2020 BMW 5 Series Review

Name: 2020 BMW 5 Series Review
Brand: BMW

Price Range: $18,500 - $52,998

2020 BMW 5 Series 530e Sedan Exterior. Options Shown.

2020 BMW 5 Series 540i xDrive Sedan Exterior. Luxury Package Shown.

2020 BMW 5 Series 540i Sedan Exterior. M Package Shown.

+134

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.Read full review

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2020 BMW 5 Series Review

byWill Kaufman^{Senior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax
Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at Edmunds. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.}

Pros

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

Cons

Evolutionary styling doesn't stand out in a crowded class
Some interior materials are a bit below segment standards

What's new

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

Overview

Every new BMW launches under the weight of tremendous expectations, and this generation 5 Series was no exception.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$174/mo

$197/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

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.

Comfort

8/10

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.

Interior

8/10

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.

Technology

8.5/10

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.

Storage

8/10

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.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? 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.

Value

7.5/10

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

8.5/10

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.

2020 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.

The 540i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (335 hp, 331 lb-ft). At the top of the range is the M550i with its turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). BMW's all-wheel drive, called xDrive, is an option on the 530i, the 530e and the 540i. It's standard on the M550i. An eight-speed automatic is standard across the board.

The sportier M5 is reviewed separately.

The base 530i and the 530e come pretty nicely equipped from the start with features such as LED adaptive headlights, power-folding and heated mirrors, and a sunroof. You also get the iDrive interface with a 10.2-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system and phone integration. Standard advanced safety features include forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 540i is equipped very similarly to the previous two trims but has standard leather upholstery.

It's a significant price jump to the performance-focused M550i xDrive, which includes everything above plus performance upgrades to the wheels and tires, brakes, suspension and differential, along with upgraded front seats and an M Sport steering wheel.

From there, assorted packages and stand-alone options make up the rest of your choices. Be on the lookout for the Convenience, Premium and Executive packages to get some useful feature upgrades. We also recommend the Driving Assistance Plus package to get more advanced safety features. Are you looking for enhanced performance? The Dynamic Handling package includes an adaptive suspension and active roll stabilization.

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2.5/5Average

#34 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW 5 Series from 2008-2022.}

$708/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.51x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

16.1%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 BMW 5 Series.

5 (70%)

4 (11%)

3 (4%)

2 (9%)

1 (6%)

4.3

47 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

2019 BMW 530e issues

DG, 12/23/2018

2019 BMW 5 Series 530e xDrive iPerformance 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)

This is an overall great car; fun to drive and at a luxury level that most people will find appealing. The car delivers on gas performance. Over the 800 miles I’ve owned the car, half city and half highway, it’s averaging about 45 mpge. Interior build quality is excellent. I’ve had a minor issue with the truck latch not engaging. It’s at the dealer having a new latch assembly put in. … That’s a little disappointing. But the biggest disappointment, no , major complaint, and it’s a big one, is the squealing from the brakes. It’s not a minor low level noise; it’s fingernails on the chalk board level. The dealership says BMWs are know for this. I say, BS. No other car on the market routinely puts out a car that has squeaking brakes. It’s been back to the dealership twice. Hopefully, it will be resolved, but to those of you thinking about buying a 530, beware, trust me, it’s something you can’t live with. It’s that bad. 2/20/2019 update: Update from my original 12/23/18 posting. The brake issue has been resolved. The dealer attempted to chamfer the brakes on one occasion and then cleaned and lubricated them on another, both with no improvement. It took making a video of the noise generated by the squealing brakes but the dealer finally agreed to replace them, probably after contacting corporate. The new brake pads and rotors are functioning, as expected, noiselessly and flawlessly, just how they should be. Thank you BMW corporate! August 2019 update: I have owned the car for 9+ months and have 7300 miles on it. My initial impressions, after resolution of the brake issue have been exceeded. The car is supremely comfortable to drive, exceptionally quiet, especially on electric mode, and incredibly efficient as far as gas consumption. I must admit, it is not only fun and engaging to drive but a joy to own. August 2020 update: I have owned the car for almost 2 full years. It has performed flawlessly. Not a hiccup. Average combined gas/electric range has consistently been 50+ mpg. My commute is a combination of half rural and half highway driving. Nothing in the car has needed service and the ride remains impeccably quiet; no rattles, loose items, just a solid feel that conveys a serene sense of comfort and reliance. A good buy. August 2021 update: Going into my third year of ownership and I can report that there have been absolutely zero issues to report. The only thing I’ve done is an oil change and a four wheel alignment. The ride quality has remained supremely comfortable and quiet. I just hit 22,000 miles, not a huge number considering the car was purchased in the fall of 2017.

