Still The Sportiest Of The Bunch

Summary

• The 2024 BMW 5 Series continues to be the sportier choice in the midsize luxury sedan space.
• The 530i xDrive impresses with its robust acceleration and smooth operation of the automatic engine stop-start function.
• BMW and Mercedes-Benz maintain their traditional rivalry, with the E-Class focusing on comfort and the 5 Series leaning towards sportiness.

Whenever the midsize luxury sedan space starts to feel a bit last-generation, everyone always looks at either the next-gen BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and occasionally the Audi A6, as a glimpse into the future of things we can expect to see in the next-generation of automobiles. For years, segment and industry leaders like the 5 Series and E-Class have always led the way in terms of setting the next benchmark for forward-thinking innovation. If a new technology, feature, or design element debuts in either of these two, you can bet on seeing their influence in other models within the brand and even in the competition.

And…guess what happened this year? Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz launched new generations of 5 Series and E-Class for this model year, perpetuating one of automotive history’s most iconic rivalries. The Bimmer enters its eighth generation while the Benz just entered its sixth, with both continuing a traditional competition that’s been going on for more than a half century. To see what the new 5er is like, BMW sent me a base-engine 530i M Sport to live with for a week.

In order to provide you with an honest and unbiased review, I drove the vehicle reviewed in this article on a daily basis throughout the course of daily life for a period of one week. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review
our methodology policy
.

2024 BMW 530i xDrive M Sport First Impressions

Controversial exterior design has always been a characteristic of BMW’s styling whenever the company implements a new corporate-wide theme. Known for forward-thinking, yet, ironically, conservative design and aesthetics, BMWs have always initially garnered mixed reviews, which all seem to become less brazen as they bake into modern motoring society over time.

When BMW unveiled the G60 5 Series last year, as you probably guessed, it was also met with mixed reviews. Some liked it and others voiced their distaste, the latter particularly with the hardcore BMW enthusiasts. As a big-time BMW appreciator myself who also grew up with multiple generations of 5 Series in my family, I actually found myself warming to the 5er’s new sheetmetal.

Initially, upon release, I didn’t know if I liked it or not, or if it was a case of the pictures not doing it justice, which happens frequently when critiquing automotive design. Simply, I was quite confused about how I felt about the new 5 Series, given I grew up with my dad leasing two E60s, one pre- and one post-LCI facelift and an F10, before upgrading to the 6 Series Gran Coupe. And if anyone else remembers, those Bangle-era E60 5 Series models didn’t get the warmest reception abaout its appearaneces upon their release either.

But now that I had the chance to see it in traffic, and walk to and away from our test mule as if it were mine, I’ve come to appreciate the new 5 Series’ looks. Though it largely depends on color the color and the wheel choice, and packaging. In our tester’s M Sport Package-equipped 530i, or the BMW fan equivalent to an “M Sport” version, handsome two-tone 21-inch wheels and traditional shadowline exterior trim pieces all add to the 5 Series’ sporty and aggressive appearance. Especially with its $650-extra Brooklyn Grey exterior hue.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Having grown up in a BMW-centric family through the 1990s and 2000s, my personal driving expectations are predictably spoiled, often clashing with my critique of new BMWs. It’s an era often heralded as the time for when modern BMWs were at their “peak.” Upon receiving my permit in 2006, I essentially learned how to drive in my dad’s 2005 E60 545i M Sport or my mom’s Infiniti FX35, while my sister had an M54-powered 2003 E46 325i five-speed that I’d borrow on occasion once the license came. That E46 was also the same car I learned how to drive manual in.

So, it’s very easy for me to say that BMWs just aren’t the same as they used to be. Fellow colleagues and BMW enthusiasts agree, especially when BMW started utilizing electrically-assisted power steering, an inevitable result of technological evolution. The 2015 departure of former M chief engineer, Albert Biermann, also didn’t help.

Many can agree that BMW’s just don’t seem to drive as well as their predecessors. The latest G60 in 530i guise and with its sportier M Sport package equipped certainly remains a fine-driving specimen, for a new car in 2024. Whether it be on country backgrounds, or long interstates, the 530i is as effortless as any other German luxury sedan.

But like many other BMW appreciators, I still found myself missing the BMW charm I used to get when piloting my dad’s E60 545i and 550i, or any other BMW from that similar period or older. Yes, the G60 still drives well. Its handling limits are high and the 530i sticks to the road with balanced, poised, and predictable handling. Though the car doesn’t really wake up and come alive until you’re at trouble-prone speeds.

