Trying to spot the entry-level BMW 5 Series in a row of freshly redesigned models isn’t easy.
Like the all-electric i5, every one of them is adorned with closed kidney grilles, as well as similarly styled wheels and paint choices. Electric versions have lowercase i badges on their grilles; the gas-powered versions don’t. Trunk lid badging tells them apart from the back, but even then it’s difficult to identify the one with an engine under its hood at a glance.
Playing Second Fiddle
With an aggressive EV pricing strategy, it looks like BMW is trying to make the switch to electrification as painless as possible. In the meantime, the 2024 BMW 530i is still available for those who aren’t yet convinced the i5 is for them.
Up front is the same 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder as before. Output is rated at 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the latter figure an increase of 38 lb-ft over the outgoing model. All-wheel drive is standard in Canada, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission.
As the only gas-powered model in the 5 Series lineup, the 530i is overshadowed by its electric sibling. (There’s another non-M variant of the i5 due to slot in between this and the M60.) However, it’s still a 5 Series, and that means there’s goodness baked right in.
Driving is Believing
On the road, the 530i is everything you’d expect: refined, comfortable, and quiet. And if your designated drive route includes twisty roads, it’s not going to let you down.
BMW claims this all-wheel-drive version can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, which is more than quick enough for everyday driving. The four-cylinder is quiet and smooth and only lets out its telltale buzz at higher engine speeds.
Relative to the bonkers i5 M60, it’s easy to think of the 530i as underpowered; but the four-cylinder is more than ample for the daily commute. Sport mode hastens gear changes, sharpens the throttle, and adds weight to the steering system that, while accurate, lacks feel.
It’s a more isolated driving experience than it was before, and even more refined. It’s moved closer to the 7 Series in terms of dynamics, but it still remains better to drive than its age-old competitor, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The BMW 530i is a car that does everything well but doesn’t command your attention in the way the new EV versions do.
Stylish as Ever
The 5 Series has always struck a balance between the smaller and sportier 3 Series and the large-and-luxurious 7 Series. This new one is a good-looking sedan, with a wide stance, clean lines, and sheet metal that appears to wrap tightly around its muscular frame. The new design is simpler and more minimalistic than before, but it’s unmistakably a 5 Series.
The simplified theme continues inside, with a large curved display housing two separate screens taking centre stage. There are hidden air vents, seamless capacitive touch buttons, and optional leather-free seating surfaces. The fundamentals that go into making a great interior are all present: a perfect driving position, supple and supportive seats, quality materials, exemplary build quality, and excellent ergonomics.
The large 12.1-inch driver-display and 14.9-inch centre screen project gorgeous visuals with a bright and customizable colour palette, and “experience modes” (read: drive modes) that tweak multiple settings for a more personalized experience. It’s exactly the same setup as the one in the much more expensive i5 M60, including the latest iDrive 8.5 operating system, which is easily one of the best infotainment systems in the business.
Final Thoughts
As with every new generation of 5 Series, you can expect more technology, more speed, and more comfort; and while that might hold true for the electric versions of this new generation, the 2024 BMW 530i feels like it’s missing something. It delivers on its mission of offering an impeccable ride, confident handling, and the latest technology; but it also highlights how much better the new 5 Series is when it loses its internal combustion engine in favour of electrification.
The 2024 BMW 530i is on sale now. Pricing starts at $70,500 before freight and tax.
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