2020 BMW M550i

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive derives its power from a 4.4L Twin Turbo V8 motor that is good for 455hp and 480lbs.-ft of Torque. The Motor comes paired to a slick-shifting 8 Speed Gearbox.

The M550i xDrive comes in just a single trim and is priced at $75,450, excluding the optional extras that come with it. In terms of rivals, the M550i xDrive goes up against the likes of the Maserati Ghibli, Lexus GS F, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M550i xDrive Sedan is available in just a single trim but BMW has ensured that it gets the best of the M5 and the Standard 5 Series. You get features like M Sport Steering Wheel, iDrive 6.0 with Touchpad and a lot more with the M550i. The other key features are mentioned below.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive
MSRP	$75,450
Key Features	Adaptive Full LED Headlights with Auto high beams
	Power Folding Heated Side Mirrors
	19 Alloy Wheels
	20 Way Powered front seats
	Dakota Leather Upholstery
	600W 16 Speaker Harman Kardon Music System
	10.2 High Res Touchscreen Infotainment System and 8.8 Dynamic Digital Instrument Cluster

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The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive comes loaded with all the bells and whistles in the single trim that it comes in. Customers, however, can add a lot of customization to the same, if they feel that the stock M550i doesn't fit their taste well, of course, for extra money.

Performance is the name of the game with the M550i xDrive and, hoo boy, does it deliver. It accelerates, brakes and handles with as much exhilaration as it does with ease. - Edmunds

Powering the 2020 BMW M550i xDrive sedan is a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 motor that generates a healthy 455hp of power and 480lbs.ft. of torque. Unlike the M5 that generates 600hp, this motor has been de-tuned for efficiency and performance. However, motor develops enough thrust and grunt to help you ease your way through the rush hour traffic or reach motorway speeds in no time.

The 8 Speed Steptronic Transmission offers slick shifts and is free from shift lag. The steering-mounted paddle shifters further add to the thrill of driving the M550i and the meticulously programmed gearbox also ensures that the gears change at the right instant and time.

Models	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
MSRP	$75,450	$81,475	$75,590	$85,625
Engine	4.4L Twin Turbo V8	3.0L Twin Turbo V6	2.9L Twin Turbo V6	5.0L Naturally Aspirated V8
Transmission	8 Speed Shiftable Automatic	8 Speed Shiftable Automatic	8 Speed Shiftable Automatic	8 Speed Shiftable Automatic
Horsepower(hp)	455@5500rpm	424@5750rpm	505@6500rpm	467@7100rpm
Torque(lbs.-ft.)	480@1800rpm	428@2250rpm	443@2500rpm	389@4800rpm

Speaking of the rivals of the Bimmer, The Alfa Ghibli trumps the Bimmer as it offers the most power among the cars mentioned here and is priced on the same level as the BMW. The Lexus GS 350 comes in second in terms of power and the Maserati is the least powerful of the lot.

Acceleration

With a thrilling twin-turbo V8 and a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission, the 2020 BMW M550i xDrive is capable of sprinting to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in just 12.3 seconds. The motor is peppy and there is barely any turbo lag. 

There is a bit of torque steer upon slamming the throttle from standstill but you'll love to play with it all day long. Once the traction regains, the steering gets rock-solid and inspires a lot of confidence under spirited driving.  

Models	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
0-60 MPH	3.9	4.7	3.6	4.5
Quarter mile	12.3	12.8	12.1	12.8
Engine	4.4L Twin Turbo V8	3.0L Twin Turbo V6	2.9L Twin Turbo V6	5.0L Naturally Aspirated V8
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	9.3	9.2	7.5	9.3

The power advantage of the Alfa plays its part in the performance as well, because it's the fastest to do the 60MPH dash and the quarter-mile as well. The Lexus and the Maserati are locked at dead heat in the quarter-mile run, but it's the Lexus that edges out the Maserati in the 60MPH dash for the 3rd spot.

Ride and Handling

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive is the perfect example of a well balanced sports sedan. The M550i doesn't come with the most powerful engine but has been thoroughly worked upon by the engineers at BMW, to create a superb driving experience. The chassis has been stiffed and it makes the chassis lower by half an inch.

The xDrive system works perfectly in tandem with the engine to generate the right balance between handling and performance. The double-wishbone multi-link aluminum front suspension and the integral-V multi-link aluminum rear suspension setup with electronically controlled dampers ensure that the Bimmer carves corners with authority. Speed bumps are well-taken care of and it is only at high speeds when you can really feel the bumps affect your bum.

The electronic power steering with Servotronic Power-Assist offers crisp and direct response to rider inputs. The steering isn't the best around but selecting the right mode, ensures that the steering provides just enough feedback to inspire confidence in you.

