2026 BMW 5 Series

Even if the 5 Series isn’t quite the benchmark of its class in the same way that the BMW 3 Series is among compact luxury sedans, we still think it’s something special. It’s wonderfully capable, offers a choice of excellent drivetrains, and there’s plenty of great tech available. BMW has also given the 5 Series a certain finesse. If there was a 5 Series on our hypothetical driveway, we’d consider ourselves extremely fortunate.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury cars, including the BMW 5 Series.

This generation debuted just two model years ago, so there are only a few changes to the 5 Series this time around. The list of paint choices now includes Frozen Portimao Blue metallic, while Dark Violet or Taupe paired with Atlas Grey leather are fresh interior color schemes. And the 550e Drive plug-in hybrid can now charge its battery quicker than before.

We’re happy enough to recommend the base 530i, with or without all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s a popular choice and we’ve enjoyed driving it.

Looking at the rivals, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (our pick for the class benchmark, by the way) and the new-for-2026 Audi A6 start higher. The Genesis G80 begins at a lower price, while the also-new-for-2026 Lexus ES should be the most affordable of this class.

Before buying a new 5 Series midsize luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are about average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The popular 530i employs a 255-horsepower turbocharged engine, energetic enough to accomplish the sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a lively 5.9 seconds. If all-wheel drive is in the picture, shave off another tenth. The Genesis G80 is in that same ballpark, while the Mercedes-Benz E 350 4Matic is just a couple of tenths behind.

We’re compelled to add that this is perhaps the smoothest 4-cylinder engine we’ve ever encountered, with virtually no vibration. The power delivery is so sweetly linear, it’s a joy to experience. It even turned out to be a little faster than our initial expectations.

BMW says the 540i xDrive can apply its 375 hp to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That’s only a tenth behind the most powerful BMW Z4 sports car. This happens courtesy of a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine. Most of the time, maximum torque is 384 lb-ft, but a mild hybrid system on board pushes that to 398 lb-ft for short bursts. It also smooths out the fuel-saving engine stop/restart function.

The 550e xDrive is a plug-in hybrid making a total of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, and with the ability to hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

We’ve always admired and enjoyed the way BMW’s cars manage to combine an engaging driving experience with refinement and suppleness. The 5 Series is enhanced even further by subtle automatic braking to individual wheels for greater effectiveness through quick corners. Overall, the 5 Series is wonderfully pleasant to drive. If there was a bit more of a wow factor, though, we’d be even happier. We realize this seems odd when talking about a BMW, but here we are.

Fuel Economy

The rear-drive 530i achieves 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving. All-wheel drive reduces that by just 30 mpg. To compare, the Mercedes-Benz E 350 4Matic manages a still-respectable 27 mpg combined.

The 540i xDrive is rated at 28 mpg combined. The 550e xDrive can cover an impressive 34 miles on battery power alone.

We’re using last year’s figures here, but there shouldn’t be any change for 2026.

This latest 5 Series generation brings a few innovations, like the almost-invisible air vents set into the dash and the large one-piece/dual-display feature. Although the standard seats have been designed for optimum comfort and adjustability, the 5 Series also offers multi-contour front seats, which we’ve found to be among the best in any car. And a simulated (and perforated) leather called Veganza comes into the cabin, covering seats, door panels and the steering wheel (which is a good idea, since non-meat-eaters may not relish holding a steering wheel covered in cow skin).

Real leather is available as an option, however. And an optional M Sport package brings a mix of Veganza and Alcantara (a suede-like material). The Panoramic Sky Lounge is another option. It’s a fixed glass panel pretty much the size of the entire roof.

Rear legroom measures 37 inches, somewhere around average for the class. In real life, it’s sufficiently spacious without being remarkable. Trunk area of 18.4 cubic feet eclipses the Genesis G80 and gets close to the generous 19 cubic feet of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. A couple of golf bags will go in easily.

The entire 5 Series exterior styling plays it kind of safe, nothing too radical. We think that’s a smart move by BMW. The optional M Sport package adds larger front air intakes and 19-inch light-alloy wheels. An illuminated grille is also available. Paint choices include one solid finish, 10 metallic treatments, and three special (more expensive) finishes.

Curved Display
The jewel of the 5 Series’ dashboard, it incorporates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen into one cool, curved unit. This is standard equipment.

iDrive 8.5
BMW’s infotainment system is enhanced by voice activation, over-the-air updates, phone integration, and Wi-Fi. The most commonly used functions are accessed with the least amount of touchscreen taps. We’d prefer it if there were fewer icons on the home screen, however. Augmented reality for the navigation system is also available.

Automatic Park Assistant
Every new 5 Series has this as standard. It’s a self-parking system for both parallel and perpendicular spaces. The optional Parking Assistant Plus package adds more features such as a 360-degree camera system and remote real-time viewing using an iPhone app.

AirConsole
This is a gaming platform. It starts out with around 20 titles, which will be expanded in the future. Players can use their phones as controllers — while the car is parked, we hasten to add.

Interaction Bar
An option in combustion-powered versions of the 5 Series, this item is integrated into the dashboard and provides the front passenger with touch controls for various functions. It’s also part of the ambient lighting setup.

Highway Assistant
This is part of the optional Driving Assistance Professional package, bringing hands-free and feet-free driving in certain conditions. One exciting aspect, in our opinion, is Active Lane Change with eye activation. The system may suggest changing lanes, which the driver can set into motion just by looking at the corresponding side mirror. No need to click the turn signal.

The 530i’s engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit making 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the basic setup, all-wheel drive (which BMW calls xDrive) is optional. The Genesis G80 starts out with a little more muscle, but this is more than adequate.

The 540i xDrive has all-wheel drive as standard, as its name implies. It employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine developing 375 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. A mild hybrid system provides a temporary boost to 398 lb-ft of torque.

The 550e xDrive pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a substantial total output of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This goes to all four wheels.

Every gasoline-powered 5 Series employs an 8-speed automatic transmission.

We cover the high-performance version of the BMW 5 Series, the M5, in a separate review. There’s an all-electric 5 Series as well, the BMW i5, which we also review separately.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW protects its new vehicles and their powertrains for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among European luxury car makers. The 550e’s hybrid battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. There’s also roadside assistance for the first four years, with unlimited mileage, plus three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Safety Ratings

This generation of 5 Series has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the agency’s second-highest accolade. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, and Active Blind Spot Detection with rear cross-traffic alert. Our one gripe here is that adaptive cruise control costs extra in what is already a pricey luxury car.