2022 BMW 5 Series Sedan

When it comes to German executive sedans, there has always been strong competition amongst the big German families: BMW with its 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz with the E-Class, and Audi with the A6 Sedan. For fans of high-performance driving, the BMW has always been the only choice, but it would seem that the seventh-generation 5 Series has lost a bit of its edge in favor of comfort. Don't get us wrong, it's still a joy to drive, and the M550i with its 523-horsepower V8 engine is an absolute riot, but it's clear that BMW's priorities are shifting. The lineup for 2022 covers everything from the tamer 248-hp base model to the 288-hp plug-in hybrid and the banging V8 mentioned above, and all of these are refined and pleasant to spend time in. And, for better or for worse, this is still a charming car to drive.

Unlike the 4 Series, the 5 Series offers a mature exterior style. Some might even call it muted, but it's handsome in its own way, and with a few M Performance bits thrown at it, it can look rather cool. The base 530i features 18-inch W-spoke reflex silver wheels, power-folding heated side mirrors, and trapezoidal exhaust tips. Plug-in hybrid models and the 540i trims get 19-inch wheels. The M550i features 19-inch M Y-Spoke wheels in Jet Black and has an aerodynamic kit. Cerium Gray accent finishers set the top-spec model apart, and it boasts additional bits and pieces such as Shadowline exterior trim, an M rear spoiler, and illuminated door sills.

All models have icon adaptive full LED headlights and programmable LED DRLs as well as a two-way power glass moonroof.

This German executive car measures 195.8 inches in length and is 73.5 inches wide and 58.2 inches tall in standard guise. The plug-in hybrid version is a little taller at 58.4 inches and the M550i sits a little lower at 57.8 inches. The M550i is also slightly longer, thanks to all the M-themed exterior embellishments with a length of 196 inches. All models ride on a 117.1-inch wheelbase.

Curb weights vary across the lineup, with the lightest model being the base RWD 530i at 3,783 pounds. Plug-in hybrid models are heftier, starting at 4,314 lbs and topping out at 4,416 lbs with AWD. The M550i weighs just a bit less at 4,383 lbs.

The base model is offered in nine different exterior paint colors, with Alpine White and Jet Black being the only two no-cost options. For an additional $550, you are offered metallics that include Black Sapphire, Dark Graphite, Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Bluestone, Bernina Grey Amber Effect, or Carbon Black. The latter requires you to spec the M Sport package for $3,050, however.

The M550i loses out on Mineral White and Jet Black as options, but makes the metallic palette available at no extra cost. Additionally, three special colors are available at $1,950 - Tanzanite Blue II metallic, Aventurin Red metallic, or Alvite Grey metallic. We love the Tanzanite Blue the most.

The BMW 5 Series has traditionally been used as a benchmark for others in the executive sedan market and has always brought the heat. The current G30 generation is impressive in the performance department, thanks to an excellent range of powertrains. The entry-level 530i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers remarkable punch, even in a car that weighs around 4,000 pounds, and will get to 60 mph in a claimed 5.9 seconds before powering on to a top speed of 130 mph (or 155 mph with performance tires). The AWD 530i xDrive drops the 0 to 60 mph sprint time down to 5.8 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid uses the hybridized version of this powertrain to hustle to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The 540i delivers even more impressive performance courtesy of a silky-smooth 3.0-liter inline-six engine and 48-volt mild-hybrid system under the hood. This drops the 0-60 mph time down to 4.9 seconds or 4.6 in the xDrive version. If it's significant muscle you're after, but you're not willing to spend big bucks on an M5, then the M550i is the way to go. Its powerful turbocharged V8 engine delivers 523 hp and will get you to 60 mph in only 3.6 seconds.

There are a total of four engine options to choose from; from efficient and reasonably powerful to brutally potent in the case of the V8. The 5 Series starts with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 248 hp and 257 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with sport and manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and launch control. This setup feels perky and offers enough punch to make the 5 Series feel lively in the city and on the highway while returning decent fuel economy.

The plug-in-hybrid models add electric power to the 2.0-liter inline-four for a total power output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Don't let the hybrid name fool you; this 5 Series likes to party and delivers impressive punch off the line. The XtraBoost feature adds another 40 hp in ten-second bursts for a proper surge forward.

The 540i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine and mild hybrid system for a total output of 335 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. This lovely-sounding engine has a seamless and smooth style of power delivery that is intoxicating and turns this executive sedan into a fantastic highway cruiser.

The M550i is the most potent of the lot, and its 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 delivers a serious 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Power delivery in this trim is brutal, and the M550i delivers the same acceleration times as a 1995 Ferrari F50, but it's just as comfortable cruising on long road trips. We adore the eight-speed automatic transmission in the 5 Series. This transmission delivers clean and precise shifts when and where you want them, no matter what trim.

