2020 BMW 5 Series

From a long list of drivetrain configurations to choose from, despite the diesel engine being discontinued, the 5-series can be tailor made to orders. While the basic 530i still has the thrifty 2.0L inline-4, the 3.0L V6 in the 540i gets a power bump, as well as the M550i, whose twin-turbo V8 transforms the stately sedan into a muscle maniac.

While the changes may not be revolutionary, several minor changes add up and make the 5-series a game changer. With features like voice recognition system, 3D simulation and many other semi-autonomous features, the BMW 5-series is a potentially fatal threat to the competitors like the Audi A6, Volvo S90 and the Jaguar XF sedans. Let’s see if the 5-series is really as fearsome as BMW has led us to believe.

BMW trims and features

Trims	530i	530e iPerformance	540i	M550i xDrive
MSRP	$53,400	$53,400	$58,950	$74,450
Features	Leatherette Upholstery	Same as 530i	Adds to or replaces features offered on 530i:	Adds to or replaces features offered on 540i:
	12-Way Power Driver Seat		Leather Upholstery	Front And Rear Parking Sensors
	12-Way Power Passenger Seat		16-Way Power Driver Seat	Front View Camera
	Remote Keyless Power Door Locks		16-Way Power Passenger Seat	Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling
	12 Speaker Audio System			20-Way Power Driver Seat
	Electric Power Steering			20-Way Power Passenger Seat
	Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel			Driver Seat Thigh Extension
	Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.)			Hands-Free Entry
	Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel			16-Speaker Harman/Kardon Premium Audio System
	Interior Air Filtration
	Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling

The base 530i variant is packed with a 2-litre inline-4 cylinder turbocharged engine to produce a maximum power of 248 hp. The 540i levels up the game with a few additional standard features and a turbocharged 335-hp 3-litre inline-6 cylinder engine. An option of all-wheel drive(AWD) is offered with 540i.

The 530e xDrive plug-in hybrid features a 2-litre inline-4 turbocharged engine and an eDrive electric motor to produce a maximum power of 248 hp. The 530e iPerformance variant also offers an option of all-wheel-drive(AWD) for a more exciting ride at the cost of efficiency. The beast M550i xDrive is powered by the humongous 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine that churns out 456 hp.

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Replacing the 530i, the 530e is now the most desirable trim in the line-up. With a silent plugin-hybrid powertrain, the sedan cruises in a stately silence with power when you need it. If the inline-4 is not to your liking, the 540i is also a very impressive machine in the BMW trim ladder with not only more power, but also more features and better leather upholstery for you.

The weight of the steering builds predictably but feels light on normal and comfort settings. In sportier modes, the steering and suspension work in concert to bring drivers closer to the road and in the middle of the car's center of gravity - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

BMW has opened a full catalog in front of customers with several engine and drivetrain options to choose from. The 2020 BMW base variant 530i is powered by the 2-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine which produces a maximum power of 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the 8-speed automatic transmission which is the only option in all variants.

The 2020 BMW 5-series lies at the bottom of the points table when it comes to torque and is just inches ahead of Jaguar XF in power though it uses an engine of similar size and costs at least 2 grands more than all its competitors.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
MSRP	$53,400	$48,100	$47,775	$49,700
Engine	2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder	2.0L 16V I4 Turbocharged	2.0L 16V I4 Turbocharged	2.0L TFSI 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	7-Speed Automatic
Power	248 hp	250 hp	247 hp	252 hp
Torque	258 lb-ft	258 lb-ft	269 lb-ft	273 lb-ft

Acceleration

Despite its poor performance in terms of torque and power, the 2020 BMW 5-series shows top-notch performance in terms of acceleration. 530i pulls up from 0-60 in just 6 sec which is fastest in the segment. Taking advantage of the legacy of lighter craftsmanship that comes with the brand, the 7-series puts up a fabulous figure of 13.5 sec in quarter mile mark and is seconds behind the fastest Jaguar XF.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
0 60 mph	6.0 sec	6.5 sec	6.2 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec @ 99.3 mph	15.3 sec @ 101 mph	13.3 sec @ 104 mph	14.7 sec @ 100.8 mph
Engine	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.6	6.5	6.3	6.3

Handling and Ride quality

The 2020 BMW 530i is surely not a high-performance machine but it is a car with solid focus on handling. The sedan offers snappy handling and shows quick movements even on tough turns. The steering is amazing but not as responsive as the M6. The sport mode works just fine but the comfort mode is feels more premium, matching the luxury of a 7-series sedan. Being a BMW it definitely justifies their signature line-Sheer driving pleasure'.

The 5-series is supreme when it comes to ride quality. The cabin space, ventilation, heated seats and climate control everything seems perfect. The cabin is quiet enough unless you're on city roads at peak hours and traffic noise is real high. The rear cabin is spacious with ample headroom and legroom.

Braking

The 530i's braking is as smooth as it can get but also powerful when you need it. The car can come to a halt from 60 mph in just 106ft which is also the best in the segment while the Volvo S90 being a bit lazy hits the bottom of the table. The ABS helps in maintaining the car's stability and composure even when one goes hard on the pedal.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
60 0 mph	106	120	119	117
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3746	3870	3604	3858
Brake (Front)	11.6	13.6	12.8	13.6
Brake (Rear)	11.7	12.6	12.8	13

The BMW 530i maintains a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg which helps it share the podium of the table with Audi A6. Despite of pretty good economy figures on a whole, the BMW 7-series seem to be a bit thirsty when it comes to city roads.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
MPG (City)	24	27	25	25
MPG (Hwy)	34	34	34	34
MPG (Combined)	29	27	28	29

The front seats are spacious and are upgradeable to heated, cooled, and massaging affairs that can be 20-way adjustable with soft nappa leather. In back, the split-folding rear seat is comfortable, especially at the outboard positions. Three adults across is possible; we've done it for several hours even. - Car and Driver

Seating and comfort

The interior of 2020 BMW 5-series is surely exquisite. The dual tone leather and tasteful use of chrome at minute places like air vents and knobs shows the carmaker's focus on luxury. The interior of this sedan is undoubtedly better than its primitive but doesn't hit the 7-series benchmark. Heated armrests in front and rear, ambient carpet lighting and futuristically designed customizable dashboard doesn't just look amazing but also works fluently with every move of the passenger.