Braking

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive comes with M Sport brakes that consist of ventilated disc brakes on all 4 wheels. The dynamic brake control and the cornering brake control along with the 4-wheel ABS, ensures that the bimmer comes to a halt from 60MPH in just 106 feet. The dynamic traction control and the dynamic stability control keep a check on fishtailing under hard braking and inspire confidence in dodgy conditions as well.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
Brake Front (in.)	13.5	14.2	14.2	15
Brake Rear (in.)	13.5	13.6	13.8	13.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4372	3990	3806	4034
60-0 MPH (ft.)	106	105	102	110

The Alfa, however, trumps the BMW in the braking department as well and is the best overall on the same front. The Maserati surprises with its 105ft distance and the Lexus has to suffice with the 4^th spot.

BMW has detuned the engine from the M5 in favor of better MPG figures and the M550i does return the same. With a combined MPG figure of 20, the BMW trumps most of its adversaries in terms of mileage.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
MPG (city)	18	16	17	16
MPG (highway)	25	24	24	24
MPG (combined)	20	19	20	19
Range (city/highway)	324/450	338/506	260/367	278/418
Tank Capacity (gal)	18	21.1	15.3	17.4

The Alfa manages to match the Bimmer's MPG figures but misses out in terms of overall range. The Maserati and the Lexus are on the same page in terms of MPG figures but the former takes the lead in terms of overall range.

The metamorphosis from the standard 5 Series to the M550i xDrive results in a suitable amount of interior sportiness that doesn't come off as gimmicky- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive is capable of letting five people sit comfortably. It comes with remote keyless entry integrated with the key transmitter. The 4-door sedan offers good seat comfort and the power adjustments, makes life easier for people inside the same. Space on offer is adequate and most occupants will enjoy their time inside the bimmer.

Albeit the consistency of materials used inside aren't same throughout, the overall feel from the cabin is luxurious. The Dakota leather upholstery with Anthracite headliner and SensaTec Dashboard adds to the overall feel of the sedan.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.8/58.7/41.4	38.8/58.7/41.4	38.6/56.1/42.4	38.0/57.2/40.6
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.5/55.9/36.5	37.5/55.9/36.5	37.6/53.6/35.1	37.8/55.7/32.8

All the vehicles are pretty similarly matched with each other in this department. However, if winners were to be picked based on the numbers, it's still a tie between the Maserati Ghibli and the Bimmer for the first place. The Alfa Giulia Quadrifolgio offers more space at the front than the Lexus but loses out to the latter in terms of rear passenger volume. 

Infotainment Features

BMW’s iDrive technology is one of the best examples of an engineering marvel. The tech gets enhanced year after year. The infotainment comes with the integrated touchpad on the main control dial. The menu is quick to respond to, and is also user-friendly.

Having said that, the features associated with the infotainment include:

• 10.2-inch Infotainment Touchscreen with navigation and OTA updates
• 8.8-inch Dynamic Digital Instrument Cluster
• iDrive 6.0 with touchpad controller
• Apple CarPlay
• 600W, 16 Speaker Harman Kardon music system with SiriusXM/HD Radio
• AM/FM in-dash stereo CD/MP3 player with radio data system
• Steering mounted controls for Audio, Bluetooth and Telephony
• Rear View Camera

Cargo Capacity

The M550i xDrive offers best in class cargo volume of 18.7 cu. ft. What furthers amps up space is the split folding 40/20/40 that flat folds for when you need some more space in the cabin.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	18.7	17.7	13.0	14.0

In terms of cargo volume, the Bimmer offers more space than rivals. The Alfa has the least cargo space at just 13 cubic feet. The Lexus comes in second at 14 cubic feet. 

Interior Features

Some of the key highlights of the 2020 BMW M550i's interior are:

• 20 Way Power Adjust front seats with memory
• 40/20/40 split-folding seats
• Engine Start/Stop with Keyless Entry
• 2 Way powered glass moonroof
• One touch up/down front and rear power windows
• Interior Courtesy Lights with Auto Dimming feature
• Auto-Dimming IRVM
• Automatic Climate Control
• Power Adjust Steering wheel with tilt/telescopic adjust
• 2 2.1A USB Charging ports

As it does with its interior, the M550i xDrive retains the basic shape of its lesser 5 Series siblings, but with specific M touches for better performance. KelleyBlue Book

Design and Dimensions

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive doesn't differ much from the standard 5 series. Seems like BMW has gone ahead with its tried and tested design from the past. You are still greeted by the big old Kidney Grill and LED Adaptive headlamps on the front. The side fascia is a direct copy of the standard 5 series with the hoffmeister kink and sleek lines running throughout the body. The chunky alloys on the outside do give the M550i some uniqueness in design though.

