2019 BMW 5-Series

Is the BMW 5 Series a Good Car?

The 5 Series is a great sedan. It’s one of the nimblest vehicles in the luxury midsize car class, thanks to its sharp steering and available adaptive suspension. That agility is aided by a range of energetic powertrains. It does all of this without sacrificing comfort, as the BMW delivers a cushy ride. Inside, it has a spacious cabin full of premium materials. Its cargo hold is one of the largest in the class, and the 5 Series has a lengthy list of standard features too.

Because the 5 Series has the best combination of cargo and passenger space, safety and reliability ratings, positive reviews from automotive journalists, and available family-friendly features in its class, we named it our 2019 Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families.

Should I Buy the BMW 5 Series?

The 5 Series is one of the best cars in its class. The trade-off is that it’s also one of the priciest. You should compare the 5 Series to rivals like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class to see which one you think provides the most bang for your buck.

Compare the 5 Series, A6, and E-Class »

Should I Buy a New or Used BMW 5 Series?

The 2019 5 Series belongs to a generation that began with the 2017 model. The 2019 BMW 5 Series gets an updated standard features list that includes Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, daytime pedestrian protection, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The 2018 model introduced the 530e plug-in hybrid and the M performance trims to the 5 Series lineup.

You can potentially save thousands of dollars by shopping for a used 5 Series, but older vehicles may not have all the bells and whistles of a newer model. If you are interested in a used car, check out our reviews of the 2018 and 2017 BMW 5 Series. Also browse our Used Car Deals page to learn about the savings and discounts you can find on used vehicles.

Compare the 2017, 2018, and 2019 5 Series »

We Did the Research for You: 22 Reviews Analyzed

We don’t base our car reviews on our personal opinions. Instead, we combine the findings of professional test drivers with data such as reliability ratings and safety scores to give you a complete overview of every vehicle we rank.

This review uses applicable research and data from all model years of the current 5 Series generation, which runs from 2017 to 2019.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years’ worth of auto industry experience combined. To keep our reviews unbiased, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside company manages our advertising.

How Much Does the BMW 5 Series Cost?

The 5 Series' $53,400 base price is one of the highest in the class. That trend continues through the BMW’s trim options, with the range-topping M5 Competition starting at $110,000. That's considerably higher than most rivals' top trim prices.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local BMW dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our BMW deals page.

BMW 5 Series Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: BMW 5 Series or Audi A6?

The Audi A6 doesn’t quite match the 5 Series for engine variety, but it has four- and six-cylinder options, both of which are peppy enough for most driving situations. The four-cylinder notably returns good fuel economy estimates. The Audi handles with composure, though it doesn’t quite match the BMW for athleticism. The 5 Series also takes the edge in standard features, trunk space, and predicted reliability. It’s the better pick.

Which Is Better: BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class closely matches the 5 Series in most areas, including price. Both vehicles have beautiful cabins, long features lists, and multiple powertrain options, including high-performance models that top out above 600 horsepower. The BMW takes the edge in fuel efficiency and predicted reliability. It has a larger trunk than the E-Class sedan too, though it is only offered in one body style. On the other hand, the E-Class is available in coupe, sedan, wagon, and convertible body styles. Overall, this is another matchup of excellent cars, and you can't go wrong with either choice.

Compare the 5 Series, A6, and E-Class »

5 Series Interior

How Many People Does the 5 Series Seat?

This BMW seats five people. The front seats make it easy to find a comfortable driving position, and the available seating upgrades take the comfort level to impressive heights. The rear seats are good in their own right and provide enough head- and legroom to accommodate adults.

5 Series and Car Seats

The 5 Series provides two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors. The system earns the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's second-highest rating of Acceptable for ease of use.

5 Series Interior Quality

The 5 Series looks great inside, and the cabin teems with soft-touch materials. Simply put, this BMW features the kind of interior you expect and want when you buy a luxury vehicle.

5 Series Cargo Space

Few class rivals can match the 5 Series for trunk space. This BMW's trunk measures nearly 19 cubic feet, giving you enough space to easily fit four sets of golf clubs or the family's vacation luggage.

5 Series Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, a moonroof, and BMW's iDrive infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touch screen, a touchpad controller, Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, 12 speakers, and navigation.

Available features include a rear-seat entertainment system, wireless device charging, and an upgraded infotainment system with two different 16-speaker audio systems (by Bowers & Wilkins or Harman Kardon), satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The iDrive system comes with connectivity options like Apple CarPlay, but it doesn't offer Android Auto, which you can get in some competitors. Overall, the iDrive system makes life easy on the driver. It has an easy-to-use interface and multiple control options including a touch screen, physical buttons, a touchpad controller, and more.

Read more about interior »

5 Series Performance

5 Series Engine: A Power Plant for Every Trim

You have a total of six engine options with the 5 Series, ranging from the 248-horsepower turbo-four powering the base trim to the 617-horsepower twin-turbo V8 found in the M5 Competition. There's even a 248-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain.

No matter which engine you choose, you'll get ample power for driving around town or on the highway, along with solid acceleration off the line. As you might guess, however, the high-performance trims deliver a lot more pickup than the lower trims.

