2020 BMW 5 Series

The 2020 5-Series comes in 4 trims and they are properly divided feature-wise. The base trim 530i comes well equipped with luxury features like automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, LED adaptive headlights, iDrive interface with a 10.2-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system, and a smartphone integration. The trim is only available with an inline-4 engine, which helps keep the price down. The Plug-in hybrid variant has the same features as the base trim and that hybrid motor setup. It will be reviewed separately.

540i is the trim where the 5-Series starts showing its mechanical prowess with the standard Turbo inline-6 engine and the rest of the features again remain the same except for the genuine leather upholstery upgrade. The top trim M550i only gets performance upgrades while the cabin stays the same. A 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 engine comes as standard along with Adaptive M Sport suspension, M sport brakes, 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, Hands-free trunk lid, and upgraded front seats with M sport steering wheel. Looking at this diversification BMW has kept the standard features list to a minimum and the numerous optional packages help customize the car.

Trim	530i	540i
MSRP (RWD)	$53,900	$59,450
MSRP (AWD)	$56,200	$61,750
Key Features	Adaptive LED headlights	In addition to or upgrades to the 530i trim features:
	Dual-zone automatic climate control	Turbocharged 6-cylinder engine
	Synthetic leather upholstery	Premium leather upholstery
	Sunroof	Adaptive LED headlights
	10.25 infotainment screen with 12-speaker sound system
	Apple CarPlay, Navigation
	Adaptive cruise control

Optional Packages

• M Sport Package ($4700) – Aerodynamic body kit, M Sport suspension, leather upholstery with heated front seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, faux leather for the dashboard and door panels, summer tires.
• Executive Package ($3500) – Power rear sunblinds, power door closers, hands-free trunk lid, wireless charging, gesture control infotainment system.
• Dynamic Handling ($1800) – Adaptive suspension, damper control, M sport brakes, 4-wheel steering.
• Luxury Seating ($1500) – Ventilated and massage front seats.
• Driver assistance ($1600) – Active Lane control, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, lane departure warning, traffic jam assist

Which trim should you buy?

Getting the base trim 530i should be the best decision both economy and value-wise. The standard features list gets us the bare minimums and the optional packages complete the cabin. Some might feel like the 2.0L turbo 4 pot is underpowered but the moment you opt for the Inline-6, your finances start crumbling down as you are going to lose fuel economy as well.

The BMW 5-Series offers an array of performance engines, including monstrous V8s for performance and the modest 2.0L engine for maximum fuel efficiency. The base engine returns the best-in-class mileage of 25 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highways. 

The turbo Inline-6 engine returns a respectable 22/30/25 MPG in the city/highway/combined driving cycles respectively. The Twin-Turbo V8 sees a further drop of 4 MPG in every category as expected. Overall, we are quite happy with the kind of economy the 2020 5-Series offers, and with a decently sized fuel tank of 18 gallons, it also gets a nice 504 miles of combined range with the base engine.

Models	2020 BMW 530i	2020 Audi A6 45 TFSI	2020 Mercedes-Benz E350	2020 Jaguar XF 25t
MPG (City)	25	24	23	25
MPG (Highway)	33	32	32	34
MPG (Combined)	28	27	26	28
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	18	19.3	17.4	19.5
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)	450/594/504	463.2/617.6/521.1	400.2/556.8/452.4	487.5/663/546

The 2020 Jaguar XF delivers almost similar fuel economy compared to the 5-Series and it even does better on the highway. The Jaguar gets the biggest fuel tank of 19.5 gallons making it a great option for long road trips. Mercedes and Audi both have similar and lowest economy numbers but the Benz also lacks fuel storage. While others can do 600 miles or so on a full tank, the Merc can deliver only 550 miles.

You are all pretty familiar with the BMW interiors and how understated they become the more money you pay. Well, it’s more about substance than just bling-bling style. Everywhere you look in the cabin of the 2020 BMW 5-Series, you'll find soft-touch materials. The standard car has synthetic leather used inside the cabin but that can be easily replaced with a genuine hide for a reasonable price. The technology inside the 5-Series might not blow your mind but it’s the BMW style of interior. 

Getting into the perfect driving position is a breeze with the optional 20-way power-adjustable seats; the standard car gets 16-way power-adjustable seats and that’s already mind-boggling. With such flexibility, there is zero chance that you are not comfy in these. It’s a luxury midsize sedan and so the legroom and headroom on both the passenger rows are plenty. The second-row legroom might see a pinch if the front row passenger adjusts the seats way back but that’s just nitpicking. The heating and ventilation functions on the seats along with ambient lighting make this cabin the best possible space to be in on the roads.

Models	2020 BMW 530i	2020 Audi A6 45 TFSI	2020 Mercedes-Benz E350	2020 Jaguar XF 25t
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.8/58.7/41.4	38/57.8/41.3	37.9/57.8/41.3	37.1/56.9/41.5
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.5/55.9/36.5	38.1/56.5/37.4	38.2/56.9/35.8	37.6/56.4/36.6
Cargo Capacity (cu ft)	18.7	13.7	13.1	17.8

The cabins of all cars today are equally luxurious and while most of them offer a very subtle classy experience the Merc has a bold way of presenting luxury. With those jet engine-styled A/C vents and a flowy dashboard, the E-Class is certainly ahead in the style game. BMW has the most understated cabin and can easily fool a non-car guy but the material choice is what matters in these cars the most. 