It’s as capable as any BMW ought to be in 2024, but some of the prime connection between the driver, machine, and the road still feels a little more distant than preferred, especially when compared to the 5 Series’ of the past. And that’s mainly down to the over-boosted-feeling and somewhat numb steering. It’s not a bad time and can actually be a fun time on a nice, windy, and technical B-road. But it’s not a great time like its predecessors were.

Braking And Acceleration

The new 5 Series benefits from BMW’s latest iteration of its 48-volt mild-hybrid system. As with the same type of system found on a lot of today’s luxury and performance cars, not only does it allow for smoother operation of the automatic engine stop-start function, the system also provides some extra boost under certain full-throttle conditions.

It’s as capable as any BMW ought to be in 2024, but some of the prime connection between the driver, machine, and the road still feels a little more distant than preferred

The spec sheet says the 530i takes a shade under six seconds to hit 60 MPH (5.9 for rear-drive, 5.8 for xDrive models). Those wanting more power and a far more BMW-like experience can opt for the 540i with the legendary B58B30 3.0-liter TwinPower turbocharged inline-six, which yanks a second and a half off the 60 MPH sprint. Meaning yes, it’s faster than an E39 M5.

Despite being the entry level model, the 530i with its mild-hybrid assist feels like it has a greater cylinder count under the hood than what’s listed on paper, thanks to the integrated starter generator. Hold the “boost-labeled” left steering wheel-mounted transmission paddle shifter, and said boost function will briefly provide some extra juice for acceleration maneuvers, with a fun countdown function on the display as well.

While I found myself yearning for the intoxicating six-cylinder 540i, I also found myself rather impressed with how well the 530i managed forward progress. Any tip-in to the throttle reveals a wave of effortless torque, making overtaking a breeze and almost borderline fun.

Despite the minimal cylinder count, the 530i still feels lively and always eager to blast forward into the horizon, as a BMW ought to. The brake pedal had a nice firm, if slightly touchy feel. There is regenerative braking to a degree, but it didn’t seem to have any effect on the brakes.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 5.8 (Manufacturer Claimed)

Performance Specifications

2024 BMW 530i M Sport Fuel Economy

The 2024 BMW 530i is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency to return up to 27 miles per gallon in the city, 35 on the highway, and an average combined cycle of 30 mpg. In my week-long test with the 530i, I found myself registering anywhere between 27 to 30 mpg average on the car’s trip computer over the course of a full tank of premium.

Interior Design And Comfort

Every generation of BMWs used to have interiors that always seemed to get nicer over its evolution. This time around, the G60 530i impresses with its choice materials, fit and finish, and overall build quality, though there are just a few hints of cheap plastic panels. Soft-touch and pliable surfaces are a-plenty and the seats are some of the most supple that I’ve experienced when compared to past generations of 5-Series. They’re still on the firm side, but still find a nice balance between sporty, supportive, and comfortable.

It still very much feels like a contemporary BMW inside, with the dashboard showcasing the most significant changes. Aside from BMW’s latest Curved Display, nearly all the dash’s physical buttons have been eliminated with their previous functions migrating into the latest iDrive suite.

The result is a very clean, futuristic look, while the center arm rest houses one of BMW’s more conventional and button-focused control interfaces for the iDrive system and the car’s drive functions (such as the engine stop-start button, and the transmission and drive mode selector).

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Similar to other BMWs as of recent, the new 5 Series gets the latest Curved Display, eliminating the old “dual dashboard hump” and separate screen array design for a single, ultra-wide display, also with two sectionalized screens—one for the gauge cluster and the other for infotainment.

iDrive has never been without its fair share of criticism and while I often went against the grain and always found it pretty easy and intuitive to use, I have to disagree with the latest iDrive 8. As experienced in other BMWs with the system, I just cannot personally stand the “app drawer” interface for functions, which was created by the software engineers as a way to “mimic the smartphone and tablet experience.”

It works for those items, but not for cars, as I just found myself taking my eyes off the road too much to find pertinent functions. The iDrive gesture controls still also came across as more of an annoyance than a convenience and thus, I disabled the function while also paid no attention to the self-parking assist function, as I found it quicker to just park the vehicle myself.

Our 5 Series tester also came with BMW’s latest trend of offering fixed-glass moonroofs, meaning they do not open or tilt. Instead, it has electro-actuated filaments that can either block the sun or provide a view. I also found BMW’s Augmented Reality Display with the forward-facing camera amusing and fun in a tech nerd sort of way.

