Summary
The BMW 5 Series is a large executive car, available in either saloon or estate (called Touring) body styles. This eighth-generation model was launched at the end of 2023 and is available with either a petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Arriving alongside the all-electric i5 saloon and estate, the new BMW 5 Series currently the joint highest-ranked BMW in our Expert Rating Index, and reviews suggest that the range is a hit with the British motoring media.
Carwow’s Darren Cassey comments that the 5 Series stacks up well against its key rivals, explaining that the car is “a fraction better overall than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6.” The BMW has been commended for its class-leading user-friendly tech and its agile driving dynamics, but like its electric i5 counterpart, reviewers take issue with the car’s rather high price tag and expensive options list.
As of October 2024, the BMW 5 Series holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 81%. Thus score is helped by the car’s excellent safety rating, and hindered by its higher-than-average running costs.
5 Series highlights
- Refined and tech-laden interior
- Agile handling
- Class-leading infotainment
5 Series lowlights
- Rather high price tag with an expensive options list
- The i5 is cheaper to run
- Polarising exterior looks
Key specifications
Body style: Large saloon and estate
Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £51,915 on-road
Launched: Winter 2023/24
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest BMW 5 Series is a staggeringly capable all-rounder. Comfortable, great to drive, and wonderfully luxurious inside, there are very few flaws to find anywhere.”
Author: Alex Ingram
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“New 5 Series mixes stunning performance with remarkable efficiency. Rides and handles well, too.”
Author: Mark Tisshaw
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Model reviewed: 5 Series PHEV
Score: 10 / 10
“If you’re in the market for an executive saloon, you can’t do better than this. The new 5 Series might be larger and heavier than the car it replaced but, thanks to some clever engineering, it’s even more comfortable while offering a similarly engaging driving experience.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“Not only is it good to drive, it’s comfortable and boasts a beautiful interior that feels ergonomic, well-built and makes use of intuitive technology. There’s loads of interior space and no tradeoff in boot space if you go for the plug-in hybrid over the petrol model, but beware that this impressive car comes at a steep price.”
Author: Charlie Harvey
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“This is a great all-rounder and just a fraction better overall than the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6.”
Author: Darren Cassey
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Desirable executive car that’s loaded with tech.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest BMW 5 Series is still the best executive saloon money can buy. The new car might be larger and lardier than the car it replaced, but BMW’s intelligent engineering has produced a car that offers noticeably improved comfort and a similarly engaging driving experience.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Driver appeal, astonishing body control and sybaritic comfort mean that this executive express has few peers.”
Author: Andrew English
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Model reviewed: 5 Series 550e
Score: 9 / 10
“Well, the 550e xDrive has the same problems as I do: it’s bulky and ugly. I just wish I was this clever and this good company.”
Author: Paul Horrell
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new BMW 5 Series is a better all-rounder than its direct rivals, combining a classy and user-friendly interior with impressive refinement and handling. Just bear in mind that some items of equipment that you’re likely to want are expensive options, and fully electric models (including BMW’s own i5) are cheaper to run as company cars.”
Author: Steve Huntingford
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 86%
Safety assist: 78%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of October 2024, the BMW 5 Series has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of October 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the seventh-generation BMW 5 Series to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the 5 Series, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 48 mpg | C | 47 – 49 mpg | C – C |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 383 mpg | A | 314 – 471 mpg | A – A |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 133 g/km | A | 132 – 135 g/km | A – A |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 17 g/km | A | 14 – 20 g/km | A – A |
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 58 miles | C | 54 – 63 miles | C – C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 40 | C | 35 – 44 | C – D |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £385 | C |
| Year 2 | £831 | C |
| Year 3 | £1,684 | D |
| Year 4 | £1,684 | C |
| Year 5 | £2,153 | C |
| Overall | £6,737 | C |
The BMW 5 Series can be a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Entry-level petrol models offer a fuel consumption of 48mpg, which makes the car thirstier than the average car. Plug-in hybrid models – with an average fuel consumption of 383mpg – look far better on paper, but this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 383 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…
The car’s insurance bracket is around average and the 58-mile electric-only battery range of plug-in hybrid models is fairly average for a car of this size.
When it comes to maintenance and servicing costs, the 5 Series may be more expensive that you would perhaps expect. Our estimates place the total cost of five years of ownership at around £7k for maintenance, which is several hundred pounds more expensive than the Audi A6.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the BMW 5 Series has received.
2021
- World Car Awards – Luxury Car of the Year
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BMW 5 Series, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi A6 | Audi A7 Sportback | Jaguar XF | Lexus ES | Maserati Ghibli | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | Tesla Model S | Volvo S90 | Volvo V90
More information
More news, reviews and information about the BMW 5 Series at The Car Expert
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