The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Classic taut handling
- Clearly a 5-Series, but evolved
- Comfortable cabin space for four
- Gas or electric, your choice
- Superior i5 performance
Dislikes
- Dimensionally larger than ever
- Gas power lumpy vs electric i5
- Options can get expensive
- Still waiting for M5, PHEV details
Buying tip
features & specs
The redesigned eighth-generation 2024 BMW 5-Series offers gasoline and i5 electric power options; we prefer the i5 for its performance and grace.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 BMW 5-Series? What does it compare to?
The eighth generation of a car that debuted in 1972, the 2024 BMW 5-Series is a five-seat midsize sport sedan with both combustion and electric powertrain options,. Its rivals include two Germans—the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class—and perhaps the Genesis G80.
Is the 2024 BMW 5-Series a good car?
With tauter styling, a traditional but comfortable interior, and the roadholding and handling BMW is known for, the 2024 5-Series carries on the long tradition of 5-Series sedans. The 5-Series earns a TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10; if rated separately, the related electric i5 would earn an 8.3 out of 10 for its perfect 10 “Green” rating. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 BMW 5-Series?
The eighth generation of the BMW 5-Series has grown slightly in all dimensions, but retains its precise on-road feel. The 2024 series has two gasoline options in the 530i and 540i and two i5 battery-electric models; BMW will add a plug-in hybrid version late in 2024.
All versions of the 2024 5-Series have BMW’s latest larger twin-kidney grille openings and sharper-edged design, but the car remains instantly recognizable as a 5-Series sedan. The 5-Series and i5 are nearly indistinguishable except for tailpipes, while the solid grille and pronounced lower bumper of i5 M60 models stand out from both the 540i and i5 eDrive40. Against the previous generation, the twins are 3.4 inches longer, 1.3 inches wider, and 1.4 inches higher, which helps maintain classic 5-Series proportions while accommodating a battery pack under the cabin floor of electric versions. A black band under the doors hides the height, and onlookers will likely never guess the same car could include a gasoline engine or an all-electric powertrain on BMW’s CLAR platform.
The entry gas model is the 530i, with a turbocharged inline-4; it’s the only one we’ve driven. Above that will sit the 540i, with a turbo inline-6, available at the start of 2024. Both versions are more powerful than the previous generation, with the 540i in particular getting a major boost. They power their wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission, with xDrive all-wheel drive optional for the 530i and standard on the 540i. Both engines include a 48-volt starter-generator system as standard.
This year’s 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the 530i makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is 7 hp and 38 lb-ft more than the outgoing turbo-4. The 540i gets a boost of 40 hp and 52 lb-ft, with BMW quoting power of 375 hp, torque of 384 lb-ft, and a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of 4.4 seconds. Few specs were revealed for the 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid model beyond a power rating of 483 hp and a projected EPA-rated electric range of 30 to 40 miles; it arrives late in 2024.
As always, the 5-Series holds the road and corners with precision. Long-tenured owners may find the combination of start-stop, turbocharging, and an 8-speed transmission can make power delivery slightly lumpy—especially if they drive the 530i back to back against one of the electric i5 models.
Inside, BMW owners will instantly recognize the dashboard, cluster, and central touchscreen as an evolution of previous generations. For 2024, BMW has changed from its traditional three-spoke steering wheel to a new design with two spokes, to accommodate more driver functions on the spokes. Version 8.5 of BMW’s iDrive control system adds both video streaming and gaming—though only while the car is stationary.
Cabin space is ample and comfortable for four adults, and this year’s 5-Series gets a boost in trunk space. Rear legroom also benefits from a slightly longer wheelbase.
BMW equips each 5-Series with a comprehensive suite of active safety features. Many more are optional, including the Driving Assistance Professional package that now includes a new hands-off highway driving capability up to 85 mph.
How much does the 2024 BMW 5-Series cost?
The rear-drive 530i, starting at $58,895 including a mandatory delivery fee of $995, has 19-inch wheels, vegan “leather-like” seats, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 13.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless smartphone charging. The xDrive all-wheel drive system adds $2,300 to the 530i’s price; it’s standard on the 540i, which starts at $65,895.