The 5-series leads the segment in headroom but its smaller wheelbase as compared to its competitors inhibits ample room in the rear cabin space and drags it down in the points table.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume (Ft.3)	98.8	101.5	98.2	97.2
Headroom (Front/Rear) (in.)	38.8 / 37.5	37.8/37.8	37.1/37.6	37.2 / 37.8
Legroom (Front/Rear) (in.)	41.4 / 36.5	42.2/40.4	41.5/36.6	41.3 / 37.4
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) (in.)	57.5 / 55.9	57.5/55.4	56.9/56.4	57.5 / 56.3

Cargo/Trunk Volume

The clever design of BMW manages to make up a huge space for the rear boot. The credit goes to the 40/20/40 split folding rear seats. Despite being smaller in length, this car provides generous 18.7 ft-cube of trunk which is largest in the segment after Jaguar XF.

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
Trunk Vol. (Ft.3)	18.7	13.5	19.1	14.1

Infotainment System

The 2020 BMW 530i comes loaded with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen with navigation and BMW's iDrive rotary knob, a touchpad controller with gesture control, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a wireless Qi charging station, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a number of Internet-connected features that work online or with special BMW apps. The sound output produces an immersive surround sound experience which is pretty amazing as compared to its competitors. However, BMW lacks the essential smartphone integration options. The Apple CarPlay is offered as an add-on which increases the price of the car while Android Auto and MirrorLink are not available even as an add-on.

The 5-Series cribs some of the looks of the 7-Series, but gets its own details: sharper door creases, and chromed exhaust ports that finish off the 5-Series in its own way. - Car Connection

The 2020 BMW 5-series almost carries over the same look and style as that of its predecessor. The only notable differences are the kidney grilles and a super sexy profile line which runs down the doors. The signature dual chrome grilles and projector headlamps pose an overall aggressive look. The rear chrome exhausts and wrap-around tail lights look super sporty and certainly look better than all its rivals.

Dimensions

Model	BMW 5-series (530i)	Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum)	Jaguar XF (Base)	Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI)
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3746	3870	3604	3858
Wheelbase (in)	117.1	120.5	116.5	114.6
Length (in)	194.6	200.1	195.0	194.2
Width (in)	73.5	74.0	78.2	73.8
Height (in)	58.2	57.1	58.2	57.8
Ground Clearance (in)	6.2	6.0	4.5	6.6
Track Width Front (in)	63	63.7	63.2	64.1
Track Width Rear (in)	63.9	63.7	62.8	63.7

The 2020 BMW 740i is highest in the segment which gives it a coupe look, making ample headroom in the cabin. The sedan is lighter than its older sibling due to its cutting-edge design featuring high-strength aluminium chassis which gives it unmatched acceleration and handling yet stable and strong build quality.

Exterior Features

• Adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams
• Automatic windshield wipers
• Remote parking
• Keyless entry
• 3-D image representation of car

The 2020 BMW 740i comes with all the essential safety features as per standards. The features include:

• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• 3-point safety belts with force limiters and head restraints at all seating positions
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS)
• Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
• Dusk-Sensing Headlights
• Tire Pressure Monitoring

The 5-series has passed the crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with flying colours across the board; however, it has yet to be tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

2020 BMW 5 Series has earned Top Safety Pick + rating from IIHS which is the best possible rating

Small overlap front driver side	Good
Small overlap front Passenger side	Good
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good

Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 comes loaded with a similar sized engine that produces the same power and torque as that of a BMW's. The Volvo has better base package than that of BMW's with all the essential features like parking assist, remote locking and smartphone integrated infotainment system at lesser cost than BMW. However, the price difference seems to make sense when we look at the premium styling, handling, comfort and fuel economy of the 2020 BMW 5-series.

Audi A6 L
The Audi A6 L is powered by a 2-litre 4 cylinder engine which produces the best in class power and torque. It also offers a plush and luxurious interior equivalent to the BMW's but 5-series basically one-ups A6 in the driving experience as A6 isn't as responsive as 530i, also the ride quality is quite poor due to larger alloy wheels.

Jaguar XF
The Jaguar surely is a complete package on its own with powerful engine, great handling and spacious trunk but it fails to pose a threat to the more premium, luxurious and sporty BMW 5-series due to its rough ride quality on less-perfect or undulated roads and less available trims and options. Also, it has less features than the loaded Bavarian monster.

The 2020 BMW 5-series offers great efficiency along with the effortless handling, impressive driving dynamics, and stout acceleration. The car doesn't feel exceptional and lacks punch on straight highways due to its less powerful engine however, the luxury of the cabin and Sub-autonomous features make up for it.
So, if you're looking for a good car around 50 grand and won't mind spending some more money on the lucrative add-on packages, this car is waiting for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the 5 Series a convertible car?

No, the 5 Series is not a convertible car. 

What is the top speed for the BMW 5 Series? 

The ride can boost up to a speed of 155 mph.

Is there a M variant for the 5 Series? 

Yes, the BMW 5 Series is available in M variant