2020 BMW 5 Series
Other years
2020 BMW 5 Series Review
- Wide range of powerful and relatively efficient engines
- A host of innovative features and leading-edge technology
- Interior is quiet and comfortable
- Generous trunk capacity
- Evolutionary styling doesn't stand out in a crowded class
- Some interior materials are a bit below segment standards
- Increased power for M550i model
- 530e hybrid receives a larger, more powerful battery pack
- Minor changes to standard and optional features availability
- Part of the seventh 5 Series generation introduced for 2017
Every new BMW launches under the weight of tremendous expectations, and this generation 5 Series was no exception.
For decades, the 5 Series has been a standard-bearer for midsize sport luxury sedans. But as cars have gotten bigger, heavier and packed with more technology, there's been pressure to provide more efficiency, more comfort and more performance all at the same time. It's fair to say the BMW 5 Series' talents have been stretched a bit thin by the pressure of meeting so many different demands.
But BMW isn't giving up on making the 5 Series a car that can meet the needs of a variety of buyers. For 2020 the company has tweaked both of the 5 Series' bookend models: the eco-minded 530e and the aggressive M550i. The plug-in hybrid 530e gets a slightly larger battery pack that provides up to 21 miles of all-electric range, which is 6 miles more than last year's 530e. Prefer octane to electrons? The M550i gains 67 horsepower and 73 lb-ft of torque, making this 523-hp sedan an even more appealing alternative to the more expensive M5 sport sedan.
Of course, the 5 Series faces stiff competition from its Teutonic neighbors. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class offers a more distinctive interior and a similar range of powertrain options, along with the availability of both coupe and wagon body styles. The newly redesigned Audi A6 offers plenty of driving fun along with an impressively tech-savvy array of features. Overall, however, the 2020 BMW 5 Series is worth a serious look if you're considering a midsize luxury car.
Our verdict | |
The BMW 5 Series lives up to the expectations set by its forebears. There's an engine for nearly every taste, and the car's handling capabilities are fundamentally sound. Factor in the 5 Series' top-shelf tech and safety features and you've got a prime pick for a midsize luxury sedan. | |
How does the 5 Series drive? | |
If the driving experience is truly important to you, then the 5 Series is a sedan to consider. Most of the models are well-rounded performers. In our testing, the four-cylinder 530i managed to cover 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, a good showing for a base engine. We also tested a 540i xDrive and recorded an impressive sprint of just 4.6 seconds. Our test 530i had ultra-smooth M Sport brakes that stopped the car from 60 mph in just 108 feet, an admirable result for a midsize luxury sedan. The steering is nicely weighted but somewhat numb. Thankfully, the chassis is both balanced and communicative. | |
How comfortable is the 5 Series? | |
The 5 Series is a supremely comfortable car, especially with the optional multicontour front seats. We are also impressed with the ride quality, which is comfortable and relatively plush yet well damped so as not to feel floaty. And while there's a mild amount of road noise that creeps in, there's no wind noise and the engine is barely audible when cruising. The only issue we had with the climate system was its capacity to keep us properly chilled. While the dual-temp, dual-fan speed controls offer a lot of variabilities, the fan speed was never quite strong enough to deal with temperature extremes. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The 530i's cabin is an excellent place to spend time. Front passengers have ample room. And thanks to the highly adjustable seat and steering wheel, drivers of just about all sizes should be able to find a comfortable position. Climbing in or out is a breeze thanks to generous door openings with plenty of head clearance. Rear legroom is spacious, and rear headroom is sufficient but not exceptional. BMW is great at minimizing button count, but that leaves a lot for iDrive to control. The iDrive menus are pretty straightforward and easy to navigate, but it takes time to wrap your head around all the options and customizations available. It can be a little intimidating. We do like the clear views the 5 Series provides. The windows are nicely sized, especially in the rear. The optional surround-view camera system helps a lot too. | |
How’s the tech? | |
BMW is one of the more aggressive manufacturers when it comes to innovative features. Most of them are useful, while some are cool parlor tricks, but we appreciate them all. The stereo provides high-quality sound and responds well to gesture controls. Natural language commands with BMW's voice assistant work as expected, providing control over many vehicle functions. The 5 Series' driver safety aids work extremely well. The adaptive cruise, for instance, maintains a tight gap behind the car ahead, and the actuating brakes stop hard yet smoothly when needed. The most impressive feature of the 5 Series is its parking cameras that help render an amazing 3D image of the outside of the car. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The 530i has a fairly generous trunk with flexible cargo configurations. The 530i's trunk is larger than most in the segment. The trunk has a wide opening and a low liftover, but it narrows a fair amount toward the back of the rear seats. The folding rear seats are split 40/20/40, which provides some nice flexibility. BMW has done a decent job with in-cabin storage: water bottle pockets on all the doors, a retractable cover that houses a bin for wireless phone charging up front, and a decent-size glovebox and center armrest space. It's still not a lot of storage, but it's sufficient for a European luxury sedan. | |