The 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 costs $67,795, while the range-topping M60 xDrive costs $85,095.
Where is the 2024 BMW 5-Series made?
All BMW 5-Series and i5 models are made in Dingolfing, Germany.
2024 BMW 5-Series Styling
It’s crisper and smoother, but still very much a 5-Series
Is the BMW 5-Series a good-looking car?
It’s far from cutting edge, but the 2024 BMW 5-Series remains instantly recognizable as the midsize sedan within the BMW lineup, even without the number 5 stamped near the signature Hofmeister kink at the rear windows. All versions of the new 5-Series have BMW’s latest and larger twin-kidney grille openings that adds more sculpturing and creased lines to what’s actually a smooth, gently tapered shape. The roofline has a decidedly fastback profile, with a rear window that flows into a trunk lid that’s higher at the front than the rear. Both LED headlights and taillights are slimmer, wider, and wrapped more aggressively around the corners of the car. An illuminated kidney grille, first seen on the larger 7-Series, is now available for the 5-Series as well. The tailpipes are the main distinguisher between the gas and the i5 electric model. The i5 M60, however, makes a stylistic leap at the front end with a gaping lower front fascia situated under a grille free of vertical slats. Its apparent assertiveness is a bit much.
M Sport and M Sport Professional packages add various items to dress up the cars’ appearance, including larger air intakes, side skirts, a rear diffuser, special wheels, and more.
Inside, the dash has a pair of horizontal displays; the 12.3-inch one behind the wheel serves as the instrument cluster, while the 13.9-inch center touchscreen duplicates many of the functions BMW expects drivers will use via the iDrive 8.5 controller on the console. Perhaps the most surprising facet is that BMW has abandoned its traditional three-spoke steering wheel for a two-spoke design with wider bars, to accommodate more wheel-mounted driver controls. A head-up display is optional. Electric models feature a light bar refracting geometric shapes bridging the dash from the door panels. It changes color based on drive settings or the driver’s selection, and it conceals the vents. Toggles sit in the lower dash to adjust the vents, and there’s a subtle slider to open and close the vent instead of fiddling with the touchscreen.
2024 BMW 5-Series Performance
The 530i gas model is the lightest of all 5-Series, but smoothness suffers against the all-electric versions.
The 5-Series launches with two gasoline engines, only one of which we were able to drive, and a pair of battery-electric powertrains. The i5 electrics are superior in performance and handling, but any 5-Series earns a point for its handling and its acceleration to a 7. The i5 M60 would be an 8.
This year’s 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the 530i makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is 7 hp and 38 lb-ft more than the outgoing turbo-4. The 3.0-liter inline-6 of the 540i gets a boost of 40 hp and 52 lb-ft, with BMW quoting power of 375 hp and torque of 384 lb-ft.
The i5 electric models use an 82-kwh battery pack that feeds a single motor on the rear-wheel-drive i5 eDrive40, rated at 335 hp and 295 lb-ft, or dual motors on the all-wheel-drive i5 M60 that tops the performance range with 593 hp and 586 lb-ft.
Other powertrains that include gas engines are on the way: a 550e plug-in hybrid for certain, and very likely an M5 at some point in the future.
Is the BMW 5-Series 4WD?
The more powerful 540i and i5 M60 come standard with xDrive all-wheel drive; it’s an optional on the base rear-wheel-drive 530i. It’s not offered yet on the i5 eDrive40.
How fast is the BMW 5-Series?
The gas versions are fast, though slightly slower than comparable i5 electric models. The 530i accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, according to the company, and adding the xDrive option cuts 0.1 second off that number due to the increased traction provided by all-wheel drive. With standard xDrive, the 540i has a quoted 0-to-60-mph acceleration of 4.4 seconds. (Comparable i5 EV models are 5.7 and 3.7 seconds, respectively.) Top speed for the 530i models is limited to 130 mph on standard tires.
