BMW 5 Series Review (2017-2023)
BMW 5 Series cars for sale
5.0
Expert review
Pros
Excellent engines deliver performance and economy
Class-leading infotainment system
Luxurious and roomy cabin
Cons
Question mark over reliability
M Sport suspension is on the firm side
Strong resale values mean a used 5 Series is no bargain
The CarGurus verdict
That faint question mark over the 5 Series' reliability is really its only major failing. That, and suspension that might be too firm for your tastes, should you opt for one of the M Sport versions.
Avoid that trap, though, and everywhere else, the 5 Series is a terrific all-rounder and a consummate luxury saloon. Not only does it offer the sort of comfort you'd hope for in a car like this, but it does a remarkably good job of mixing this with the sort of handling that'll make you want to take the scenic route home.
Throw in a truly excellent range of engines - there isn't really a duffer among them, not to mention an exhilarating performance model at the top of the range and useful plug-in hybrid versions - and you can see why we reckon the 5 Series is the best of its breed. In fact, it might just be one of the best new cars on sale today.
What is the BMW 5 Series?
Is this generation of the BMW 5 Series still the best large executive saloon money can buy? That's the big question. After all, for a long time, the 5 Series reigned supreme in head-to-head tests with its rivals, offering the unbeatable combination of an involving driving experience, a brilliantly supple chassis and a tastefully upmarket interior.
But in recent years, its biggest rivals, the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, have been busy upping their game, and the challenge they presented to the G30 5 Series is tougher than ever. As if that wasn't enough, the beautifully appointed Volvo S90 and sleek Jaguar XF have been giving BMW something else to think about in the last few years.
in 2023, BMW updated the 5 Series model range with the all-new G60 version, alongside which BMW brought in the addition of the related i5 all-electric saloon and estate.
How practical is it?
The 5 Series, however, is better than it's ever been. You only need to climb aboard to start to understand why. For starters, it’s one of the roomier executive saloons or estates (badged Touring) out there, with a huge amount of space, especially up front, where you'll also find loads of usefully sized spots to stow your odds and ends.
In the back, you shouldn't be short of room, either, although here the 5 Series is bested by the Volvo S90. The boot's a good size, at 530 litres, but it isn't an entirely useful shape, with odd lumps running down each side of the floor that make the floor itself quite narrow. If you want more boot room, the Touring model offers 560 litres of carrying capacity.
It should be noted, though, that the plug-in hybrid models cut boot space to 410 and 430 litres respectively.
What's it like to drive?
Where the 5 Series really excels, however, is out on the road. Entry-level SE models ride nicely; there's still a touch of background vibration, but compared with the equivalent E-Class or A6, the BMW is the pick of the pack (though if you add the optional air suspension to the E-Class, it's smoother still).
M Sport versions have a stiffer setup that's even less comfortable, though, so make sure you can live with this before you choose one of these. The extra weight of larger-engined and four-wheel-drive models (badged xDrive) makes them feel just a touch less supple, too.
The 5 Series is still a really lovely thing to drive once you get it up to speed on a back road, flowing intuitively from corner to corner more sweetly than most of its rivals, the Jaguar XF excepted. And all of the engines - even the cheapest petrols - strike a good compromise between mid-range punch and fuel efficiency. There are a couple of plug-in hybrid versions, too, while at the top of the range, the M5 Competition is an enthusiast's dream come true.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
Where the 5 Series really excels, however, is out on the road. Entry-level SE models ride nicely; there's still a touch of background vibration, but compared with the equivalent E-Class or A6, the BMW is the pick of the pack (though if you add the optional air suspension to the E-Class, it's smoother still).
M Sport versions have a stiffer setup that's even less comfortable, though, so make sure you can live with this before you choose one of these. The extra weight of larger-engined and four-wheel-drive models (badged xDrive) makes them feel just a touch less supple, too.
The 5 Series is still a really lovely thing to drive once you get it up to speed on a back road, flowing intuitively from corner to corner more sweetly than most of its rivals, the Jaguar XF excepted. And all of the engines - even the cheapest petrols - strike a good compromise between mid-range punch and fuel efficiency. There are a couple of plug-in hybrid versions, too, while at the top of the range, the M5 Competition is an enthusiast's dream come true.
