to regular hybrid operation.

　　The 540i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (335 hp, 331 lb-ft). At the top of the range is the M550i with its turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). BMW's all-wheel drive, called xDrive, is an option on the 530i, the 530e and the 540i. It's standard on the M550i. An eight-speed automatic is standard across the board. The ultra high-performance M5 is reviewed separately.

　　530i/530e

　　Come nicely equipped with:

　　18-inch wheels Adaptive LED headlights Digital gauge cluster display 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen Navigation Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Sunroof Power-adjustable front seats Leather-wrapped steering wheelThe 5 Series also comes with:

　　Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)540i

　　Other than the six-cylinder engine noted above, the 540i is similarly equipped to the 530i and 530e models.

　　Multiple packages are available for the four- and six-cylinder models. Highlights include:

　　Parking Assistance

　　Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Drive recording software 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the 5 Series and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)Driving Assistance Plus

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Side avoidance (takes evasive action to avoid a collision when another vehicle drifts into your lane) Front cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle ahead of you is about to cross your vehicle's path at a blind intersection) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Luxury Seating

　　Front ventilated seats Multi-contour front seatsM Sport

　　Choice of 19- or 20-inch wheels Sport steering Sport suspension (not available on the 530e) Sport steering wheel Sporty exterior trimPremium package

　　Remote start Power trunklid Heated front and rear seats Head-up display Upgraded Harman Kardon audio system Wireless device charging padM550i

　　Upgrades performance and luxury with:

　　Sporty exterior styling Electronically controlled rear differential (for sportier performance) Adaptive sport suspension High-performance brakes 19-inch wheels Rear spoiler Sport steering wheel Leather seating surfaces Upgraded audio systemDynamic Handling

　　Specific to the M550i, this optional package adds:

　　High-performance adaptive suspension Active steering Active roll stabilization

　　

2021 5 Series Highlights

Type: SedanM550i xDrivePlug-in HybridSedan

　　Trim: 530i530i xDrive530e540i530e xDrive540i xDriveM550i xDrive530i

　　

Base MSRP	$54,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles