The 2024 BMW 5 Series has been revealed ahead of first deliveries in the autumn. The 5 gets a sharp new look, with a high-tech interior that promises more space. Diesels are dropped from the line-up, and instead, you get a choice of electric models offering up to 609bhp and a range of more than 350 miles.
Update: Since this guide was published, we have driven the latest 5 Series and i5. Read our full reviews of the 5 Series and i5
2024 BMW 5 Series/i5:
- 2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: exterior design and dimensions
- 2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: interior design, infotainment and practicality
- 2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: power, performance, range and charging
- 2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: price and on-sale date
2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: exterior design and dimensions
The new BMW 5 Series has had a more radical restyle than you might expect of the famously conservative saloon, as BMW brings it in line with its futuristic electric models.
Up front, you get the famous kidney grille (it looks more like flared nostrils now) bookended by slim LED headlights that emphasise the grille’s size. Bonnet creases shaped with the grille and an aggressive lower bumper add more visual drama.
New Mercedes E-Class: What We Know So Far
It’s much the same around the sides where you get a modern twist on the traditional 5 Series look. The striking creases that ran the length of the old model have been replaced with a more subtle line and you now get recessed door handles for nominal improvements to aerodynamics. The car’s thicker floor, meanwhile, needed to accommodate the EV models’ batteries, is disguised by black plastic mouldings.
And the rear end gets the smooth treatment, too, with a pair of distinctive LED tail lights that will make the new car easily distinguishable.
BMW 5 Series Models Over the Years
In terms of the dimensions, the new car is bigger in every way compared to the old model: 97mm longer (5060mm in total), 32mm wider (1900mm) and 36mm taller (1515mm).
2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: interior design, infotainment and practicality
Inside, the new BMW 5 Series comes as standard with Veganza (or man-made) leather and is the first 5 saloon to be offered with a panoramic glass sunroof. It also gets the BMW Interaction Bar first seen on the new 7 Series.
The design is recognisable BMW but leans towards touch screens and touch-sensitive buttons. As usual, the BMW’s main controls point towards you in the driving seat, but there are fewer conventional buttons to play with (touch sliders now control the ventilation system) and you now get a 14.9-inch curved infotainment screen that merges seamlessly into the 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel.
Both are run by BMW Operating System 8.5 which brings with it clearer graphics and improved voice activation that responds better to spoken word commands. A choice of computer games is built into the system, which could prove an ideal distraction when you’re charging your i5.
The BMW Interaction Bar, meanwhile, alerts you to things like incoming phone calls using colourful light animations that shine from behind a trim strip that runs the length of the dashboard. Conventional trim options include Aluminium Rhombicle Dark Silver or Carbon Fibre.
Sound comes from a standard 12-speaker, 205W Harman Kardon stereo, or you can upgrade to an 18-speaker, 655W Bowers & Wilkins system.
You can expect the new 5 Series to be even more practical than the outgoing model.
New Audi A6: What We Know So Far
Up front, heated seats come as standard and include electrical height and angle adjustment. In the back, meanwhile, you can expect the new car’s longer wheelbase to free up extra knee room, while a rear bench that extends into the back doors should free up hip room, especially with three adults sitting in the back.
Back seats that split 40:20:40 come as standard and, with the seats up, boot capacity sits at 520 litres for petrol models and 490 litres for the i5 electric, both slightly down on the 530 litres offered by the outgoing car.
A popular option is likely to be the Comfort Plus Pack which adds kit like ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, four-zone climate control and mood lighting set into the backs of the front seats.
2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: power, performance, range and charging
From launch, the new BMW 5 Series is available with a choice of one petrol and two electric models. Diesel versions won’t be sold in the UK.
The BMW 520i is the sole petrol. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that spins the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF gearbox. The engine also features a 48V electric power supply that provides a small electric boost for improved efficiency.
This combination of petrol and mild electric power gives the BMW 211bhp in total, getting it from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 143mph. Fuel economy of between 45 and 50mpg should be possible.
Video review: Mercedes-Benz EQE electric saloon
However, it’s the electric models that are the headline grabbers, fronted by the i5 eDrive40. Its 345bhp electric motor spins the rear wheels, getting the i5 from 0-62mph in six seconds and onto a limited top speed of 120mph.
Want more performance? Then you’ll want the i5 M60 xDrive, which produces 609bhp courtesy of electric motors on both the front and the rear axles, getting it from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and onto a top speed that’s limited to 143 mph.
Both i5 models feature BMW IconicSounds, meaning you can choose from a variety of electric hums created by music producer Hans Zimmer.
The i5 is powered by an 81.2kWh battery that gives it a range of between 296-362 miles (eDrive 40) or 282-320 miles (M60).
You also get a Max Range mode that limits the car to 60mph and reduces power consumption by turning off things like the ventilation system, heated rear screen and heated seats. It’s designed for emergencies: for example, when the charger you were planning on using is inoperable.
The i5 can handle charging speeds of up to 205kW meaning you’ll need as little as 30 minutes to charge the battery from 10-80 per cent, or 10 minutes to add nearly 100 miles worth of charge using a DC fast charger. Preconditioning means the battery is optimised to charge as quickly as possible and can be operated manually or automatically (by programming a charging stop into the car’s sat-nav).
You can expect the new 5 Series to offer a sportier drive than its rivals. Even the basic 520i gets M Sport suspension fitted as standard, which is 8mm lower than the standard setup offered in other markets. The i5, meanwhile, gets self-levelling rear air suspension as standard. Both models also feature a traction control system that’s wired directly to the ECU for quicker responses and a more natural feel on the limit.
Numerous options will be offered including adjustable dampers, active roll control and rear-wheel steering, which reduces the 5 Series’ turning circle by 0.6 metres to 11.7 metres.
2024 BMW 5 Series/i5: price and on-sale date
The new BMW 5 Series is available to order now, with prices starting from £51,000 for a BMW 520i in M Sport, which is the only petrol model now available. It competes with entry levels of the Mercedes E-Class, which starts from £48,835, and the Audi A6 saloon (£39,605). First deliveries are expected in October. The rest of the launch range is made up of EVs including the basic i5 40 (from £77,105) and the high-performance i5 M60 xDrive (£97,745).