First class express

49mile driver, 07/13/2019

2019 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

Fast, smooth, roomy, understated and possessing a proper option list for a car of this class. After a year with the 540i I can say my deepest satisfaction driving this car is on the open road or loaded with family. Its powerful engine provides nearly silent thrust on demand, and its stable suspension and predictable steering effectively mask what is a big heavy car. You want nimble, buy … a 3-series. You want opulence, get a 7. This 5 occupies a spot where sedan utility is dressed in its most luxurious form, exuding confidence, strength and capability. The tech is amazing; my phone connects easily, the car reads messages to me and I speak my response; the seats and lighting are wonderfully customizable and the driving aids have varying levels of sensitivity or can be turned off completely. I chose the M Sport package because I do attack twisty roads from time to time, which the car does without complaint. Again, it's no 3 series but it is more than willing to chase one down a mountain road. On the freeway It is stately and quiet, eating up miles like a baleen whale swimming through a field of krill. I chose the options for soft-close automatic doors and massaging seats, which adds another layer of icing to this excellent cake. What don't I like? The automatic headlights don't come on in foggy daylight conditions. The trunk can't be closed from inside the car. Options are expensive. What is priceless? Driving friends home after an evening out and having no one eager to leave the car when we arrive at their door. Update January 20 2020: The trunk can be closed from inside the car by lifting (and holding) the switch with the engine running. I added the M Performance Sound and Power Kit, resulting in a marked increase in giddyap and a sufficiently throaty exhaust note at startup and idle. Nearly 20K on the car and there have been only two issues: a recurring passenger restraint alert and a repeated warning of low tire pressure. Both were addressed and resolved by the dealer. I also asked for and received a software update to the media system and CarPlay, which enhanced the connection with my phone. This remains an athletic, comfortable and luxurious big sedan that I would buy again. Update July 2020: Still love the car. I drive in standard Sport mode most of the time. Perhaps due to supply issues in our new COVID world, BMW has reduced the set of options available at this time for the car. If you are ordering one, load it up. Update January 2021: Replaced my third run-flat tire due to road hazards. They aren't cheap, the space the spare tire takes up in the trunk is unacceptable. No major issues. I remain a fan of this car.

A Civilized Beast

ZA, 12/21/2019

2020 BMW 5 Series 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 …

Love this 540i

Hawk94, 04/28/2019

2019 BMW 5 Series 540i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

Very happy to own this car, upgraded from 2010 528i, can’t stop taking it out for driving, very luxurious interior, nice touch screen, a bit confused with touch screen controls with Apple CarPlay mixed-in at beginning (not able to make a one-push call from steering column call button, but must use touch screen to make a call?), seats are very comfortable giving plenty of support to back, …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 BMW 5 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the 5 Series since its last redesign.

See all 47 reviews of the BMW 5 Series

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2020 5 Series Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

530i

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$53,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 5 Series models:

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.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 BMW 5 Series Review

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2020 BMW 5 Series Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which 5 Series does Edmunds recommend?

2020 BMW 5 Series models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

2019 BMW 530e issues

First class express

A Civilized Beast

Love this 540i

2020 5 Series Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.98 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}