2026 BMW 5 Series Review

Intro

True luxury is measured by choice, and there are few places in the auto industry that offer as much choice of it as BMW’s 5 Series.

Step onto a BMW dealer’s lot and you’ll find examples of this midsize model with a four-cylinder engine, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, two different grades of the entirely electric version, or even a fire-breathing monster that’ll top 300 km/h. Oh, and that one comes in the choice of sedan or wagon bodystyles.

Add to the list the 2026 BMW 540i Legacy Edition, which is limited to just 151 units Canada-wide. It’s the purest representation of what’s made the 5 Series such a staple in both the company’s lineup and the garages of well-heeled shoppers for more than half a century and counting.

Power: 9/10

While there’s much to love about the 5 Series, it’s the engines that have long defined them. The most accessible model is the 530i, which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder that dispenses with a decent 255 hp and manages to do an impressive job feeling stouter than its numbers suggest.

The 540i tested here swaps that for an inline six-cylinder — a layout that’s been part of the 5 Series lineage since 1973. This award-winning 3.0L engine can be found under the hoods of several sedans, sports cars, and SUVs, including non-BMWs like the Toyota Supra and Ineos Grenadier.

In the 540i, the turbo motor pumps out a healthy 375 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to snarl to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds. It’s quick, no doubt, but the incredible smoothness of this engine cannot be overstated. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system fills in whatever minimal dips might exist in the torque curve otherwise, making this one of the loveliest drivetrains on the planet.

If more power is desired, the 550e gets a 19.0-kWh battery pack that helps juice the output to 483 hp from the same straight-six. Of course, that means a heavier car overall, but even then BMW claims a slightly quicker zero-to-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds thanks to the electric side of the powertrain.

While still based on the same 5 Series platform, the M5 is the only way to get a V8 in the 5 Series these days, which will disappoint anyone who had the pleasure of driving a previous-generation 550i. Also given the PHEV treatment, the M5 dispenses a supercar-like 717 hp and can pull harder north of 200 km/h than most cars considered quick can from a standstill.

Fuel Economy: 8/10

The 5 Series delivers impressive fuel efficiency for a midsize luxury sedan. The 530i’s highway rating of 6.8 L/100 km is what’s to be expected from a much smaller car, but even more remarkable was the observed consumption rate during this test of the six-cylinder-powered 540i: 7.9 L/100 km over the course of several hundred kilometres of mixed driving through some of nastiest winter weather Ontario has seen in years.

Driving Feel: 8/10

The 5 Series is a competent handler regardless of which variant you’re talking about, with optional M Sport packages that can further button down the suspension. The 530i and 540i are lighter than the electrified variants and feel somewhat friskier in their reactions as a result. However, even those powertrains leave the 5 Series feeling like the large and heavy cruiser it is, a significant departure from the much smaller, lighter, and nimbler models of old.

Next to comparable Mercedes-Benz and Audi entries, the 5 Series still feels like the more engaging machine. The braking is strong and offers great pedal feel, and the ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission remains one of the best examples of how an automatic should be made, offering impressive smoothness with rapid-fire shifting.

Safety: 9/10

The 5 Series, regardless of trim, is equipped with the expected passive and active safety amenities including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, and parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving is available as part of an optional package. Even during wintery conditions, which can often stymie a car’s sensors in short order, the 540i soldiered on, diligently utilizing its active safety features in a non-intrusive, natural-feeling way.

Features: 7/10

The 5 Series can be a lavishly-equipped machine but often requires buyers to specify elaborate and costly options packages just to get rudimentary features. For instance, to simply unlock the coding for the automatic high-beam control in the LED lighting on the 530i, one must purchase a $5,400 package. The 540i Legacy Edition comes with the features of a few optional packages, ensuring it’s finished with niceties like heated and cooled seats, a power panoramic sunroof, and a high-end audio system.

User-Friendliness: 8/10

The driving position of the 5 Series is configurable to accommodate a broad spectrum of body types and sizes. Outward visibility is quite good, though like many cars these days, the A-pillars are quite thick. BMW still offers a console-mounted rotary controller for use with its infotainment system, but the massive 14.9-inch screen (that blends into the adjacent 12.3-inch gauge display) is an easy reach and offers touch control. Wireless Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly for the entirety of this test; and although a dizzying array of controls, features, and configurations are included in the infotainment system itself, the menu systems are reasonably straight-forward.

Still, having to access all climate controls and features like the seat heaters through the screen is tedious at best and makes me wish for physical buttons that are simply easier to use without distraction. At least the steering wheel controls are sensible and include a handy scroll wheel.

Comfort: 8/10

Over the generations, BMW has shifted the 5 Series from a sport sedan with luxury features to a luxury sedan with impressive performance. This means that even in its basic format, it’s a smooth, quiet, and comfortable car.

Its cabin is spacious, with good head- and legroom front and rear. The suspension engineers have done a great job of giving the car a supple ride that can absorb all but the worst road imperfections without making it feel floaty or soft when driven spiritedly. The available adaptive suspension offers further improvement by allowing the ride to be stiffened for really sporty driving or softened for everyday use.

The standard seats are quite comfortable and offer good support, but optional “Comfort Seats” have so much adjustability that it’s impossible not to find a satisfying position. Sound insulation is exceptional against engine, road, and wind noise.

Practicality: 7/10

As a midsize sedan, the 5 Series offers ample seating space for four adults, but a fifth passenger squeezed in the middle of the backseat will have splayed legs around the drivetrain tunnel. The trunk offers a generous 520 L of capacity, but those wanting more space and wishing for a wagon will need to splash out for the extreme M5 Touring.

All 5 Series offerings in Canada come standard with all-wheel drive. With its set of proper winter tires, the 540i tested here was unstoppable even through stormy weather, and thanks to the performance-oriented handling, reinforces driver confidence in controlling the car even in poor conditions.

Value: 7/10

Starting at $72,900 before freight and tax for the four-cylinder 530i, the 5 Series is an expensive car, but on par with competitive models from Mercedes, Audi, and even Genesis. Where buyers need to exercise caution is with the extensive options list.

The 540i Legacy Edition tested here offers a few no-cost options in terms of paint shade and interior trims, making it an easier purchase process; but at $90,815 before freight and tax, it makes it more expensive than the 550e PHEV and all-electric i5.

Styling: 7/10

The only other aspect that lets the 5 Series down is its styling. Inside, the fit and finish is excellent, and the design is quite good — especially with the interesting light bar spanning the dashboard and doors that glows in whatever colour is selected. The number of different trim and upholstery finishes means a buyer can have a 5 Series that truly suits his or her tastes.

It’s the exterior that suffers under BMW’s current design mandate to stand out rather than try to look elegant or beautiful. Certainly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but compared to earlier generations the current model wears a series of discordant curves, bulges, angles, and oversized features, including an oversized plastic grille area.

In fairness, the 5 Series has mercifully not been as over-styled as its 4 Series sibling, perhaps speaking to a more conservative target buyer, but it still lacks the elegance that most earlier generations possessed. The last time BMW’s designers prioritized being distinctive instead of tasteful was the E60 generation, which hasn’t aged well.

The Verdict

BMW’s 5 Series has been a fixture of the lineup for a half-century, and during that time has offered increasingly impressive levels of luxury, technology, and performance. It remains the driver’s choice in a segment that tends to prioritize isolation to engagement, and the sheer breadth of specifications, trims, features, options, and powertrain choices ensure it’s a proper luxury machine for discerning buyers.