2022 BMW 5-Series

The 5-Series’ long nose, short deck, and long wheelbase look almost common by this point, copied by everything from the Acura TLX to the Genesis G80. The clean lines take a no-nonsense approach, and the ends get pinched for a sleeker profile. Unlike newer BMWs, the twin kidney grille fits on the face, and lower airtakes and side gills help it push through air with less resistance.

Inside, two 12.3-inch screens line a dash otherwise fitted with a warm mix of available leather, wood trim, and chrome accents. A controller dial studs the console, alongside a panel of drive buttons and a shifter with a Park button. The Mercedes E-Class does it better, but barely.

The base 530i model uses a 2.0-liter turbo-4 with 248 hp and 258 lb-ft to reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, or 5.8 with all-wheel drive. Grip bests weight here. BMW’s superlative 8-speed automatic transmission lets drivers dig into the red during Sport mode, or it fades into the background in EcoPro or Comfort modes. 

The 530e plug-in hybrid mates the turbo-4 to a 12.0-kwh battery pack for a total output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft. It trims the 0-60 mph time slightly to 5.7 seconds, but the motor serves its mission of preserving gas more than supplementing power. The 21 miles of all-electric range falls short of most commutes, but it’s fine for emission-free errand runs. It charges in about three hours with a 240-volt Level 2 charger, and available federal incentives offset some of the upcharge.  

The 540i has a mild-hybrid system that does nothing for propulsion but helps the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 run almost as efficiently as the turbo-4. A coasting function returns energy to the larger 48-volt starter generator, which then powers the 12-volt battery to run the electrical systems in the cabin. With an output of 335 hp and 332 lb-ft, the 540i never lacks for power. It improves efficiency and cuts the 0-60 mph time to 4.6 seconds with all-wheel drive.

The M550i’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 makes 523 hp and 553 lb-ft and comes with all-wheel drive standard. It hits 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. 

If that’s not quick enough, there’s a higher strung variant that wrings out 600 hp and 553 lb-ft in the M5, or 617 hp in the M5 Competition. The face melt happens in 3.1 seconds. 

Is the 5-Series 4WD?

The sedan can be had with all-wheel drive for $2,300 more on 530 and 540 models; it’s standard with the V-8s. The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspensions never betray the prodigious 4,000-pound average weight of the 5-Series. 

With adaptive dampers on the M package or standard on the M550i, the 5-Series earns its mark as a performance sedan. The 5-Series can cruise comfortably and leisurely, or button down on a button switch to run quicker, turn sharper, and handle with more firmness and agility.

With 36.5 inches of rear leg room, rear-seat passengers ride in comfort of their own, as long as a fifth wheel doesn’t glom onto that middle seat. Use it as an armrest or a passthrough from the 40/20/40-split rear seats into the long trunk. It holds a narrow 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, which shrinks to 10 cubes due to the battery pack placement in the 530e plug-in hybrid.

It earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS thanks to its adaptive LED headlights that come standard, and it aced all six crash tests. 

Standard driver-assist systems include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, rear automatic braking, and automatic high beams. 

The optional Driving Assistance Professional package adds active lane control, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, an emergency setting that can bring the car to a stop on a highway shoulder, and hands-free driving in heavy traffic. The $1,700 charge is misleading, however; it requires the $600 Convenience package that includes heated seats. 

Good outward vision aids drivers except for the blind spots, and options such as a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and a built-in forward camera simplify parking.

Which BMW 5-Series should I buy?

The base 530i costs $55,195, but most shoppers will dip into the extensive options pool, such as any paint job other than black or white costing at least $550. We’d recommend the additional power of the 540i and its 19-inch wheels for $60,445. AWD adds $2,300 on either model. BMW makes it very easy to rationalize an M550i with AWD and adaptive dampers for $77,795. 

How much is a fully loaded 2022 BMW 5-Series?

The M5 sedan costs $104,495 but boosting output 17 hp to 617 hp total with the Competition package adds $7,600. The upcharge includes 20-inch forged wheels, lowers the ride height by 0.2 inch, and has firmer springs, ball joint mounts, and a rear anti-roll bar. It’s meant for tracking.

The 48-volt mild-hybrid system in the 3.0-liter inline-6 makes it nearly as efficient as the 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the 530i, which is rated at 25 mpg city, 33 highway, and 28 combined. The city rating remains the same for the 540i, but highway and combined ratings drop 1 mpg to 32 and 27 mpg, respectively. Ratings for all-wheel drive, or xDrive in Bimmer speak, fall 2 mpg combined.

The EPA has yet to certify the 530e plug-in hybrid, but last year it got 21 miles of electric range or 26 mpg combined when the juice ran out. AWD cost it 1 mpg, and lowered the range to 19 miles. 

The twin-turbo V-8 in the M550i gets 17/25/20 mpg. The M5 sucks fuel at a rate of 15/21/17 mpg.