2023 BMW 5 Series Review

The 2023 BMW 5 Series is a comfortable and, depending on the trim, exceedingly quick midsize luxury sedan with some great driver aids and tech features. We expect a totally redesigned 5 Series will go on sale next year, so this year's model is mostly the same as last year's, barring a few small but (to some people) potentially significant changes. The good news is that wireless phone charging is back as an option after being dropped for 2022 due to supply-chain issues.

On to the bad news. We usually don't call out seemingly minor package availability changes, but it's worth noting that the Parking Assistance package is no longer available on the 530i, 530e or 540i — likely another victim of the supply chain. That means no automatic parking, and no automatic low-speed braking while parking manually. But it also means no built-in dash-cam functionality (BMW's Drive Recorder), and it means no 3D surround-view camera system. We love that system. In our initial rating back in 2017, we called the 3D view "the most impressive feature of the 5 Series."

The 530i, 530e and 540i still get a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors as standard equipment. But if you want a forward-facing camera view and the features it enables, you have to jump to the performance-focused M550i trim.

That may not seem like much, but even a small change can make a difference when you're spoiled for choice. The midsize luxury sedan segment is packed with awesome choices: There's the luxury masterclass that is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the fun and tech-forward Audi A6, the expansive and impeccably designed Volvo S90, and more. Even though there's plenty to like about the 2023 BMW 5 Series, it's gotten a bit lost in a segment the 5 Series used to define. Check out our test team's Expert Rating for all the details.

What's it like to live with?

We drove a 2018 BMW 540i xDrive for almost 20,000 comfortable miles. It quickly became a road-trip favorite, but we still found one or two things to complain about. BMW has updated the 5 Series since, but the 2023 car is of the same generation so many of our observations still apply. Head over to our BMW 540i long-term road test wrap-up to read more.

The 2023 BMW 5 Series' trim levels each represent an engine choice, and four options are available. There's the base 530i, the more powerful 540i and the plug-in hybrid 530e, all of which are available with all-wheel drive, which BMW calls xDrive. The hottest trim in the regular 5 Series' lineup is the AWD-only M550i xDrive. The hotter-than-hot BMW M5 is reviewed separately on Edmunds. Your trim choice mostly impacts your powertrain, with all the rest of the 5 Series' features offered in option packages or as stand-alone options. Highlights include: