All vehicles in the 2022 BMW 5 Series line are considered midsize sedans with spacious, luxurious cabins—but less zippy engines than previous model years.

Written by Natalie Todoroff

Reviewed by Bellina Gaskey

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

2022 BMW 5 Series

The EPA defines a mid-sized car as one that has between 110 and 120 cubic feet of combined volume and a maximum length of 196.8 inches. Of all the sedans in BMW’s 2022 lineup, the Series 5 vehicles fit that description.

Midsize cars may not get the same amount of love as their compact, sportier little siblings or their large-and-in-charger counterparts, but the BMW Series 5 makes a convincing case for the midsize class.

The Series 5 is a true feat of German engineering, combining an array of engine options with a spacious interior, and ultra-smart tech features—and, of course, a certain level of opulence drivers have come to expect from the brand.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the nine cars in the BMW series 5 lineup, from engine specs to performance, safety, interior, and more.

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2022 BMW 5 Series

As we mentioned earlier, there are a grand total of nine vehicles in the BMW Series 5 lineup:

530i, 530e, 530i xDrive, 530e xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, and the M5 CS.

A quick note about the BMW naming system: the “E” indicates that that particular vehicle is a plug-in hybrid, and the “Xdrive” means that it has an all-wheel-drive powertrain. If the vehicle does not denote “Xdrive,” then you can assume that it’s rear-wheel-drive only.

Pricing

It’s no secret that BMWs are luxury cars that come with luxury price tags. Starting MSRPs for the Series 5 vehicles range between $55,195 and $142,000. As the base model, the 530i is the cheapest of the bunch with an MSRP of $55,195, and the M5 CS tops the list at $142,000.

But which BMW Series 5 stretches your dollar the farthest? That would be the 540i. As far as value goes, you get the most bang for your buck in terms of performance and comfort perks with the 540i, which has an MSRP of $60,945.

Performance

You’ll find a little something different under the hood of each different BMW Series 5. The base 530i comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that can go from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and produce 248 horsepower @ 5200 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque @ 1450 rpm. Unless you opt for the 530i xDrive, you’ll have to get used to rear-wheel drive.

The 530e has the same engine as the 530i, but with the addition of a 12kWh 354-volt lithium ion battery capable of 21 miles of battery-only range. The battery helps give the 530e a little extra boost in terms of eco-friendliness and fuel efficiency, but you lose some horsepower in the process. The 530e is only capable of generating 181 horsepower.

When you get to the 540 vehicles, you start to see some larger engines. The 540i has a beefier 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine capable of 355 horsepower @ 5500 rpm and 322 lb-ft of torque @ 1500 rpm. Its secret sauce is the addition of a 48-volt battery, which makes the vehicle what’s known as a “mild hybrid.”

And we come to one of the more athletic of the bunch: the M550i xDrive. Equipped with a beastly 4.4-liter 8-cylinder turbocharged V8 engine, this midsize car gets an impressive 523 horsepower @ 5500 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque @ 1800 rpm.

With a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds, the M550i xDrive zooms past competitors like the

Audi A6

and Mercedes-Benz AMG E53.

If 523 horsepower isn’t quite enough for your liking, you can level up to the M5. The starting MSRP for this version of the Series 5 breaks six figures at $103,550. But it’s equipped with a mighty 600-horsepower V8 engine—and if you shell out for the Competition package, you’ll be able to squeeze out an extra 17 horsepower.

Last but not least, there’s the mac-daddy of the lineup: the M5 CS. With a staggering MSRP of $142,000, the M5 CS is far and away the most expensive in the lineup and has a truly monstrous engine. Under the hood of the M5 CS is a twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 627-horsepower. Just to put that into perspective, the 2022 Ferrari Roma gets 611 horsepower.

All that aside, how does the Series 5 feel when you’re behind the wheel? Apparently, not as great as it could. Reviewers report that with the Series 5, BMW appears to have prioritized interior comfort and spaciousness over sporty driving.

They’re by no means stiff or unfun to drive, but drivers note that the Series 5 doesn’t have quite the same “umph” behind the wheel that other BMWs are loved for.

MORE: BMW buying guide

Fuel economy

A question every potential car owner must ask themselves: will this car be a gas guzzler? With the BMW Series 5, it depends on the kind of engine you’ve got under the hood. As you’d expect, models with a hybrid battery boast better fuel economy, but the performance-driven M550i xDrive will make you a regular at the gas station. In fact, any of the xDrive models are less fuel-efficient compared to the rear-wheel drive ones.