Cargo And Storage Space

Overall, trunk space shrinks by half of a cubic foot to 18.4, versus the previous generation’s 18.9 cubic feet. But what’s peculiar about the new G60 530i’s trunk space is its rather shallow trunk floor, presumably from accommodating the car’s small, mild-hybrid battery pack and other equipment. The rear seats are surprisingly versatile with a new 40/20/40 three-way split, to provide extra hauling space for small, long items.

2024 BMW 530i Vs. Its Competitors

As one of the premiere midsize luxury sedans, the BMW 5 Series continues its old-school rivalry with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, the Cadillac CT5, Genesis G80, Volvo S90, and for the last year, the Maserati Ghibli. Jaguar recently discontinued the XF as of this year.

Overall, the BMW 5 Series has always been the sportiest of the bunch until Maserati started making the Ghibli again, with the Jaguar and Cadillac following not too far behind. Though all of these sedans have excellent driving dynamics that are almost hard to fault. Some just lean more towards sporty drives while others lean more on the comfort side. But none will disappoint.

Additionally, BMW sells all-electric versions of the 5 Series, known as the i5, meaning it also competes with Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and other sedan manufacturers in the luxury EV space.

How The BMW 530i Compares To The Mercedes-Benz E350

For over a half century, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have endured a rivalry that’s resulted in some of the most iconic cars in automotive history and fewer segments have represented this rivalry in its peak form than the midsize sedan segment. Since BMW’s original “Neue Klasse” vehicles in the 1960s, which gave us the famous 2002 and the 2000 sedans, and Mercedes-Benz’s W110 Heckflosse, or the predecessor to the modern E-Class, the battle between the 5 Series and the E-Class is as traditional and cylical in the automotive world as holidays are to society. So, it’s a pretty big deal when both of these get overhauled for a new generation.

As usual, both excel at on-road mannerisms and overall driving dynamics, with the E-Class leaning more on the side of comfort and effortlessness and the 5 Series leans more on the side of sportiness. Having recently driven the latest W214 E-Class, this tradition remains as strong as ever. If you’re looking for a new midsize luxury sedan, either of these cars will do that job as well as they have been for the past half century. It simply boils down to which flavor of superior German midsize luxury sedan excellence fits your bill.

Performance

As direct rivals, both the BMW and the Mercedes offer mild-hybrid-assisted turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engines for the entry level models and turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-sixes for the upgradable engine options before leaping to BMW M and AMG territory.

Both vehicles offer near identical performance numbers with the Mercedes E350 4MATIC accelerating a few tenths of a second behind the 530i xDrive to 60 MPH at 6.1 seconds, while the E450 4MATIC is as quick as a 540i xDrive at 4.4 seconds to 60 MPH. The E-Class is only available with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive while the BMW is still available with rear-wheel- or xDrive all-wheel-drive for the 530i, and the 540i is xDrive only.

Comfort

In keeping with tradition, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class certainly is the more comfortable vehicle, especially since AIRMATIC adaptive air suspension is available. Though the 5 Series isn’t shy about the cosseting experience either, with its supple and supportive seats. The BMW’s ride is certainly more firm for better handling and its seats have more aggressive bolsters.

Technology

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have both blazed trails in the automotive technology and innovation department and part of this reputation comes from the tech that both the 5 Series and E-Class showcase, since both automakers are always trying to compete and one-up each other.

Neither of these cars are shy in the tech department and have plenty of screens as one expects in a 2024 automobile. But after experiencing both Mercedes-Benz’s latest MBUX and BMW’s iDrive, I prefer the simplicity of the Mercedes’ system.

Our Recommendation For Which 5 Series You Should Buy

If you’re keen on getting BMW’s latest G60 5 Series in your driveway, it’s really down to how much money you’re willing to spend and how much power you want. Most will find the four-cylinder 530i plentiful and with its $3,000 M Sport Package. Though, if you’re a die-hard BMW guy like myself, you’ll probably want to do your best to spring for the six-cylinder 540i because any BMW with that engine is still magical. And it’ll certainly make better use of the G60’s newer chassis.

But be ready to pay for it as the 540i starts at $64,900, while our 530i xDrive with the $3,000 M Sport Package, the $2,500 Driving Assistance Pro Package, and the $2,550 Premium Package, plus the $600 trick Sky Lounge Roof, stamps our tester’s invoice at a pretty hefty $73,245, including the $995 destination fee. A similarly-equipped 540i however isn’t that much more at $78,745.