Starting at $55,195
7.5/10
C/D RATING
Specs
Photos
Michael Simari
|Car and Driver
7.5/10 C/D RATING
Specs
Photos
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- Highs Spacious interior, plenty of engine choices, generous technology features.
- Lows Non-M models aren't particularly engaging to drive, bland interior styling, expensive option packages.
- Verdict It might lack the driving verve of past 5-series generations, but this latest model offers plenty of luxury and upscale styling.
Overview
If quiet luxury and handsome styling are high on your new-car priorities list, the 2021 BMW 5-series sedan could very well be the answer. Its spacious and plush cabin is a pleasant place to spend your commute, and BMW offers a host of powertrain options to suit your needs, be they fuel efficiency or roaring V-8 performance. A facelift for 2021 brings sharper exterior styling that gives the 5-series an even more upscale appearance, and several tech upgrades should keep it in the fight against key rivals such as the Audi A6, the Genesis G80, and the Mercedes-Benz E-class.
What's New for 2021?
Along with its visual freshening for the 2021 model year, the 5-series boasts a new 48-volt hybrid powertrain, a larger 12.3-inch infotainment system, and upgraded driver-assistance features.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2021 BMW 5-series starts at $55,195 and goes up to $77,795 depending on the trim and options.
The mid-range 540i continues to be the best value in the 5-series lineup, offering a nice balance of performance and comfort. This model comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available. The available Convenience package seems like a wise add-on, as it includes heated front seats, a power-operated trunk lid, and remote start. To unlock the 5-series's advanced semi-autonomous driving tech, go for the Driving Assistance Plus package.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Smooth, powerful, and efficient, both the four-cylinder in the 530i and the six-cylinder in the 540i motivate this big sedan with authority. For 2021, the 540i's powertrain gains a little extra boost, care of a 48-volt hybrid system. Each pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts intuitively and quickly, making the most of the available power. The 540i's six-cylinder is silky smooth and potent, and it makes delightful noises. Apart from the top-dog M5, which we review separately, the M550i is the athlete of the lineup, with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 under its hood. In our testing, the M550i sprinted through our acceleration runs quicker than the Audi S6 and Mercedes-AMG E53, hitting 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. All 5-series models are competent handlers, but they lack the kind of driving verve we expect from BMW. Steering feedback is light, and the ride—even in the performance-oriented M550i—appears to be tuned more for comfort than pure driving pleasure.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the four-cylinder 530i will earn up to 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The six-cylinder 540i is rated at up to 25 mpg city and 32 highway. The more powerful V-8 M550i lowers those to 17 mpg city and 25 highway. All three of the models we tested overachieved in our real-world testing; the 530e delivered 34 mpg while the 540i and M550i did 31 mpg and 28 mpg, respectively. For more information about the 5-series's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Rich appointments and good design make the co*ckpit of the 5-series a civilized space. It's a noticeable upgrade compared with the somewhat drab cabin of its predecessor. It's also spacious for rear-seat passengers and features an impressive amount of technology. We've experienced the optional 20-way multi-contour front seats, which adjust in every way imaginable and provide hourslong comfort. The standard seats might not be as indulgent, but you can still adjust them in 16 ways. The BMW's large trunk space is on par with what its competitors offer, fitting six carry-on suitcases back there. That said, the cabin is lacking in cubbies and storage compartments. To accommodate the battery pack, the plug-in-hybrid 530e has four less cubic feet of trunk space than nonhybrid models and swallow two fewer carry-on suitcases, but at least it retains its folding rear seats, unlike many other hybrids.
View Photos
Infotainment and Connectivity
A large 12.3-inch high-resolution central display comes standard on every 5-series. You can control it by using BMW's iDrive rotary knob, tapping the screen, or saying various voice commands. Additionally, if you shell out for BMW's Gesture Control option, you can control the system with hand gestures, but we found this to be more gimmicky than useful. All 5-series models come with a digital gauge display that can be configured to show a variety of information to the driver. Navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth audio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are included in the tech suite, but you have to pay extra for SiriusXM satellite radio.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Plenty of driver-assistance features are standard and additional tech is optional, including a navigation-based semi-autonomous driving mode that can even plan for upcoming lane changes based on GPS data. For more information about the 5-series's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross-traffic alert
- Available adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
BMW's warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance are about average for the segment but fall short of what's offered on the Jaguar XF.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2021 BMW 530e
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$70,485 (base price: $58,195)
POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 181 hp, 258 lb-ft; permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 107 hp, 195 lb-ft; combined output, 288 hp, 310 lb-ft; 9.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.7-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZP, F: 245/40R-19 98Y ★ R: 275/35R-19 100Y ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.1 in
Length: 195.8 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 58.4 in
Passenger volume: 99 ft3
Trunk volume: 10 ft3
Curb weight: 4308 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.2 sec
100 mph: 13.8 sec
130 mph: 28.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.1 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
1/4 mile: 13.8 sec @ 100 mph
Top speed (mfr's claim): 146 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 27 MPGe
75-mph highway driving, EV/hybrid mode: 64 MPGe/32 mpg
Highway range, EV/hybrid mode: 17/380 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 26/24/29 mpg
Combined gasoline+electricity: 64 MPGe
EV range: 21 miles
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
2021 BMW 540i xDrive
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$78,235 (base price: $62,745)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
183 in3, 2998 cm3
Power
335 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque
332 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.7-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4, F: 245/40R-19 98Y ★ R: 275/35R-19 100Y ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.1 in
Length: 195.8 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 58.2 in
Passenger volume: 99 ft3
Trunk volume: 14 ft3
Curb weight: 4187 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.7 sec
100 mph: 11.7 sec
130 mph: 21.3 sec
150 mph: 32.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.2 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.7 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.4 sec
1/4 mile: 13.3 sec @ 106 mph
Top speed (mfr's claim): 155 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 152 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 311 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 22 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 34 mpg
Highway range: 610 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 26/23/31 mpg
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