When it comes to executive sedans, few cars floss the flair, self-assurance, and performance quite like the 5 Series. Going strong since the early 1970s, BMW is levelling up its mid-size car for 2024, now entering its 8th-generation.
Release Date: BMW is giving us an October 2023 availability date for the new 5 Series. The 6-cylinder, 3.0L BMW 540i xDrive with the 48-volt mild hybrid system goes into production in November 2023, hitting North American markets sometime Spring 2024.
Full pricing, specs, and gallery for both EV and hybrid sedans at the end of this post. Below, we get into some of the key details for the new 5 Series.
A 590-Horsepower, All-Electric 5 Series
All-Electric: i5 M60 xDrive and i5 eDrive40
For the first time, this German 4-door goes electric with the new BMW i5 — specifically, the potent i5 M60 xDrive putting down nearly 600 horsepower, sprinting to 60 mph in 3.7-seconds, all while offering up to 256 miles / 412 kms of electric range.
With the M Sport Package, this machine rolls on 19-inch M light alloy wheels, and finds touches of high-gloss black at the side skirts and exterior mirror caps. Add bigger air intakes, horizontal slat front grill, and a blacked-out front apron to the 5 Series M mix.
If the M is overkill, there’s the i5 eDrive40 making a respectable 335 horsepower with 295 miles of electric range. The i5 gains some standard features optional on the 530i and 530i, including interior ambient lighting — part of the new BMW Interaction Bar — lighting up the instrument panel and door area.
Some key standards on both the i5 M60 xDrive and i5 eDrive40 is the BMW Curved Display with latest operating system, a tilt-and-slide moonroof, sport seats, and the Active Driving Assistant package, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless device charging, and the Harman Kardon audio system.
Worth noting the US will get both versions of the 2024 electric i5 starting at $84,100 US, while Canada only gets the high-performance M version starting at $95,000 CDN.
New Hybrid BMW Sedans
Mild Hybrid: 530i, 530i xDrive, and 540i xDrive
Powering the 2024 BMW 530i and 530i xDrive is an improved, next-gen twin-turbo 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine, improving specs by 7 hp and 38 lb-ft., now putting down 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This all works in conjunction with a new 48V mild hybrid system paired to an 8-speed transmission with shift paddles.
With a hefty 40 horsepower gain over the outgoing model, the 2024 BMW 540i xDrive is the granddaddy of the three hybrid flavours, generating a maximum output of 375 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque with the additional power of the 48-volt mild hybrid system. Expect this mid-size 4-door to do 0-60 mph in a decent 4.5 seconds.
Like its electric siblings, some standards include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless charging, parking assistant, sport seats, and 19-inch Triplex-spoke light alloy wheels wrapped in all season tires (the i5 gets 19-inch Aerospoke bi-color grey light alloy wheels on mixed non-runflat tires; the i5 M60 xDrive gets 19-inch M Aerodynamic light alloy wheels with mixed performance non-runflat tires).
Some new things to the redesigned 5 Series 2024 models
Hands-free driving now included
New for 2024, and similar to Cadillac’s SuperCruise and Lincoln’s BlueCruise we recently reviewed equipped on the 2024 Corsair Grand Touring SUV , BMW adds its own hands-free driving system with Highway Assistant. It’s part of the Driving Assistance Professional safety package which is an option on the new 5 Series, and will allow drivers to go hands-free at speeds of up to 85 mph or 130 km/h, courtesy of an interior camera monitoring the drivers’ attention.
Improved Active Lane Change with Eye Activation
Also new to the Driving Assistance Professional is an improved version of Active Lane Change. It’s a world-first feature, according to BMW, and is controlled by eye activation from the i5’s cockpit.
Here’s what the full Driving Assistance Professional Package includes:
- Highway Assistant with attentive hands-free driving up to 85 mph
- Lane Keeping Assistant with Side Collision Protection
- Active Lane Change with eye activation
- Evasion Assistant
- Cross Traffic Warning (front)
Gamers rejoice with AirConsole in-car gaming — better games to come?
You read that read: in-car gaming inside the new 5 Series. So while your i5 is charging up, sit back, relax, and play some vids.
Fortunately, BMW plans to expand the game portfolio. That’s a good thing because the current 20 games are pretty subpar, including Go Kart Go, Golazo, Music Guess and Overcooked. But hey, it’s better than no gaming, right?
2024 BMW 5 Series Price
Below is US and Canadian pricing for these available BMW sedan models. Note, US pricing below excludes the $995 destination and handling charge; Canada only receives the M version of the i5 EV.
US Pricing (USD) | Canadian Pricing (CDN) | |
530i | $57,900 | – |
530i xDrive | $60,200 | $70,500 |
i5 eDrive40 | $66,800 | – |
i5 M60 xDrive | $84,100 | $95,000 |
540i xDrive | $64,900 | – |
2024 BMW 5 Series Specs
Electric 5 Series Specs:
i5 eDrive40 | i5 M60 xDrive | |
Power | 335-hp @ 8,000 | 590-hp @ 8,000 |
Torque | 295 lb.-ft. @ 0-5,000 | 586 lb.-ft. @ 0-5000 |
0-60 mph | 5.7 seconds | 3.7 seconds |
Top speed (max.) | 120 mph | 143 mph |
Drivetrain | Electric RWD | Electric AWD |
Transmission | Automatic transmission, single-stage with fixed ratio | Automatic transmission, single-stage with fixed ratio |
Battery | Lithium-ion, 400V, 211 Ah capacity | Lithium-ion, 400V, 211 Ah capacity |
Charging time, 10-80% @ 205 kW | 30 min (DC, fast charging) | 30 min (DC, fast charging) |
Wheelbase | 117.9 inches | 117.9 inches |
Length | 199.2 inches | 199.2 inches |
Width | 74.8 inches | 74.8 inches |
Height | 59.6 inches | 59.3 inches |
Hybrid 5 Series specs:
530i | 530i xDrive | |
Power | 255-hp @ 4,700-6,500 | 255-hp @ 4,700-6,500 |
Torque | 295 lb.-ft. @ 1,600-4,500 | 295 lb.-ft. @ 1,600-4,500 |
0-60 mph | 5.9 seconds | 5.8 seconds |
Top speed (max.) | 155 mph | 155 mph |
Engine | 2.0L inline 4-cylinder | 2.0L inline 4-cylinder |
Transmission | 8-speed Steptronic | 8-speed Steptronic |
Wheels (standard) | 19 x 8.5J inches | 19 x 8.5J inches |
Tires (standard) | 245/45 R19 all-season non-runflat | 245/45 R19 all-season non-runflat |
Front brakes | Four-piston fixed-caliper, discs, ventilated | Four-piston fixed-caliper, discs, ventilated |
Rear brakes | Single-piston floating-caliper, discs, ventilated | Single-piston floating-caliper, discs, ventilated |