5 Series Gas Mileage: Pretty Good Numbers

Fuel economy varies considerably depending on which trim you select. The base trim gets better gas mileage than many other luxury midsize sedans, earning 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The plug-in-hybrid trim is the most efficient in the lineup, however, earning 72 MPGe under electric power and 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving under gasoline power. For more on MPGe ratings, check out What Is MPGe?

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, driving the 5 Series will save you over $100 per year in fuel costs.

5 Series Ride and Handling: Serene yet Sporty

The 5 Series is agile enough to handle winding roads without issue, particularly if you put it in Sport mode. But this BMW also makes a fine cruising vehicle because of its cushioned ride, which keeps you comfortable even on long trips.

Read more about performance »

5 Series Reliability

Is the BMW 5 Series Reliable?

The 2019 5 Series earns a predicted reliability rating of 4.5 out of five from J.D. Power. That's an excellent rating, and it's one of the best in the class.

BMW 5 Series Warranty

BMW covers the 5 Series with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. Hybrid models also feature an 8-year/80,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty.

Read more about reliability »

5 Series Safety

5 Series Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2019 5 Series a Top Safety Pick+, which is the organization's highest honor. It received the highest rating of Good in six crash tests, as well as a top rating of Superior for front crash prevention. The headlights in models with the Lighting package earned a Good rating for outward visibility, and those without that package received the second-lowest rating of Marginal.

5 Series Safety Features

Standard active safety features include adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, daytime pedestrian protection, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and the Active Protection System, which readies the car if it senses an impending collision.

Available features include a surround-view parking camera, a night vision camera with pedestrian detection, and a head-up display.

Read more about safety »

5 Series Dimensions and Weight

The 5 Series measures about 16.1 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,750 to 4,390 pounds.

Where is the 2019 BMW 5 Series Built?

BMW builds the 2019 5 Series in Germany.

Which BMW 5 Series Model Is Right for Me?

You have plenty of choices when choosing a 5 Series. There are six trims, including a couple of performance-oriented options. The highest trim's starting price is more than double the base trim's, so you'll want to figure out your budget before you head to a dealer.

Even the base trim comes with a nice array of features, so it may suit many buyers just fine. Or, if you're looking for a more thrilling driving experience, you can step up to the 540i, which has an engine with 87 more horsepower than the base trim's power plant. The higher trims certainly deliver the best performance, but they also carry drastic price increases and probably aren't worth it for most buyers.

BMW 530i

The 530i carries a base price of $53,400. It comes with a 248-horsepower four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a moonroof, and the iDrive infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touch screen, navigation, 12 speakers, and Apple CarPlay.

Even though it's the base trim, the 530i still comes with plenty of driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot monitoring.

You can add BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system for $2,300.

BMW 530e iPerformance

The 530e iPerformance ($53,400) is this sedan's plug-in hybrid trim. It shares the 530i’s standard features, but its powertrain pairs a four-cylinder engine and a single electric motor for a combined 248 horsepower. Add an extra $2,300 for the all-wheel-drive system.

BMW 540i

The 540i costs $58,950 and comes with a 335-horsepower six-cylinder engine. Its list of standard features closely mirrors those of the previous trims, but with the addition of leather upholstery. As with the lower trims, you can add all-wheel drive for $2,300.

BMW M550i xDrive

The M550i starts at $74,450 and comes with a twin-turbo 456-horsepower V8 and all-wheel drive. Other standard features include an adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes, parking sensors, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and a power trunk lid.

BMW M5

The high-performance BMW M5 starts at $102,700, or $110,000 for the M5 Competition. It features a V8 that puts out 600 horsepower (617 horsepower in the M5 Competition) and all-wheel drive. Other standard features include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local BMW dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our BMW deals page.

See 2019 BMW 5 Series specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2019 BMW 5 Series provides all-around quality – great performance and a premium interior – while having few major weaknesses. That’s why it ranks near the top of our luxury midsize car rankings, and it deserves a look when you're out shopping for your next car.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "The 2019 BMW 5 Series more than holds its own in a class of extraordinarily gifted performers. The premium midsize sedan scene is rich with style, technology, driving abilities and luxury appointments. Where the 5 Series and its main rivals excel is in achieving a sweet spot of so many well-balanced elements." -- Autotrader
• "With new engine choices for 2018, the BMW 5 Series should be even more enticing if you're shopping for a midsize luxury sedan. Whether it's the latest in technology and safety or just a comfortable and luxurious interior you're after, the perennially popular 5 Series is sure to satisfy." -- Edmunds (2018)
• "The BMW 5 Series midsize-luxury sedan entered its seventh generation just last year as an all-new model, boasting evolved driving manners, premium accouterments and the stately style that have made it the automotive prize of executives for decades. In addition to the sporty dynamics and sense of engagement that have long given the 5 Series a performance edge over rivals, … the latest 5 Series is brimming with technology that can do everything from self-parking to collision avoidance." -- Kelley Blue Book (2018)