On the road, the 530i we drove was composed, holding the road and corners with precision. The 530i is lighter, and hence lither, than either of its battery-electric counterparts. Electric power steering is nicely weighted and overall, the new 5-Series felt as expected: larger than previous generations, but equally adept under any on-road conditions we found in our 50 miles of driving in and around Greenville, South Carolina.
While BMW has worked hard to blend the various operating modes of the engine and transmission, owners of earlier 5-Series models may find the 530i’s mix of start-stop, turbocharging, and an 8-speed transmission makes power delivery slightly lumpy in some circumstances. It’s most apparent driving the 530i back to back against one of the electric i5 models, though we question whether shoppers won’t arrive planning to buy one or the other—and not bother with that comparison.
How fast is the BMW i5 electric?
The base i5 reaches 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is a couple tics quicker than the base gas model. At 4,916 pounds, it weighs nearly 900 pounds more than the 530i, but the powerful motor erases that weight difference. Instead of paddle shifters for regenerative braking, the i5 has a boost function on the steering wheel that juices 10-second bursts of power to make it feel quicker than its quoted 0-60 mph time. It acts as a hot button on the wheel instead of pressing the button in the console and twisting the dial to Sport mode. The lack of lumpy transmission shifts also makes it smoother than the 530i, and the power takes hold the most in the 25-40 mph range.
The added weight makes it feel more planted, and with a center of balance that feels spread more evenly between the axles and its independent suspension. The variable sport steering system can turn in almost too sharply from its otherwise listless center position, as if too eager to show off from its default angle.
BMW falls into the German camp of regenerative braking, eschewing one-pedal driving as not the most efficient driving behavior over a mix of applications. There are three settings ranging in strength, but the fourth and default “Adaptive” setting is the most curious. As in other BMW electrics, it operates like an adaptive cruise control for the regen braking system, applying more regen when the car in front of you brakes, and less from a distance when the lead car is coasting into a stop. It takes some getting used to and a leap of faith to adjust to its variability, but once acclimated it can be a welcome if not thoughtless alternative to one-pedal braking.
The i5 M60 leads the performance charge across the lineup, with its second motor driving the front axle and contributing to a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. The thrust is staggering if not gut-dropping, and the synthesized exhaust note channels a video game that can be unsettling or enchanting, depending on your expectations. It can also be shut off in either electric model. The M60 includes rear-wheel steering that effectively shrinks its size around corners, and it has an adaptive suspension for sharper responses as well as comfier cruising.
Expect more details on the 483-hp 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid model late in 2024. BMW said nothing at all about any future M5, though it’s hard to imagine there won’t be one—which might be a plug-in hybrid tuned for power rather than all-electric running, if it follows recent BMW performance practice.
2024 BMW 5-Series Comfort & Quality
The 5-Series carries four adults and their luggage in fast comfort.
The passenger cabin of the BMW 5-Series is a comfortable and pleasant place for four adults to spend time at speed. The standard materials will satisfy vegans, but leather is available as an option. As always on higher-end BMWs, the front seats are comfortable, suitably bolstered, and adjustable in several planes. The outboard rear seats are subtly bolstered as well, and legroom benefits from a 0.8-inch stretch in the wheelbase. Even more features—heating, cooling, massaging—are available in the Luxury Seating package. Overall, the cabin rates an 8 on the TCC scale.
Black remains the default interior color, with perforated “leather-like” Veganza material on the seats, dash, door panels, and steering wheel, but white, burgundy, and brown are available as well. The optional leather upholstery comes in black, as well as several two-tone combinations, including copper/gray and white/gray. The M Sport package adds Alcantara to the black Veganza.
Trunk space has grown significantly for 2024, from last year’s 14.0 cubic feet to a quoted 18.4 cubic feet. Even larger items, from cartons to skis, can be accommodated via the folding 40/20/40 rear seatbacks.
2024 BMW 5-Series Safety
A Top Safety Pick winner, the BMW 5-Series withstands crashes well.
How safe is the BMW 5-Series?