Here’s a rundown of how many miles per gallon you can expect from each vehicle in the BMW Series 5 lineup:

530i: 25 city / 33 highway mpg

530e: 25 city / 62 highway mpg

530i xDrive: 23 city / 32 highway mpg

540i: 25 city / 32 highway mpg

540i xDrive: 23 city / 31 highway mpg

M550i xDrive: 17 city / 25 highway mpg

M5: 15 city / 21 highway mpg

M5 CS: 15 city / 21 highway mpg

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Interior and tech

For 2022, BMW axed a couple of built-in tech features for the Series 5, such as a built-in WiFi hotspot, remote start, and wireless smartphone change. That said, the interior maintains a luxurious and spacious feel with resplendent tech features.

Part of the benefit of opting for a midsized car over a compact is the added trunk space for whatever it is you need to bring with you. The BMW Series 5 can sit six carry-on suitcases in its trunk, which is right on par with other vehicles in its class.

Be aware that the 530e plug-in hybrid has four fewer cubic feet of storage space in order to accommodate the battery—but has rear folding seats, a rare feat for a hybrid. However, that’s about as impressive as it gets storage space.

If you’re looking for a car with ample cabin storage (think storage cubbies, side pockets, etc.), the BMW Series 5 will leave you disappointed.

But you will find a comfy seat, no matter where you sit. Although the driver’s seat with a 16-way adjustable seat (with an optional massaging seat, to take your road trip to the next level) is clearly the best spot in the house, there’s still plenty of head and legroom in the rear seats for passengers to sit comfortably.

Every vehicle in the BMW Series 5 line comes standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that you can control with the rotary knob; via touchscreen; or, if you opt for the wizard-like Gesture Control package (which will run you about $1,300), you’ll be able to control the screen with just a swipe of your hand. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sirius XM radio, Bluetooth, and USB ports all come standard.

There’s no denying that the interior of the BMW Series 5 is nice….but it’s not quite as nice as those of its competitors. Leather seats, for example, only come standard on the M550i xDrive. The A6 and the Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 both have somewhat swankier interiors made with higher-quality materials.

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Safety and reliability

The BMW Series 5 earns top marks for from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):

Moderate Overlap Front Test: Good

Side Impact Test: Good

Rear Crash Protection: Good

Roof Strength Test: Good

Small Overlap Front Driver Test: Good

Small Overlap Front Passenger Test: Good

Headlights: Good

In fact, this stellar report card earned the Series 5 the designation of IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2022, the organization’s highest ranking. And with the following safety features standard in the vehicle, it’s no wonder it earns such high marks:

Rearview camera

Front and rear parking sensors

Forward collision warning

Pedestrian detection

Forward automatic emergency braking

Lane departure warning

Blind spot monitoring

Rear cross traffic alert

Road sign recognition

Driver drowsiness monitoring

Adaptive pivoting headlights

Automatic high-beam headlights

If those weren’t enough for you, you can add heads-up display, lane keep assist, hands-free parking assist, adaptive cruise control, surround-view park assist, and a front-facing camera with one of BMW’s add-on packages.

While safety scores are top-notch for the BMW Series 5, it falls somewhat short in terms of reliability. J.D. Power awarded the Series 5 an 80 out of 100 for reliability.

MORE: Are BMWs expensive to maintain?

Trim levels

There are a grand total of nine vehicles in the Series 5 lineup: 530i, 530e, 530i xDrive, 530e xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, and M5 CS. The main difference between each of these is the engine under the hood, except for the M5 and M5 CS. The latter two have more racing-inspired features.

The M5, for example, has a carbon-fiber roof and M-compound ceramic brakes. The M5 CS offers a more rigid suspension, larger 20-inch wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, and bucket-style front seats. If you want a sedan that feels more like a race car, you should stick with the M5 or M5 CS trims.

The other trims may not feel as jazzy as the M5 or M5 CS, but they still straddle the line between spacious (yet luxurious) sedan and fun-to-drive car. There’s no getting around the fact that any car in the BMW Series 5 will cost you a pretty penny, but if you’re in the market for a high-end but sensible vehicle, the Series 5 is an attractive option.

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Competitors

Finally, we’ve mentioned some of the Series 5’s competitors a couple of times throughout this article—but how do they all compare? The table below can help you get an idea of what each vehicle has to offer:

Model	MSRP Range	Base powertrain	Fuel economy	Safety ratings	Reliability ratings
2022 Audi A6	$55,900 to $59,800	335-hp 3.0-liter V6 mild hybrid engine w/7-speed automated manual transmission and standard all-wheel drive	21 city/30 highway mpg	5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS)	71/100 (J.D. Power), 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal)
2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class	$54,950 to $73,950	255-hp 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine w/9-speed shiftable automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive	23 city/31 highway mpg	5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS)	77/100 (J.D. Power), 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal)
2022 Genesis G80	$37,775 to $52,750	252-hp 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine w/8-speed shiftable automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive	20 city/28 highway mpg	Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS)	80/100 (J.D. Power)

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