Used 2019 BMW 5 Series

To describe the 2019 BMW 5 Series merely as a premium-midsize sedan is to downplay the fact that this is one of the finest cars in the world. That sounds like crazy exaggeration, but consider the data. It’s spacious enough for most people’s needs, comes with plenty of luxury items and high-tech features (including a parking function using the key fob for remote control), the drivetrains are superb, and the ride quality/handling balance is close to perfect. We’re now a couple of years into its seventh generation and this freshness puts it on a par with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, while having a distinct edge over the Lexus GS and Audi A6 (a new generation of which debuts for 2019). Speaking of superb drivetrains, the high-performance 2019 BMW M5 is reviewed separately.

After years of 5 Series cars appealing to enthusiasts, the previous generation received some criticism for being too luxurious. The new 5 Series moves the meter a little back toward the athletic, but without sacrificing smoothness. A driver could spend a leisurely day in comfort and serenity. Push it harder, though, and a deep well of ability gradually reveals itself. Selectable driving modes help in this regard; Sport is a good starting point. The 530i’s turbocharged 4-cylinder does a respectable job at the entry level, the plug-in hybrid version has its own virtues, the 540i is muscular, and the M550i xDrive is phenomenally quick.

This 2019 BMW 5 Series has an elegant dashboard design, covered either in simulated leather (SensaTec) or the real stuff. Switches and buttons are laid out sensibly, and the infotainment system (whose rotary control also has a touch-based operation; gesture control is optional) deploys a 10.25-inch screen. The jet-fighter transmission lever looks cool but can be awkward initially. There’s plenty of space to accommodate rear passengers. And the trunk is large: 18.7 cubic feet, easily enough for four golf bags.

All the usual BMW design cues are here, like the double-kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink in the rear side windows. In common with the larger 7 Series, the new 5 Series has a “hockey-stick” feature along the lower flanks. As a whole, the various shapes and lines work to emphasize the car’s width and length rather than its height. The BMW faithful will be happy, but the styling may not attract any new converts.

INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
Every 2019 5 Series, even the 530e plug-in hybrid, is available with traction-enhancing all-wheel drive (AWD). BMW calls it xDrive. This marque is famed for its rear-drive (RWD) handling qualities and so distributes power 40/60 front to back. But all the power can go to either axle if necessary. Helping to make these split-second actions are sensors for lateral movement and steering angle.

REMOTE CONTROL PARKING
What might once have seemed like something from The Jetsons is now real. The 540i and M550i models allow their driver to get out and then maneuver the car into (and out of) tight parking spaces using buttons on the key fob.

The 2019 BMW 5 Series range starts off with the 530i. It has the lowest power output, but everything else is suitably lush for a car costing in excess of $50,000. As well as 18-inch alloy wheels and a moonroof, there are navigation with real-time traffic updates, 16-way power-adjustable front seats (with memory settings on the driver’s side), power-adjustable steering column, drive-mode selection, LED headlights, rearview camera, parking sensors, Apple CarPlay (previously an option), and advanced driver aids (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping alerts).

Extras run the gamut from sensible to indulgent; all are tempting. A buyer may choose 20-way-adjustable front seats with heating/cooling/massaging functions, all-wheel drive, and a Bowers & Wilkins 1,400-watt/16-speaker setup, which is one of the absolute best automotive audio systems. An Executive package includes soft-closing doors and a powered rear sunshade; adaptive cruise control, side-collision avoidance and Traffic Jam Assist (partial self-driving) are in the Driver Assistance Plus bundle; a Dynamic Handling package brings an adaptive suspension, bigger brakes and rear-wheel steering.

The 2019 5 Series offers a variety of propulsion setups. The 530i has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 248 horsepower. The 530e is a plug-in hybrid whose turbo-4 is augmented by an electric motor, for the same horsepower as the 530i, but slightly more torque. The 530e’s battery can be replenished in less than three hours using a 240-volt charger and has an electric-only range of 16 miles. The 540i is typical BMW territory — an inline-6 developing 335 horsepower. If the super-heated M5 is too much, there’s the 456-horsepower M550i that comes with all-wheel drive as standard. Each engine has an auto stop/start, but this function can be disabled. Every version employs an 8-speed automatic transmission.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (530i)
248 horsepower @ 5,200-6,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/34 mpg (RWD), 23/33 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 + AC synchronous electric motor (530e plug-in hybrid)
248 horsepower (combined)
310 lb-ft or torque (combined)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29 mpg (combined, RWD), 28 mpg (combined, AWD), 72 MPGe (RWD), 67 MPGe (AWD)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (540i)
335 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 1,380-5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg (RWD), 21/29 mpg (AWD)

4.4-liter turbocharged V8 (M550i xDrive)
456 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
480 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 mpg