BMW proudly boasts about the superior handling of its cars, and the 5 Series has set the benchmark for executive sedans in the past, but the unfortunate truth is that the 2022 BMW 5 Series isn't the standout athlete its predecessors were. All models come with BMW's driving dynamics control with various driving modes, double-wishbone multi-link aluminum front suspension, and integral-V multi-link aluminum rear suspension. For the M550i, there's an available Dynamic Handling Package that will add active roll stabilization, the Adaptive M Suspension Professional system, and active steering for even more composed handling. A more basic version of this package is available for 540i models.

The overall driving impression is good, and it's clear that BMW has spent a lot of time making sure that the 5 Series is a comfortable car around town and a stealth bomber on the highway, but we cannot help but feel as if BMW has forgotten to make it fun to drive. The steering is light, and the 5 Series is eager to change direction, but there is little feedback from the wheel, and the general sense is that this car has been tuned for comfort and not for enthusiastic driving. Even the M550i, with its upgraded chassis, feels more like a luxury car than an all-out sports sedan. Sure, you still get the M5, but the 5 Series has always been fun to drive, no matter the trim badge on the rear end.

The fuel economy of the 2022 BMW 5 Series ranges from excellent to "pretty impressive for a turbocharged V8". According to the EPA, the most fuel-efficient 5 Series of the lot is the 530e, which will return a fantastic 64 MPGe 02 26 mpg combined. The xDrive version sees those figures drop to 62 MPGe/25 mpg. Next in line is the RWD 530i, which will manage 25/33/28 mpg on the city/highway/combined circuit. The xDrive version will do 23/32/26 mpg, a small sacrifice to make for all-wheel drive.

The inline-six 540i will get gas mileage figures of 25/32/27 mpg, and its AWD mate will get 22/29/25 mpg. The most powerful of the lot, the M550i, will get 17/25/20 mpg if one behaves.

With an 18-gallon fuel tank, the RWD 530i should manage 504 miles on a full tank, while the M550i will reach around 360 miles on a tank. The hybrid versions get a smaller tank at 12.1 gallons and a 21-mile all-electric range. Expect a total range of 340 miles for the 530e RWD model.

The problem with modern luxury car interiors is that many of them are starting to look the same. Clean lines and big displays dominate the interiors of these cars, and the 2022 BMW is no different: it's a clinical display of effective design, sensible ergonomics, and comfort. The space works well, looks modern, and feels refined, which is what most people will care about at the end of the day. We appreciate the comfortable power-adjustable front seats, the ample interior space, and the fine choice of materials. Driver visibility is good, and the cabin feels airy overall. We just wish that BMW would give its interiors a bit more of a unique feel as this doesn't feel particularly special.

From the base model to the top-of-the-line M550i, the 5 Series comes equipped with comfortable seating for up to five. The base model is fitted with power front sport seats that feature two-way power side bolsters, two-way manual headrests and thigh support, and a memory system for the driver's seat and exterior mirror positions. The M550i gets more supportive multi-contour front seats with shoulder and thigh support.

Front-seat passengers get a comfy 41.4 inches of legroom, and there's 36.5 inches of legroom at the back, marginally more than one will find in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Six-footers will have no issue getting in and out of the 5 Series, and once inside, they should find that there's more than enough head and legroom.

There is a wide range of premium upholstery options on offer for 2022. The base model is offered in your choice of three no-cost perforated SensaTec options: Canberra Beige, Cognac, or Black. For an additional $1,500, you get Dakota leather with contrast stitching in Ivory White, Black, or Cognac. Nappa leather is offered at $2,500 and includes Ivory White, Black, and Mocha, all with contrast stitching. However, the Nappa leather will require you to add both the Convenience and Luxury Seating packages too, raising the price by a total of $4,100. The M550i jumps straight in with Dakota leather and decreases the cost of the Nappa leather upgrade to just $1,000.

The base model features trim options such as fine wood open-pored Ash Grain with Pearl Chrome accents, Fineline Ridge wood, Fineline Cove matte finish wood, Grey Poplar wood, and aluminum Rhombicle Smoke Grey. The latter requires the M Sport package, however. The M550i is also offered with an Individual Piano Black finish or Plum Brown wood for $1,080.

Carrying five adults is one thing, but the BMW 5 Series is also expected to carry all their stuff. The good news is that this German executive offers decent trunk space. At 14 cubic feet, the 5 Series has more space than the 13.1 cubes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and provides enough room for a couple of holiday bags for the family. The plug-in hybrid model loses four cubic feet of space due to the additional battery packs. Thankfully, the 40/20/40 split fold-down through-load rear seats offer even more space when the need arises.