How economical is the 5 Series? | |
The 530i is rated at 28 mpg combined. We achieved 27 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, but we usually exceed combined mpg on this route. And our 23.1-mpg overall test average fell below the city rating. Both are disappointing but unsurprising for a modern downsized turbocharged engine such as the four-cylinder in the 530i. Our test of the 540i was more favorable in matching EPA estimates. | |
Is the 5 Series a good value? | |
The quality of BMW's electronics is top-notch, from the central touchscreen to the driver's gauge cluster. Interior panel fit is also nice, but the materials used for the wood trim and leather can come across as slightly fake. You'll pay for every option you add, but prices are fair for the segment and worth it considering the quality of the upgrades. BMW's four-year/50,000-mile warranty coverage is on par for a German brand, though some American and Asian brands offer more. But the three-year/36,000-mile free maintenance coverage is uncommon in the luxury segment. | |
Wildcard | |
We're relieved to see BMW focusing on driving dynamics once again, which is what ultimately defines the personality of its cars. But we do wish BMW would take a little more risk on the exterior design. There's very little that differentiates this latest generation from the previous 5 Series. | |
Which 5 Series does Edmunds recommend?
The 540i is where we think shoppers should start. The six-cylinder engine is smooth and strong and a great match for the big luxury car. There are a few packages or optional add-ons to consider seriously. The Driving Assistance Plus package equips the car with adaptive cruise and other useful driver aids, while the Parking Assistance package adds automated parking assist, parking sensors and a surround-view camera.
BMW 5 Series models
The 2020 BMW 5 Series is available in four trim levels, all with different powertrains. The 530i (248 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) and the 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid (248 hp, 310 lb-ft) are powered by variants of BMW's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
Save as much as $10,333 with Edmunds
2020 BMW 5 Series pricing
in Ashburn, VA
530i
2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$51,465
530e
2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$53,381
530i xDrive
2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$53,610
Sponsored cars related to the 5 Series
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2020 BMW 5 Series.
Trending topics in reviews
- comfort
- interior
- acceleration
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- ride quality
- seats
- driving experience
Most helpful consumer reviews
5/5 stars, A Civilized Beast
ZA,
M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
Just picked the 2020 M550 version with the improved HP and The idrive 7. Custom spec with almost all options included. As an prior owner of multiple other luxury cars and SUVs, this one is the best combination of speed, luxury and technology at around 85k-95k MSRP point. The car has multiple personalities depending on which driving mode you engage in. Driving in adaptive mode has been my main daily routine but put this car in sports or sports + and it changes into a violent beast !! Great luxurious seats, especially if you choose the luxury seating package. I also opted for the dynamic handling package which likely makes a difference as some reviewers noted heavy handling that I have not quite encountered - likely due to this added option. I find the driving quite nimble for a car this size and honestly wanted a car with a more civilized driving experience with a sporty/fast mode on call as needed. Love the bower Wilkinson audio and the iDrive system with the larger and more informative HUD is a decent upgrade. There are many other tech options I opted for, such as parking assist with display key, driving assistance plus but I am finding little practical use of many of these add ons. Some of the safety options are quite useful but lane assist is one that I can personally do without. Options in general are costly but in this class (E53, S6, etc.) either cheaper or a superior offering. Fuel economy is closer to the lower promised end at 16mpg (less than a week driving) but I have been a bit of sports mode driver at times so may be its my driving style rather than the expected norm. There’s multiple independent reviews out there (YouTube) with folks experience fuel economy in the 20s mpg range which is quite decent for the size of the car / engine output.
5/5 stars, Forever a BMW fan
Jeff,
M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
Wow is really all I need to say after trading in my 2019 M550i for the more powerful 2020 M550i. Having been a Corvette fan since owning many these last 12 years I decided to get into the 2019 M550i and so glad I did.This car even though a sedan weighing almost a 1,000 pounds more handles as well as my 2014 3LT Z51 convertible and can fit up to 5 passengers.Another plus is the fact that has AWD,523 hp and 553 lbs ft torque.The difference in the hp boost along with the torque bump makes this car the envy of the competition most notably the MB E43 AMG,the MB E55 AMG and the Audi A6 and A7. For someone wanting a fun car to drive with muscle this is the car. It's a comfortable car but pins you back in the seat for a lot less money by about $40,000 than its big brother the M5.Try it because you'll not only like it but rather love it. Jeff, Fishkill, N.Y.
