Used 2020 BMW 5 Series Sedan Trims Comparison

The 540i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (335 hp, 331 lb-ft). At the top of the range is the M550i with its turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft). BMW's all-wheel drive, called xDrive, is an option on the 530i, the 530e and the 540i. It's standard on the M550i. An eight-speed automatic is standard across the board.

The sportier M5 is reviewed separately.

The base 530i and the 530e come pretty nicely equipped from the start with features such as LED adaptive headlights, power-folding and heated mirrors, and a sunroof. You also get the iDrive interface with a 10.2-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system and phone integration. Standard advanced safety features include forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 540i is equipped very similarly to the previous two trims but has standard leather upholstery.

It's a significant price jump to the performance-focused M550i xDrive, which includes everything above plus performance upgrades to the wheels and tires, brakes, suspension and differential, along with upgraded front seats and an M Sport steering wheel.

From there, assorted packages and stand-alone options make up the rest of your choices. Be on the lookout for the Convenience, Premium and Executive packages to get some useful feature upgrades. We also recommend the Driving Assistance Plus package to get more advanced safety features. Are you looking for enhanced performance? The Dynamic Handling package includes an adaptive suspension and active roll stabilization.