BMW 5 Series running costs
On paper, the 530e looks to be the most economical 5 Series by a long shot, but as its fuel economy will vary wildly depending on how often you charge it up, the most consistently frugal 5 Series of all in the real world is actually the 520d.
You can expect to see as much as 55mpg day-to-day if you keep the specification simple, though M Sport models with larger wheels and heavier equipment will see that drop to around 50mpg. If it's a petrol version you're after, the 520i with an automatic gearbox should achieve somewhere between 40 and 45mpg on average.
Only the 520i and 520d SE fall beneath the £40,000 threshold for additional car tax, but get too excited with the options list and you'll end up paying the higher tax rate for five years from the second year of the car's life. You'll have to do this on every other version of the 5 Series even if you specify no optional extras.
Maintaining a 5 Series is, generally speaking, more expensive than an A6, but cheaper than an E-Class, which pitches it roughly in the middle of the road by comparison with its chief competitors. You can opt to spread the cost of your annual servicing by choosing one of BMW's service plans, which offer simple monthly payments and are transparently priced.
All of the 5 Series' engines use metal timing chains, and you shouldn't have to replace these for the entire life of the car, unlike rubber timing belts, which are the alternative and still used from time to time on cheaper cars.
BMW 5 Series reliability
Within its class, the 5 Series has a pretty good reputation for reliability. In the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, it wasn't beaten by any of its main rivals and acquitted itself reasonably well, with a score of 92.6 per cent.
That said, BMW as a marque doesn't have a great reputation. In the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study, it finished last in the table of manufacturers, with 181 faults per 100 vehicles. It goes without saying that all of BMW's major rivals did better, with Volvo in particular gaining an above-average result.
BMW warrants the 5 Series for three years from new, with no cap on mileage. That's about par for the course compared with its rivals, though the Lexus ES can boast a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. If you opt for the 530e, you get an additional six-year, 60,000-mile warranty on the high-voltage battery. Both warranties can be extended at extra cost.
- The entry-level plug-in hybrid 5 Series is badged 530e. It's powered by a combination of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, an electric motor, and a battery with a range of 20-25 real-world miles. Official figures suggest it can achieve 141mpg, but take that with a very large pinch - nay, a shovelful - of salt. In the real world, you're more likely to average anywhere around 60-70mpg, though that'll depend on how regularly you're able to plug the car in. Also bear in mind that the 530e has less boot space than the standard 5 Series to the tune of 120 litres, or two medium-sized suitcases worth. We're yet to try the more powerful plug-in hybrid, the 545e.
- The fire-breathing M5 was released in the UK in 2018, to rave reviews from the motoring press. It was the first-ever M5 to come with four-wheel drive as standard, though impressively, you could also select a two-wheel-drive mode from within the car, in case you felt like indulging in some lurid powerslides (away from the public roads, of course). In 2020, the M5 was replaced by the upgraded M5 Competition, which took the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8's power from 592bhp to a stonking 616bhp, with a litany of tweaks to the chassis tightening and honing it further still.
- While the saloon is still the most popular 5 Series, the Touring estate has many fans, too. Its vast boot may not be quite as big as the Mercedes E-Class Estate's, but it beats the Audi A6 Avant and Volvo V90 on outright size. What's more, you get an electrically opening boot lid as standard with a load cover that rolls back automatically when the boot's opened, as well as a rear window which can be opened independently of the boot to load smaller items, a BMW trademark.
- As we've already discussed, we reckon the best way to specify the 5 Series is in SE form. Matched to the smooth turbocharged petrol engine you'll find in the 520i, it's a brilliant combination, and the one we'd choose.
- If you're a high-mileage driver and you need the excellent mpg of a diesel, all you need do is switch the petrol engine out for the 520d. It's impressively frugal, and yet also provides plenty enough punch to hold your own on the motorway and keep up with day-to-day traffic.
- Planning to choose a 5 Series as a company car? Then the plug-in hybrid 530e makes an awful lot of sense, with tax bills that are considerably lower than any other model in the range. However, you'll need to make sure you have somewhere to plug it in, as without charging it up it'll be quite thirsty, and the extra cost of fuel could mitigate any savings you're making on company car tax over the diesel version.
- If it's a fast 5 Series you're after, the M5 Competition is the obvious choice. But its stiff suspension and overtly sporting nature might put you off, in which case, the M550i is worth a look. It's a softer, more rounded option, yet with a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds, it'll still offer all the performance you could ever need, and then some.
