2021 BMW 5 Series Review

Name: 2021 BMW 5 Series Review
Brand: BMW

Price Range: $22,400 - $52,943

BMW 5 Series 530e Sedan Exterior. M Sport Package Shown.

+469

The 2021 BMW 5 Series lives up to the expectations set by its forebears. There's an engine for nearly every taste, and the car's handling capabilities are fundamentally sound. Factor in the 5 Series' top-shelf tech and safety features and you've got a prime pick for a midsize luxury sedan.

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2021 BMW 5 Series Review

by the Edmunds Experts

3/20/2021

What's new

Updated grille design
Larger touchscreen and improved voice controls
540i gains 48-volt mild hybrid system
More power for the 530e plug-in hybrid
Part of the seventh 5 Series generation introduced for 2017

What is the 5 Series?

The 2021 BMW 5 Series is the latest version of BMW's venerable midsize luxury sedan. The 5 Series was last fully redesigned in 2017, and this year's model introduces a number of interesting twists and tweaks to improve upon a winning formula. While the current 5 Series is notable for its range of quick, efficient engines and comfortable ride, its styling didn't exactly jump off the page. For 2021, the front grille, headlights, taillights and tailpipe finishers are redesigned to give BMW's popular sedan a little extra flair.

What's under the 5 Series' hood?

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offers buyers the choice between four powertrains. The 248-horsepower four-cylinder engine in the 530i and 530i xDrive and the 523-horsepower eight-cylinder in the M550i xDrive carry the same power ratings as last year. The 530e and 530e xDrive plug-in hybrids now feature a new XtraBoost system that can temporarily increase maximum muscle from 248 horsepower to 288 hp in the Sport driving and transmission modes.

However, the 540i and the 540i xDrive, previously using a conventional six-cylinder engine, add a 48-volt mild hybrid starter-generator for 2021. This setup is gaining traction among luxury automakers and essentially incorporates hybrid technology into a non-hybrid vehicle. For the 540i, this means regenerative brakes store energy harvested from the braking process in a separate battery. This energy can be used to supply the 12-volt electrical system that powers the windows, locks and other functions. It can also be used to assist the engine, providing up to an additional 11 horsepower when needed. BMW says this makes the 540i more efficient while providing quicker responsiveness when asked.

How's the 5 Series' interior?

Inside, the 2021 5 Series is largely unchanged from the previous model year, carrying over the spacious and statesman-like cabin we rated highly in our testing. However, there are a few updates. The sedan's central touchscreen is bumped up from 10.25 inches to 12.3 inches and features improved navigation maps. The standard Sensatec imitation leather upholstery is also perforated this year, so look for seat ventilation to pop up on the options list with this upholstery.

How's the 5 Series' tech?

As with the 2020 model, the 2021 5 Series comes with an impressive number of safety features such as lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, front collision warning with brake assist, and others. A handful of additional driving aids are available in the Driving Assistance Plus package, and we've enjoyed the smooth operation of its adaptive cruise control in the past.

The Live Cockpit Professional system, released on last year's 5 Series, ties together the digital instrument panel and central touchscreen. For 2021, it adds a few new functions, including displaying information about surrounding vehicles and motorists on the information screen in front of the driver. The voice activation system is upgraded to its newest generation, and the Drive Recorder makes its 5 Series debut. This optional system can save recorded video footage taken by exterior cameras to be watched on the central screen or exported to a USB drive later.

Edmunds says

Electrification keeps creeping further into the BMW lineup, and we don't expect it to stop with the 5 Series. The mild hybrid system in the 540i and 540i xDrive should make this transition a smooth one. However, we wonder if buyers will notice the almost-too-subtle design updates. If not, the 5 Series risks fading further into the background against its German rivals and the plucky Genesis.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in New Jersey.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in New Jersey

$165/mo

$190/mo

Avg. Large Car

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#14 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the BMW 5 Series from 2008-2022.}

$761/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.48x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

15.8%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

BMW 5 Series Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.7

26 reviews

5(81%)

4(15%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(4%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Amazing Quality and Powertrain

Jeff, 03/23/2021

2021 BMW 5 Series 540i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

Definitely not a sporty car. If you want that, get a 3-series. That's not to say you can't have fun it it, it has a lot of power and has a great engine. But it is first and foremost a luxury cruiser geared towards comfort. If that is what you are looking for, this is the best in the business.

A Civilized Beast

ZA, 12/21/2019

2020 BMW 5 Series M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

Just picked the 2020 M550 version with the improved HP and The idrive 7. Custom spec with almost all options included. As an prior owner of multiple other luxury cars and SUVs, this one is the best combination of speed, luxury and technology at around 85k-95k MSRP point. The car has multiple personalities depending on which driving mode you engage in. Driving in adaptive mode has been my …

Update 48k miles

MV Venetia,PA, 01/07/2024

2021 BMW 5 Series 530i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Fun to drive and good gas mileage but brake pads do not last. Recommend ultimate care to cover the cost. Replaced pads at 11400 (both), 25093 (both), & 38393 (front) miles. 3rd set of tires at 47k miles

Excellent daily driver

Moosedoc, 01/07/2021

2020 BMW 5 Series M550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)

Incredibly comfortable upscale daily driver with an abundance of power. The V8 engine with 523 horsepower rockets this large sedan to 60mph in just 3.6 seconds with performance that nips at the heels of the M5. BMW’s infotainment is amongst the best in the industry.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 BMW 5 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the 5 Series since its last redesign.

See all 26 reviews of the BMW 5 Series

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2021 5 Series Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

530i

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$54,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 5 Series models:

Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection: Uses infrared technology to see and alert you of things such as people and animals in the road before they become visible to the naked eye.
Active Blind-Spot Detection: Alerts you of vehicles in the adjacent lanes using radar sensors and indicates if it's safe to change lanes.
City Collision Mitigation: Automatically brakes the car at speeds under 38 mph when it detects an imminent collision and the driver has taken no action.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 BMW 5 Series Review

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