Model	BMW M550i xDrive AWD	Maserati Ghibli S RWD	Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD	Lexus GS F RWD
Curb weight (lbs.)	4372	3990	3806	4034
Length(in)	195.4	195.7	182.6	193.5
Width(in)	73.5	76.6	73.7	72.6
Height(in)	57.8	57.5	56.1	56.7
Ground clearance (in)	5.1	4.5	3.9	5.1
Wheelbase (in)	117.1	118.0	111.0	112.2

Speaking of dimensions, the Bimmer is comparable to all other cars in this segment other than the Alfa Giulia. The Giulia is relatively smaller than all other sedans here but offers similar levels of performance as compared to the rest. The M550i is, however, the heaviest one of the lot making it pretty hard to handle around twisties.

Exterior Features

The BMW M550i has been offered a few enhancements over the conventional 5-series on the outside that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup. Some of these highlights include:

• Adaptive Full LED Headlights with Auto High Beams
• Heated and Power Folding ORVM's with auto dimming function on driver side
• Rear Spoiler
• Park Distance Control for the front and rear
• Power Trunk lid Opening and Closing
• Rain Sensing Windshield wipers

The BMWs of the past might not have been reliable as they were subjected to more breakdowns than usual, but the story has changed over the years now and the German manufacturer has improved drastically since then. However, there hasn't been any issue with the build quality of the Bimmer all this while. It used to be put together well, it's even better now. Although we don't have any official ratings to back our claim, we have high hopes when they surface.

Apart from the robust build quality, the German manufacturer has stuffed a lot of advanced safety features in the sedan that actively work together to ensure the safety of the occupants. Some of such features found in the M550i are:

• Adaptive Brakelights
• BMW Remote Services with BMW Assist eCall and Active Protection system
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger-seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
• 3-point safety belts with force limiters and head restraints at all seating positions
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Dynamic Traction Control with brake Fade Compensation
• Electro-mechanical Parking brake
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation

2020 BMW M550i xDrive Vs. Maserati Ghibli S

The Maserati Ghibli S offers a typical Italian flair in this crowded sedan space. The Ghibli feels good to drive, has well-designed interiors and will make onlookers turn back when you drive past them. The M550i xDrive, on the other hand, isn't as good to look at as the Maserati. However, it has its own strengths like better driving dynamics, MPG figures and practicality in terms of luggage carrying capacity. The Bimmer is cheaper on the pocket and is also the one that we would bet on.

2020 BMW M550i xDrive VS Lexus GS F

The Lexus GS F is the Japanese answer to the segment dominated by Italian and German saloons. The GS F is the only car in our comparison that comes with a naturally aspirated motor that revs past 7100rpm to generate its max power. The GS F looks brilliant, both on the outside and on the inside and speaks quality and luxury in terms of materials used. The Bimmer, on the other hand, is $10,000 cheaper than the Lexus and other than a few compromises in the interiors, it outpaces the Lexus in terms of handling, frugality, and practicality. Though not as powerful as the Lexus, the BMW is still faster and is a far more competent performer in the braking department as well.

2020 BMW M550i xDrive VS Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has been one of the best products that Alfa Romeo has made in years. It's the most beautiful sedan among all of its adversaries by a big margin and speaks style from both the outside and the inside. The Alfa beats the Bimmer in terms of performance and is at par in terms of the pricing and handling dynamics. The Giulia Quadrifoglio is a stellar sedan that takes the fight to the bimmer head-on. It's just on the long term reliability and frugality front that the Alfa falls short from the Bimmer but for everything else, the Alfa is the better one among the two.

 

The 2020 BMW M550i xDrive is in true terms, a practical and a lighter version of the legendary M5 sedan. BMW has done a splendid job in offering the customers the feel of driving an M5 but with the comfort levels similar to that of a standard 5 series. The M550i offers terrific handling, is built like a tank and is economical to live with on a daily basis. If you are not willing to shell out the extra cash for the M5 but still want the thrills and frills associated with it on a regular basis, the M550i xDrive will serve as the perfect companion for you.

FAQs

How quick is the BMW M550i?

The 2020 M550i crosses the 60 MPH barrier in just 3.9 seconds. The quarter mile mark is breached in 12.3 seconds. Both of these numbers are very impressive considering the size of the vehicle and the luxury on offer. In case you need more power and speed, BMW also makes the M5 sedan.

Is the 2020 M550i reliable?

Although the older generations of a few BMW models have proven to be very poor on the reliability scale, the German brand has definitely improved its score in terms of reliability over the years lately. 

How much horsepower does the M550i have?

The 2020 BMW M550i has 455 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. Pretty impressive numbers for a luxury sedan.

Does the BMW M550i come with a warranty?

Yes, the BMW M550i is backed by a 4-year/50,000 mile warranty which is also pretty common among the rivals as well. For more information on the warranty front, head over to the Features tab on the top of this page.