530e xDrive Hybrid Plug-in iPerformance Sedan 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 8A)
530e xDrive Hybrid Plug-in iPerformance Sedan 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 8A)
The 5-series sedan is one of the most sought after models in the BMW lineup. For 2019, the sedan’s upgrades are not just limited to the hunkier bodywork, but also some new technology and safety features and an exciting list of drivetrain options to choose from.
While the changes may not be revolutionary, several minor changes add up and make the 5-series a game-changer. With features like voice recognition system, 3D simulation, and many other semi-autonomous features, the BMW 5-series is a potentially fatal threat to the competitors like the Audi A6, Volvo S90, and the Jaguar XF sedans. Let's see if the 5-series is really as fearsome as BMW has led us to believe.
From a long list of drivetrain configurations to choose from, despite the diesel engine being discontinued, the 5-series can be tailor-made to orders. While the basic 530i still has the thrifty 2.0L inline-4, the 3.0L V6 in the 540i gets a power bump, as well as the M550i, whose twin-turbo V8 transforms the stately sedan into a muscle maniac.
Trims |
530i |
530e iPerformance |
540i |
M550i xDrive |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$53,400 |
$53,400 |
$58,950 |
$74,450 |
Features |
Leatherette Upholstery |
Same as 530i |
Adds to or replaces features offered on 530i: |
Adds to or replaces features offered on 540i: |
12-Way Power Driver Seat |
Leather Upholstery |
Front And Rear Parking Sensors |
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12-Way Power Passenger Seat |
16-Way Power Driver Seat |
Front View Camera |
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Remote Keyless Power Door Locks |
16-Way Power Passenger Seat |
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling |
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12 Speaker Audio System |
20-Way Power Driver Seat |
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Electric Power Steering |
20-Way Power Passenger Seat |
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Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel |
Driver Seat Thigh Extension |
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Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.) |
Hands-Free Entry |
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Transmission, Cruise, And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel |
16-Speaker Harman/Kardon Premium Audio System |
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Interior Air Filtration |
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Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling |
The base 530i variant is packed with a 2-liter inline-4 cylinder turbocharged engine to produce a maximum power of 248 hp. The 540i levels up the game with a few additional standard features and a turbocharged 335-hp 3-liter inline-6 cylinder engine. An option of all-wheel drive(AWD) is offered with 540i.
The 530e xDrive plug-in hybrid features a 2-liter inline-4 turbocharged engine and an eDrive electric motor to produce a maximum power of 248 hp. The 530e iPerformance variant also offers an option of all-wheel-drive(AWD) for a more exciting ride at the cost of efficiency. The beast M550i xDrive is powered by the humongous 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine that churns out 456 hp.
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Replacing the 530i, the 530e is now the most desirable trim in the line-up. With a silent plug-in-hybrid powertrain, the sedan cruises in a stately silence with power when you need it. If the inline-4 is not to your liking, the 540i is also a very impressive machine in the BMW trim ladder with not only more power, but also more features and better leather upholstery for you.
BMW has opened a full catalog in front of customers with several engine and drivetrain options to choose from. The 2019 BMW base variant 530i is powered by the 2-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine which produces a maximum power of 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the 8-speed automatic transmission which is the only option in all variants.
The 2019 BMW 5-series lies at the bottom of the points table when it comes to torque and just inches ahead of Jaguar XF in power though it uses an engine of similar size and costs at least 2 grand more than all its competitors.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$53,400 |
$48,100 |
$47,775 |
$49,700 |
Engine |
2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder |
2.0L 16V I4 Turbocharged |
2.0L 16V I4 Turbocharged |
2.0L TFSI 4-cylinder |
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
7-Speed Automatic |
Power |
248 hp |
250 hp |
247 hp |
252 hp |
Torque |
258 lb-ft |
258 lb-ft |
269 lb-ft |
273 lb-ft |
Despite its poor performance in terms of torque and power, the 2019 BMW 5-series shows top-notch performance in terms of acceleration. 530i pulls up from 0-60 in just 6 sec which is fastest in the segment. Taking advantage of the legacy of lighter craftsmanship that comes with the brand, the 5-series puts up a fabulous figure of 13.5 sec at the quarter-mile mark and is seconds behind the fastest Jaguar XF.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
0 60 mph |
6.0 sec |
6.5 sec |
6.2 sec |
6.7 sec |
Quarter Mile |
13.5 sec @ 99.3 mph |
15.3 sec @ 101 mph |
13.3 sec @ 104 mph |
14.7 sec @ 100.8 mph |
Engine |
2.0L |
2.0L |
2.0L |
2.0L |
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year) |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
The 2019 BMW 530i is surely not a high-performance machine but it is a car with a solid focus on handling. The sedan offers snappy handling and shows quick movements even on tough turns. The steering is amazing but not as responsive as the M6. The sport mode works just fine but the comfort mode feels more premium, matching the luxury of a 7-series sedan. Being a BMW it definitely justifies their signature line-Sheer driving pleasure'.
The 5-series is supreme when it comes to riding quality. The cabin space, ventilation, heated seats, and climate control everything seems perfect. The cabin is quiet enough unless you're on city roads at peak hours and traffic noise is really high. The rear cabin is spacious with ample headroom and legroom.
