2026 BMW 5 Series Review and Test Drive

With its powerful engine and M Sport hardware, the 540i deftly blends luxury and performance.

Christian Wardlaw | 

Apr 18, 2025 | 6 min read

Christian Wardlaw

Let's put the 2026 BMW 540i into perspective. By the automaker's stopwatch, the 2026 540i can accelerate to 60 mph faster than M5 performance sedans built before 2011. It takes 4.4 seconds to hit that speed in a new 2026 540i, while the V10-powered fourth-generation M5 required a tenth of a second longer to zoom to 60, according to some reports from that era. And the fifth-gen M5 was only 0.7 seconds quicker with its twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

So, while the 540i in the accompanying photos might look relatively innocuous in its Oxide Grey paint, this BMW is ready to run hard when you are.

Within the 2026 BMW 5 Series lineup, the 540i is one rung up from the less satisfying 530i. Both models have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to improve fuel economy, and everything else in the 5 Series lineup is either a plug-in hybrid or an electric vehicle. Yes, even the legendary M5.

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Prices range from almost $60,000 for a 530i with rear-wheel drive to about $125,000 for the M5 Touring wagon.

For this BMW 540i review, I test-drove a well-equipped version of the sedan in Southern California. BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is standard on the 540i, and the automaker equipped my test vehicle with the M Sport package, extra-cost paint, 21-inch wheels, leather upholstery, and a sensational Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system. In addition, it had the Executive, Luxury Seating, Driving Assistance Professional, and M Sport Professional option packages.

Those upgrades brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $84,025, including the $1,175 destination charge to ship the car across the Atlantic from the Dingolfing, Germany, assembly plant. BMW provided the vehicle for this 540i review.

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Is the 2026 BMW 5 Series a Good Car?

Midsize luxury sedans are a vanishing breed, and choosing one over another depends on your design, technology, and performance preferences. The natural competitors of the BMW 5 Series are the handsomely tailored Audi A6 and the fluidly organic Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Comparatively, the 5 Series is forward-looking in style, BMW choosing to be bold in what can be a boring vehicle segment. It offers impressive technology, too. But what turned me into a fan was the 540i's overall performance.

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A Cubist Cabin Provides Long-Distance Comfort

Open the 540i's driver door, and you'll discover a sharply angled cabin seemingly inspired by cubism. The BMW Curved Display houses the 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the few existing controls are mostly touch-sensing. If you're uncomfortable with modern technology, the 5 Series may not suit you.

The test car had the optional merino leather upholstery in Copper and Grey, and I matched the gorgeous ambient lighting to the cabin's color scheme. At night, it glowed with a faceted appearance, mimicking the interior themes and dazzling the car's occupants.

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Inspired to drive the 540i long-distance, I took a day trip and discovered the heated and ventilated front sports seats are exceptionally comfortable. Emerging from the car after four hours spent behind the perfectly sized and shaped steering wheel, I felt no fatigue. Similarly, the rear seats are excellent, striking me as a perfect location to nap. Legroom is a little snug, but otherwise, passengers in the back will be comfortable.

BMW locates the 48-volt mild-hybrid technology under the trunk floor, so the cargo space isn't tall from floor to lid. However, it is deep from bumper to back seat, and thanks to the lid's enclosed hinges, you can stuff the cargo area full without concern that you'll crush your luggage.

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The BMW Curved Display Looks Confusing but Isn't

BMW Operating System 8.5 powers the 540i's infotainment system, which features numerous cloud-based features and connected-services packages in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Though the 14.9-inch touchscreen provides broad and deep access to the car's seemingly endless settings, it is approachable technology that works well, aside from some quirky responses to my standardized list of voice recognition system testing commands.

One of my favorite things about the in-cabin technology was the test car's surround-view camera system, which made it easy to park the 540i in cramped quarters without scraping a bumper or wheel. Also, I can't say enough about the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system. From the decadent speaker grilles to the outstanding audio quality, I think it's worth the $950 price.

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When you get a BMW 540i, it has all the driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems one might expect. The Driving Assistance Professional option package improves on them with semi-autonomous technology, including Assisted Driving Plus and Highway Assistant. Those two features can provide hands-free driving in heavy traffic (Assisted Driving Plus) and at speeds up to 85 mph (Highway Assistant).

Unfortunately, the test car's Highway Assistant technology was inactive. Also, I didn't use the Assisted Driving system (adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist) when traffic thickened, which would trigger an invitation to use Assisted Driving Plus for hands-free travel under 40 mph. However, I've used both technologies in other BMWs, and they're impressive.

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A Silky Turbocharged Six-Cylinder Engine Elevates the 540i's Pulse

Lift the BMW 540i's hood to reveal a primary source of its allure. A turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine lives under there, as creamy, smooth, and sweet as any Teuscher confection. It generates 375 horsepower and a maximum of 398 pound-feet of torque, delivered to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The standard eBoost 48-volt mild-hybrid technology contributes to that torque output and helps the 540i earn an official EPA fuel-economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving. For perspective, back in 2010, the M5's 5.0-liter V10 returned 13 mpg. Now that's progress.

My 540i test vehicle averaged 26.5 mpg on the evaluation loop, which is miraculous given how much fun I had flinging it down my favorite mountain roads. The M Sport package fits the 540i with a sport-tuned suspension and 21-inch wheels, while the M Sport Professional package adds upgraded brakes. Those alterations, in combination with the engine, transmission, and xDrive AWD, make the 540i a legit sports sedan.

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After threading my way across the Santa Monica Mountains, the word that summarized the experience was exhilarating. However, the steering felt too light even in Sport mode, and body-motion control wasn't quite as taut as I expected. Otherwise, the 540i turned in a flawless performance on my favorite roads, and the calibration here is spot-on for a powerful car emphasizing luxury.

Know, though, that the 21-inch wheels and sport suspension communicate every bump, crack, and ripple in the road surface, and generate plenty of tire slap at highway speeds. If that's not on your luxury-sedan wish list, you may want to skip the M Sport treatment.

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When BMW redesigned the 5 Series for the 2024 model year, I tested a 530i without M Sport hardware. That car didn't impress me. The 2026 BMW 540i M Sport is a different story. The turbo-six power infusion, the more athletic handling, and my added familiarity with the car's technology all left a favorable impression. Therefore, if you like the way the 540i looks, chances are you'll find it irresistible in other ways, too.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Christian Wardlaw

Chris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.