The cargo-carrying capacity of the 5-Series is great but the wheel housings interfere with the cargo space. The seats as usual can be folded 40/20/40 split to increase cargo space. The Jaguar XF as well offers a decent amount of trunk but the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class despite being of similar length, offer a tiny trunk. Standout interior features in the 2020 BMW 5 Series are:

• Ambient carpet lighting 
• Nappa leather upholstery
• 20-way power-adjustable seats with heating & ventilation function
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Massaging front seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 530i trim comes with a 10.25-inch touch screen and also a touchpad controller to navigate through menus and a 12-speaker sound system. On the higher trims, the sound system gets an upgrade with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon unit. The system can also be operated via gestures which is an optional extra. 

Like most other luxury cars, the 5-Series lacks full support of smartphone integration, it only gets Apple CarPlay. The 12-speaker setup is more than enough for average music needs and the overall infotainment system is intuitive to use. Optional features include wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a rear-seat entertainment system, Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and a head-up display. Standout infotainment features are:

• 10.25-inch touch screen
• 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system
• Wireless device charging
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Rear-seat entertainment system
• Bowers & Wilkins audio system
• Head-up display

The 2020 BMW 5-Series has carried over its design because there was no requirement for a design overhaul. The current car looks perfectly fine with a balance of aggression and executive looks. The front end of the car looks great with that chrome-lined grille and signature hexagonal LED headlights. 

The side profile is especially aggressive with a distinct beltline and that hockey-stick-shaped contour along with the side skirts. The wraparound LED taillights and chrome-plated exhaust tip look sporty and elegant enough. Overall the 2020 5-Series still retains that angry monster-type front end we are so fond of.

Models	2020 BMW 530i	2020 Audi A6 45 TFSI	2020 Mercedes-Benz E350	2020 Jaguar XF 25t
Curb Weight (lbs)	3746	4101	3792	3590
Length (inches)	194.6	194.4	193.8	195
Width (inches)	73.5	74.3	72.9	78.2
Height (inches)	58.2	57.4	57.8	57.4
Ground Clearance (inches)	6.2	4.2	3.8	4.1
Wheelbase (inches)	117.1	115.1	115.7	116.5

2020 BMW 5-Series is the tallest among its rivals giving it ample headroom for the second row. The car even gets the best ground clearance as well making it a better choice to tackle some tricky situations if need be. The Jaguar XF is a long and wide luxury sedan that lets it have a better roomier cabin compared to others. Standout exterior features are:

• Adaptive LED headlights
• Chrome-plated exhaust tip
• Soft closing doors
• Power-folding, heated mirrors
• Sunroof

German automakers have prioritized safety, be it BMW or Audi and the 2020 5-Series has put in some solid effort with regards to structural strength. The chassis of the 5-series is derived from the 7Sseries and is made of aluminum alloy for lightweight construction. Even though the NHTSA hasn’t crashed the luxury sedan the IIHS has and it received the Top Safety Pick+ award. The car gets a Good rating for each and every crash category along with the headlights and optional crash prevention system. The active features list as well is pretty satisfactory on the 5-Series, let’s take a look. Standout safety features are:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• 360-degree parking camera (Optional)

2020 BMW 5-Series vs 2020 Audi A6

If interior quality and the overall theme are to be compared then both cars are almost on the same page. Audi does have an edge with a virtual cockpit system and multiple displays for the infotainment unit; the rest of the cabin is very understated in both cars. The A6 is more fun to drive compared to the 5-Series thanks to the standard Quattro system but that’s about it in the advantages section. The fuel economy and price differences are not huge that can affect your purchase decision. So, both cars are equally luxurious and safe.

2020 BMW 5-Series vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Just like the 5-series, the E-Class as well is designed to let us have the best of both worlds. The E-Class isn’t a true performance car and it isn’t the S-class yet it manages to have a little of both in the E350. The outright acceleration and overall performance on the Mercedes are better than the BMW but the much difference will surely go unnoticed. Summing it up, it now comes down to brand loyalty and the design language, see which one suits your personality better.

2020 BMW 5-Series vs 2020 Jaguar XF

The Jaguar XF is a great luxury sedan with a spacious interior and cargo along with potent engines. But it lacks the interior finesse of its German counterparts. The ride quality of the XF is not that great on bad roads and the engine options as well, lack variety. The only major advantage this car has over its rivals is the interior space and cargo capacity.

The BMW 5 Series is a perfect blend of performance and luxury that can suit your daily life as well as will let you have some fun on track if you want to. Even with the base engine, the car doesn’t feel slow and the cabin is previously appointed with the highest quality materials for this class. The only car to consider if you really want to have another option, then would be the Audi A6 for its dynamic handling and multiple displays inside the cabin. With the $53900 base price, it isn’t ridiculously expensive and provides everything a buyer would want from a luxury sedan without spending a life's worth of savings.