The 530i's braking is as smooth as it can get but also powerful when you need it. The car can come to a halt from 60 mph in just 106ft which is also the best in the segment while the Volvo S90 is a bit lazy and hits the bottom of the table. The ABS helps in maintaining the car's stability and composure even when one goes hard on the pedal.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
60 0 mph |
106 |
120 |
119 |
117 |
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
3746 |
3870 |
3604 |
3858 |
Brake (Front) |
11.6 |
13.6 |
12.8 |
13.6 |
Brake (Rear) |
11.7 |
12.6 |
12.8 |
13 |
The BMW 530i maintains a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg which helps it share the podium of the table with the Audi A6. Despite pretty good economic figures on a whole, the BMW 7-series seems to be a bit thirsty when it comes to city roads.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
24 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
MPG (Hwy) |
34 |
34 |
34 |
34 |
MPG (Combined) |
29 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
The interior of the 2019 BMW 5-series is surely exquisite. The dual-tone leather and tasteful use of chrome at minute places like air vents and knobs show the carmaker's focus on luxury. The interior of this sedan is undoubtedly better than its primitive but doesn't hit the 7-series benchmark. Heated armrests in front and rear, ambient carpet lighting and futuristically designed customizable dashboard don't just look amazing but also work fluently with every move of the passenger.
The 5-series leads the segment in headroom but its smaller wheelbase as compared to its competitors inhibits ample room in the rear cabin space and drags it down in the points table.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Passenger Volume (Ft.3) |
98.8 |
101.5 |
98.2 |
97.2 |
Headroom (Front/Rear) (in.) |
38.8 / 37.5 |
37.8/37.8 |
37.1/37.6 |
37.2 / 37.8 |
Legroom (Front/Rear) (in.) |
41.4 / 36.5 |
42.2/40.4 |
41.5/36.6 |
41.3 / 37.4 |
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) (in.) |
57.5 / 55.9 |
57.5/55.4 |
56.9/56.4 |
57.5 / 56.3 |
The clever design of BMW manages to make up a huge space for the rear boot. The credit goes to the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. Despite being smaller in length, this car provides a generous 18.7 ft-cube of the trunk which is the largest in the segment after Jaguar XF.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Trunk Vol. (Ft.3) |
18.7 |
13.5 |
19.1 |
14.1 |
The 2019 BMW 530i comes loaded with a 10.2-inch infotainment screen with navigation and BMW's iDrive rotary knob, a touchpad controller with gesture control, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a wireless Qi charging station, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and several Internet-connected features that work online or with special BMW apps. The sound output produces an immersive surround sound experience which is pretty amazing as compared to its competitors. However, BMW lacks essential smartphone integration options. The Apple CarPlay is offered as an add-on which increases the price of the car while Android Auto and MirrorLink are not available even as an add-on.
The 2019 BMW 5-series almost carries over the same look and style as that of its predecessor. The only notable differences are the kidney grilles and a super sexy profile line that runs down the doors. The signature dual chrome grilles and projector headlamps pose an overall aggressive look. The rear chrome exhausts and wrap-around taillights look super sporty and certainly look better than all its rivals.
Model |
2019 BMW 5-series (530i) |
2019 Volvo S90 (T5 Momentum) |
2019 Jaguar XF (Base) |
2019 Audi A6 Premium (2.0 TFSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
3746 |
3870 |
3604 |
3858 |
Wheelbase (in) |
117.1 |
120.5 |
116.5 |
114.6 |
Length (in) |
194.6 |
200.1 |
195.0 |
194.2 |
Width (in) |
73.5 |
74.0 |
78.2 |
73.8 |
Height (in) |
58.2 |
57.1 |
58.2 |
57.8 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
6.2 |
6.0 |
4.5 |
6.6 |
Track Width Front (in) |
63 |
63.7 |
63.2 |
64.1 |
Track Width Rear (in) |
63.9 |
63.7 |
62.8 |
63.7 |
The 2019 BMW 740i is the highest in the segment which gives it a coupe look, making ample headroom in the cabin. The sedan is lighter than its older sibling due to its cutting-edge design featuring high-strength aluminum chassis which gives it unmatched acceleration and handling yet stable and strong build quality.
Exterior Features
The 2019 BMW 740i comes with all the essential safety features as per standards. The features include:
The 5-series has passed the crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with flying colors across the board; however, it has yet to be tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Volvo S90 comes loaded with a similar-sized engine that produces the same power and torque as that of a BMW. The Volvo has a better base package than that of BMW's with all the essential features like parking assist, remote locking, and smartphone integrated infotainment system at a lesser cost than BMW. However, the price difference seems to make sense when we look at the premium styling, handling, comfort, and fuel economy of the 2019 BMW 5-series.
The Audi A6 L is powered by a 2-liter 4 cylinder engine which produces the best in class power and torque. It also offers a plush and luxurious interior equivalent to the BMW's but 5-series basically one-ups A6 in the driving experience as A6 isn't as responsive as 530i, also the ride quality is quite poor due to larger alloy wheels.
The Jaguar surely is a complete package on its own with a powerful engine, great handling, and spacious trunk but it fails to pose a threat to the more premium, luxurious, and sporty BMW 5-series due to its rough ride quality on less-perfect or undulated roads and less available trims and options. Also, it has fewer features than the loaded Bavarian monster.
The 2019 BMW 5-series offers great efficiency along with effortless handling, impressive driving dynamics, and stout acceleration. The car doesn't feel exceptional and lacks punch on straight highways due to its less powerful engine however, the luxury of the cabin and Sub-autonomous features make up for it.
So, if you're looking for a good car around 50 grand and won't mind spending some more money on the lucrative add-on packages, this car is waiting for you.