As Americans continue to fall out of love with full-size sedans, mid-sizes are picking up the slack by closely mimicking their flagship kin. BMW’s 5-Series is just another shining example of high-end downsizing in action when it comes to pretty much everything.
Weighing slightly less than the previous iteration, the 2018 5-Series looks like a BMW. Its conservative shape might lack edge, but it should age well…we’ll call it classy.
Inside is a different story. Where, unlike previous generations, the interior looks and feels different. The interior is a modern interpretation of BMW’s classic aesthetic I’d always hope for. That stately character carries over to the driving experience because now the 5-series drives less like a larger 3-series and more like a smaller 7-series. If your tastes lean more to the luxury side of the spectrum, this is an excellent thing. To be clear, the 5-Series still grips, brakes, and accelerates like a proper BMW. It’s just the sensations of doing so have been diluted to some degree as a result of the 5-Series commitment to comfort. In terms of quality, it’s just a hair further than that of the Mercedes E-Class.
Noise suppression is positively top-notch. The turning radius is insanely tight, which I’m sure is attributed mainly to the rear-wheel steering. The seats are fantastic, with more adjustment points than most people would know what to do with. If you can’t find a position to accommodate your body type find a new body type. That said, the steering wheel is laughably thick.
Elsewhere in the cabin, you’ll find Sun visors that don’t slide and instead hit you in the face, an instrument cluster that beautifully mixes physical and digital design elements and roomy rear seats. Unfortunately, the rear does have a substantial center tunnel that makes the middle back seat uncomfortable for most adults. Behind the rear seats, there is a low flat floor in a vast 18.7 cubic foot capacity trunk.
At the front of the car sits an engine bay that can house one of four power trains. There’s a 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder, a 3L turbocharged inline-six, a 4.4L turbocharged v8, and a plug-in hybrid that blends electric propulsion with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to deliver swift acceleration in 16 miles of pure electric range. It takes seven hours of charging on a standard household outlet. Rear-wheel drive is standard across the board, with all-wheel-drive optional. Also standard is an 8-speed automatic transmission and automatic engine stop-start feature that saves fuel when the vehicle is motionless but can also be turned off if you prefer.
For those who like a customized driving experience, the BMW 5-series offers multiple drive modes that operate precisely as you’d expect. Though it is worth mentioning that the Eco mode can be surprisingly fun, and the sport mode is so dedicated a sportiness, it can tighten the front seat side bolsters.
In typical German fashion, the 2018 BMW 5-series was built to a wide range of prices. Our selection of 2018 BMW 5-series range from the low $30,000s all the way up to just under $40,000 as of 2/21/22.
For the moment, let’s focus on the cheaper end of the spectrum. A base 530i includes:
- Sixteen-way adjustable front seats.
- Navigation with real-time traffic.
- Automatic braking.
- Adaptive LED headlights.
- A 12 speaker audio system.
Though a backup camera inexplicably costs extra.
While a basic 5-Series is a perfectly lovely conveyance, the pricier versions reveal a plethora of automotive delights, including:
- Ventilated massaging front seats that keep you from getting sore by nudging you around like one of those goofball 4d rides
- A system that parks itself using the key fob
- Glorious-sounding premium audio systems
- An adaptive steering system that works well until it doesn’t. We encountered a few instances where the system was behaving normally, and it randomly decided all on its own that it didn’t want to work anymore.
- Blindspot alert
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking
- Side collision avoidance system that automatically steers you away from vehicles that drift into your lane like, for example, another 5 Series equipped with adaptive steering.
2018 5-Series interior can be outfitted with numerous upholstery and trim themes though whichever you choose, the real centerpiece is the touchscreen infotainment system. It has been completely revamped and now features an extensive tiled main menu and fewer sub-menus overall. I totally thought the remote gesture control was a gimmick until I started using it. Now I can change tracks and adjust volume while looking like a crazy person to everyone around me. To the delight of the habitually tangled, the system also includes wireless apple carplay that works and is nearly as good as the tethered solution. Unfortunately, it is not standard, so if you want that feature make sure you select a 5-Series that has it.
If you’re thinking about buying a 2018 BMW 5-series, you might also investigate the well-rounded Mercedes E-Class, the intensively Swedish Volvo S90, the leading Lexus GS, or possibly the Infiniti Q60.
The 7th generation 5-Series represents a giant leap forward in technology and interior sophistication with a pedigree spanning nearly four decades. it’s refreshing to see a legacy nameplate embracing change for all the right reasons
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