5/5 stars, BMW 530e
BKA,
530e 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
Great car comfortable still learning how to use some of the dratures
4/5 stars, Is this a self-driving car ?
chet,
540i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)
I am a long-time BMW owner, and have experienced the evolution of BMW’s 5-series model from my 1987 535is sedan, to my 1997 Dinan 540i, and now my newly purchased 2020 540i xDrive. The new models have become computers equipped with four run-flat tires !
The 540 handles well, and has a spirited twin-turbo motor. I also appreciate the technology platform, but I don’t need to be distracted by the dashboard wizardry that will essentially get obsolete and/or need unobtainable service.
Particularly annoying is the “lane departure” feature that tries to steer you back into your lane, whenever you are trying to switch lanes ! The “heads up” display is for fighter pilots, not for daily drivers...... likewise there is no spare tire, no tools, just an 800-number. to call to order up a flat bed truck to take you and your flat-tired car away ! who you gonna call when you are passing through the UTAH desert and you catch a nail or deep pothole ?!
But, it seems all new cars now suffer from this “driver withdrawal syndrome”. GO BMW !
But all modern automobiles
2020 BMW 5 Series video
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Safety
Our experts’ favorite 5 Series safety features:
- Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection
- Uses infrared technology to see and alert you of things such as people and animals in the road before they become visible to the naked eye.
- Active Blind-Spot Detection
- Alerts you of vehicles in the adjacent lanes using radar sensors and will indicate if it's safe to change lanes.
- City Collision Mitigation
- Automatically brakes the car at speeds under 38 mph when it detects an imminent collision and the driver has taken no action.
BMW 5 Series vs. the competition
2020 BMW 5 Series
2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
BMW 5 Series vs. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The E-Class might be the current king of midsize luxury sedans. It offers an incredible interior design with top-notch materials and comfort. There's also a blazing V8 AMG trim and available wagon and coupe body styles. That said, in lower trims the BMW does a better job of balancing performance and comfort, delivering a sportier experience without asking for any real sacrifices.
BMW 5 Series vs. Audi A6
The recently redesigned A6 is another German powerhouse, with exceptional driving dynamics and extensive technology features. Those features might also prove an Achilles' heel to some, and the dual touchscreen interface can be more distracting. Still, this premium sedan combines athleticism and luxury every bit as well as the BMW.
BMW 5 Series vs. BMW 3 Series
The 5 Series' little brother, the 3 Series, started off as the ultimate expression of the luxury sport sedan. While the current generation was more recently redesigned than the 5 Series, it doesn't do as well walking the line between comfort and dynamics. In our testing, we thought the new 3 Series sacrificed too much comfort for not enough sportiness. It may be bigger and cost a bit more, but all around we prefer the 5 Series.
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FAQ
Is the BMW 5 Series a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2020 5 Series both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.1 out of 10. You probably care about BMW 5 Series fuel economy, so it's important to know that the 5 Series gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg to 28 mpg, depending on the configuration. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that carrying capacity for the 5 Series ranges from 14.5 to 18.7 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a BMW 5 Series. Learn more
What's new in the 2020 BMW 5 Series?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 BMW 5 Series:
- Increased power for M550i model
- 530e hybrid receives a larger, more powerful battery pack
- Minor changes to standard and optional features availability
- Part of the seventh 5 Series generation introduced for 2017
Is the BMW 5 Series reliable?
To determine whether the BMW 5 Series is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the 5 Series. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the 5 Series's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2020 BMW 5 Series a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2020 BMW 5 Series is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2020 5 Series and gave it a 8.1 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2020 5 Series is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2020 BMW 5 Series?
The least-expensive 2020 BMW 5 Series is the 2020 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $53,900.
Other versions include:
- 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $53,900
- M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $76,650
- 540i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $61,750
- 540i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $59,450
- 530i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $56,200
- 530e 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $53,900
- 530e xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $56,200
What are the different models of BMW 5 Series?
If you're interested in the BMW 5 Series, the next question is, which 5 Series model is right for you? 5 Series variants include 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A), 540i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A), and 540i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A). For a full list of 5 Series models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more