In terms of small-item storage, the 5 Series provides the basics: you get some door pockets, seatback storage pockets behind the front seats, front and rear cupholders, a center console storage bin, and a glovebox.

BMW was not shy when it came to writing up the standard feature list for the 2022 5 Series. The base model is packed with premium features and includes a three-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as part of the Live Cockpit Professional setup, dynamic cruise control, keyless entry, an engine start/stop button, power front sport seats including two-way power side bolsters, multi-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a universal garage door opener, and a power glass moonroof. The M550i adds features such as remote engine start and three-stage heated front seats. The options list allows you to add a power tailgate, heated front and/or seats, a heated steering wheel, and massaging front seats.

Standard driver assistance tech includes a rearview camera, front and rear park distance control, frontal collision warning, active blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, and speed limit info. The PHEV models get acoustic pedestrian protection additionally. A head-up display is available as an add-on package and the Driving Assistance Package will equip traffic jam assistance and radar-based driver assistance features.

The large 12.3-inch digital touchscreen display runs on BMW's iDrive 7.0 system and can be controlled via steering wheel inputs, the iDrive rotary knob, voice command, or by simply tapping on the screen. Gesture control is available. The system is easy enough to use and comes with all the modern necessities such as Bluetooth streaming and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Navigation, Bluetooth, over-the-air updates for map data,

The standard sound system consists of a 205-watt digital amplifier and 12 speakers, but the M550i gets a standard Harman Kardon surround sound system with a 464-watt amplifier and 16 speakers. The premium sound system can be added to lower-tier models too.

Despite no recalls for the 2022 model year at the time of writing, and receiving a convincing quality and reliability rating of 80 out of 100 from J.D. Power, the BMW 5 Series has suffered from some serious issues - for 2021, recalls included passenger seatbelt malfunctions, rearview camera image issues, output shafts potentially breaking, disassembled 48V battery connections, and debris in the hybrid battery potentially causing a fire. At the time of writing, no recalls were yet issued for the 2022 model.

BMW will cover the 2022 5 Series with a four-year/50,000-mile basic and drivetrain warranty, 12 years of corrosion cover, a three-year/36,000-mile maintenance plan, and four years of roadside assistance. Hybrid components are covered by an eight-year/80,000-mile warranty.

There is no safety review for the 2022 BMW 5 Series sedan from the NHTSA, but the IIHS has conducted a review of the car and has found it to be impressively safe, awarding it six top scores across the various evaluations.

The 2022 5 Series is jam-packed with all the latest and greatest safety features. There's a full complement of airbags, including seat-mounted front side-impact airbags and driver assistance features such as frontal collision warning, lane departure warning, active blind-spot detection, and speed limit info. BMW's active protection system can detect accidents and prepare passengers for heavy impacts by pre-tensioning the safety belts, closing windows, and activating the post-crash braking system. LED headlights with automatic high beams, front/rear park distance control, dynamic cruise control, and a rear-view camera are also standard features. Plug-in models add a pedestrian warning sound to the list.

Optional safety features include a head-up display, traffic jam assistance, and radar-based driver assistance features.

The BMW 5 Series has for a long time been the benchmark against which a multitude of manufacturers compare their executive sedan offerings. For 2022, the BMW 5 Series comes with an impressive range of engine options, stretching from turbocharged four-cylinders to plug-in hybrids and even a turbocharged V8. No matter which engine choice you go for, the 5 Series offers impressive performance, but we have to say that we feel it has lost a bit of the sharpness and eagerness to please in the corners, something it has been famous for in the past.

That being said, it's not an unpleasant experience in the least. There is ample luxury and comfort, and despite being slightly less thrilling behind the wheel, it is still good to drive and is packed with all the latest tech. And, since comfort is the focus here, it makes for an excellent daily driver or long-distance companion. You can't go wrong here.

German luxury sedans tend to be on the expensive side of things: the entry-level 530i Sedan will already set you back $54,200, while the AWD xDrive version goes for $56,500. The more powerful six-cylinder 540i will set you back $59,950 while the 540i xDrive costs $62,250.

The electrified 530e is not much more expensive than the 530i at $55,550, and the AWD xDrive version sells for $57,850. To gain access to all that V8 power, you'll have to fork over $76,800 for the M550i. That's still a bargain when you consider the fact that the M5 goes for $103,700. These prices are MSRP and do not include tax, registration fees, and a destination charge of $995.

There are many configurations on offer for the 2022 model year in the USA, with four power plants and both RWD and AWD available, but BMW has made sure to keep the standard features list more or less the same across the trims, sneaking in a few extras here and there.

