2022 BMW 5-Series 530i Review, Road Test

2022 BMW 5-Series needs no introduction in detail. It has been a class definition worldwide. The 5-Series always strives to be better. It quickly follows the footsteps of the 7-Series which has been the pinnacle of BMW’s technological showcase. Every time a new avatar comes of the flagship, a few months later, the 5-Series takes a big leap and becomes so much more irresistible. 5-Series updates are strategic, well planned, and a propionate size over its flagship, which just makes it so much more appealing. We all love balance. The 5-Series is always well distinguished between the 3 and 7 series. How good is it this time? Just look at the pictures you know how good it can be! However, read on, as we prepare for you a report that tells you a lot about this mid-size luxury sedan!

On the outside, the grille size is surprisingly small in size when compared to its elder sibling, the 7-Series. This does make it look befitting with the spectacularly well-done headlamps. I know, they are very BMW, but they just feel like they are BMW at first glance, so job well done! The grey color on our test car is just stunning with the 18-inch alloy wheels adding more bling and subtly to the package. We have never seen a 5-series turn heads as much as a sports car! The build quality on the outside seems and sounds great and it scores high on crash tests like any other BMW. The elements of the car, such as the grille, LED lights on both ends, the almost 5-meter length along with a sizeable wheelbase, make the 5-Series the best-looking mid-size sedan on the market.

On the inside, the build and quality are good and so is the expansive feature list we have explained time and again in our launch report. The dashboard gets a good-looking textured element with an aluminum strip running below it. The A/C controls are also inspired by the 7-Series. You get automatic lights and wipers to reversing cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and projector lamps, the car has a large panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple car play, And Android Auto are now here. Ambient lighting, gesture control, and remote parking key are features borrowed from the 7-Series to speak of the top few features.

The LCD screen in the instrument cluster area has navigation and all fuel economy indicators and other bits can be seen with a touch of the toggle button on the left indicator stalk. A fantastic sound system by Harmon and Kardon makes the experience top-class. Space is sufficient with enough shoulder and knee room you expect, is here. Leg and headroom continue to be in good supply but as always it is a strict four-seater.

The boot space is good enough despite a space-saver tire below and so is the overall practicality of the interior. Road and wind noise inside the cabin is also well-controlled thanks to massive insulation all around. Clearly much better than the previous version. Like any other BMW, it is still a pleasant place to be. Safety kit continues to be high with electronic stability control and eight airbags, Hill Hold Assist, ABS and EBD, and more come as standard.

All BMW engines are smooth, free-revving, and low on NVH and the one on the 530i is no different. Be it in any part of the rev range. Low and mid-range are good on the petrol that makes a massive 250 PS and 400 Nm of torque going through the fantastic 8-speed automatic. The engine is even peaky in Comfort mode showing how flexible and powerful this engine is. Eco Pro mode and then sports mode is what we found ourselves using the most. Still, 0-100 km/hr under 7 seconds is mighty quick, and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/hr is on offer. Top-end is good enough for 120 km/hr kick downs and it cruises at legal speeds and higher than that, quite easily. This makes it good enough for city and highway duties and makes driving comfortable enough thanks to the precision in every driving mode. 9 km/l for in the city and 14 km/l on the highway is what we got in our Mumbai-Pune run.

The ride quality is good at all speeds and it feels slightly softer than the previous version. We found ourselves to be in a comfortable suspension setting all the time for that special balanced feel we always look for. High-speed stability is spot on thanks to the ideal balance of underlying stiffness and compliance. Body roll exists while changing lanes at high speeds but it is obvious, a very confidence-inspiring car to drive at any given speed.

Steering is light, precise in the city, and has just about enough feedback on offer which makes the car fun and 100% confidence-inspiring to push harder in the twisties. Despite the length and weight is still not as highly apparent as they should be thanks to clever tuning of the steering. The brakes are good with good pedal bite and more than enough stopping power. Overall, very easy-to-drive car despite its size while being extremely comfortable at the back. All this and still being very good fun to drive if not the very best!

2022 BMW 5-Series 530i Review, Verdict

The 5-Series has had us drooling the time we drove it for. The perfect petrol engine, the right color for our test car, be it on the inside or outside! It turned more heads than you can ever expect from a 5-Series. The perfect balance of comfort and sportiness is just so ideal that we can finally dream of owning this instead of the 3-series! That takes a lot of time and effort, to change a mindset like that. It shows BMW has worked very hard and strategically of course to make the 5-series an incredible deal. We wish could test the diesel as well which would further make us recommend this mid-size luxury sedan over all its rivals. As if we are not doing that already! High Five Indeed!