The official crash-test results we use to assess a safety rating are inconclusive because the NHTSA has yet to test it, but the IIHS awarded the 2024 5-Series a Top Safety Pick honor, which is worth a point here. It gets two more points for its standard and optional driver-assistance technology to an 8. Note that the i5 has not been certified by either agency, but it has the same feature set.
All models come with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. A surround-view camera system is optional.
BMW’s optional Driving Assistance Professional system includes active lane control, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and the ability to handle steering inputs on its own in heavier traffic. The package includes BMW’s Highway Assistant for hands-free driving up to 85 mph as long as the driver keeps their eyes on the road ahead. It includes Active Lane Change, which requires the driver to glance to the mirror on the desired side to initiate a lane change—without having to use the turn signal. In our limited highway test time in new 5-Series models, we didn’t get the Highway Assistant to engage for a long enough period to assess it against the Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot system, GM’s Super Cruise, or other hands-off automated driving assists.
2024 BMW 5-Series Features
The 5-Series offers luxury pricing, and features to match.
The 2024 BMW 5-Series starts at $58,895, including a mandatory $995 delivery fee, for the rear-wheel-drive 530i model. Adding xDrive all-wheel drive to the 530i costs an additional $2,300. The more powerful 6-cylinder 540i xDrive starts at $65,895.
With similar convenience features as the 540i, the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 costs $67,795, while the range-topping M60 xDrive costs $85,095.
We give the new 5-Series lineup a rating of 9 for comprehensive base equipment, the ability for buyers to customize in remarkably varied ways, a terrific infotainment system, and a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with a 3-year/36,000-mile maintenance package included.
Which BMW 5-Series should I buy?
For most drivers, the 530i is a good all-round 5-Series and offers good performance and handling. You may opt for the xDrive all-wheel drive in regions where it’s useful (or expected). But once leather seats, the high-end Harman Kardon audio system, the Driving Assistance Professional active-safety system, and perhaps a head-up display are added, it approaches the cost of the most basic 540i—which itself will then need to be optioned up.
How much is a fully loaded BMW 5-Series?
The $65,895 540i xDrive tops the gas lineup, but the i5 M60 runs $85,095. Then there are all the options.
2024 BMW 5-Series Fuel Economy
The 5-Series gas models get more power, but gas mileage rises
Is the BMW 5-Series good on gas?
The 4- and 6-cylinder models offered on launch make the 2024 BMW 5-Series a reasonably fuel-efficient choice among performance sedans due to its mild-hybrid system that serves as an enhanced start-stop function.
Both rear-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of this year’s 530i are EPA-rated at 27 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined, which is good for big sedans—and 2 mpg better on the combined rating than last year, despite a power boost. The 540i xDrive 6-cylinder version has a lot more power, so it comes in at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, 28 combined.
While the coming 550e plug-in hybrid, with an estimated 30 to 40 miles of electric-only range, may prove the most cost-effective 5-Series, it won’t be available until the end of 2024—and check the specs to see if they make sense for you.
What is the range of the BMW i5?
The 2024 BMW i5 eDerive40 rear-wheel-drive model with 19-inch wheels tops out at 295 miles, according to the EPA, and it has an efficiency rating of 3.1 miles per kwh. That would amount to a perfect 10 here, but the gas model is more popular in sales, for now, so we use the 5-Series for our rating.
As in every electric car, wheel sizes make a difference in range due to more rubber hitting the ground, and as in every BMW, there are several wheel choices, from 19s to 21 inchers that lower the range to 270 miles. In our testing, our range and efficiency averages mirrored the estimates.
The more performance-orientated i5 M60 xDrive with dual-motor all-wheel drive has a range of 256 miles and an efficiency rating of 2.7 miles per kwh. With 21-inch wheels, the range drops to 240 miles.
How long does it take to charge the BMW i5?
The i5 models charge at up to 11 kw on a 240-volt connection. Every i5 comes with a cord and adapters for both 120-volt and 240-volt charging. On a public DC fast charger, the i5 accepts up to 205 kw, and at that rate it would recharge the battery from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