The base model 530i sedan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 248 hp and 257 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard exterior features include 18-inch wheels, power-folding heated side mirrors, and LED headlights with auto high-beam control. The interior gets standard keyless entry, push button start, power front sport seats, multi-zone climate control, and a power glass moonroof. The standard infotainment system consists of a 12.3-inch digital touchscreen display that runs on BMW's iDrive 7.0 system and features a 205-watt digital amplifier and 12 speakers. Standard driver assistance features include front and rear park distance control, lane departure warning, frontal collision warning, active blind-spot detection, and speed limit info. The 530i xDrive simply adds BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The plug-in hybrid 530e adds electric power to the base engine, allowing for a 21-mile electric range in RWD guise. It also features a smaller gas tank, a reduced trunk size (due to additional battery packs), and an acoustic pedestrian warning system for driving on fully electric power.

The mid-range 540i is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with mild-hybrid assistance and produces a solid 335 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. The 540i and 540i xDrive share the same features as the base and hybrid models.

M550i cars are powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The exterior of the M550i gets 19-inch wheels in Jet Black and a variety of model-specific exterior upgrades. The chassis is improved with adaptive M suspension, and an M Sport differential adds to the driving pleasure. Inside, this M car features remote engine start and three-stage heated front seats, and a Harman Kardon surround sound system with a 464-watt amplifier and 16 speakers.

Base models can be upgraded with a variety of packages, starting with the $600 Convenience Package that fits heated front seats and a power tailgate to the sedan. For $2,400, the Premium Package will add heated front seats, remote engine start, gesture control, a head-up display, the 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and the power tailgate. If you top up with $350 on top of this, you get heating for the rear seats, too. The Executive Package takes all of these features and bundles ceramic controls and a power rear sunshade in with it, for a total of $3,150. The latter two packages are slightly cheaper on PHEV models, at $2,200 and $2,950 respectively, while the M550i can spec the Premium for $1,000 and the Executive for $1,750, as some features are already included.

The Driving Assistance Professional Package costs $1,700 and adds active driving assistant pro and traffic jam assistance. There is also a Luxury Seating Package for $1,000 which equips 20-way power multi-contour seats with ventilation up front - it is available to all models except the M550i.

The 540i and M550i also have access to the Dynamic Handling Package ($3,500 or $3,600 depending on trim), which includes dynamic damper control, active roll stabilization, and adaptive drive on the 540i, and integral active steering, active roll stabilization, and adaptive M suspension professional on the M550i.

Standalone options include a heated steering wheel for $190, massaging front seats for $1,000, and M Sport brakes in blue or red ($650).

With so many engine options on offer, there truly is something for everyone here. Since the standard features list is equally spread across the lineup, the powertrain will become the most significant deciding factor for new buyers. We feel that the base model 530i offers more than enough power for the daily school/grocery/office run and is a capable cruiser. The 540i offers a more entertaining and better-sounding driving experience, and the plug-in hybrid is the way to go if you enjoy luxury but don't want to pay for large fuel bills. The M550i is a blunt-force weapon used to go fast. We'd stick to BMW's sporting legacy and get the RWD 540i purely for that six-cylinder engine if we were buying. We wouldn't go overboard with options; just get some of the additional safety gear, and you're set to go for under $65k.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has settled into its 2021 facelift and is still as good-looking and capable as ever. From the outside, the E-Class is the more attractive car to look at and in base guise offers more power. BMW has done a better job with its overall engine offering however; the E-Class is only offered with two non-AMG gas engines. The E450 4MATIC produces a healthy 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, which is significantly more than the 540i but costs the same. Inside, the E-Class has a more expressive interior that features flowing lines and high-quality materials. The trunk in the Merc is a little smaller, but you still get a ton of standard tech and excellent safety tech. The E-Class is a true executive car in the way that it prioritizes comfort over driver enjoyment. If you're after a good time, get the BMW, but if you're after comfort, the Mercedes takes it.

The BMW 3 Series famously sits below the 5 Series in BMW's hierarchy and is classified as a compact executive car. The 3 Series is significantly smaller, measuring 185.7 inches in length versus the 5 Series' length of 195.8 inches, and rolls on a 112.2-inch wheelbase instead of the 117.1-inch base of the 5 Series. The 330i sedan is powered by a similar 2.0T engine. Still, it produces more power in the 3, and the M340i, powered by a similar turbocharged inline-six as found in the 540i, also delivers significantly more power at 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. Rear- and all-wheel drive options are available. These cars look and feel similar from the inside out, with the 5 Series offering some improved features. However, the 3 Series is the more entertaining car to drive and would be our choice, unless you need the extra space provided in the 5 Series.