The next-generation 2024 BMW 5 Series is upon us. The midsize luxury sedan will be revealed on May 24 initially as an electric i5 based on the company's teasers, which could probably mean that the internal combustion engine (ICE) versions are going to be part of a separate launch. Nevertheless, the midsize luxury sedan space has always been dominated by BMW's 5 Series and the E-Class, and while you've already seen what the Merc is like, here are a few reasons as to why you should also wait for the Bimmer before handing over that check.
It (Hopefully) Won't Look As Controversial As Other Bimmers
Based on numerous spy shots of the 5 Series and M5 undergoing testing, we highly suspect that BMW's new midsize luxury sedan won't look too controversial. As seen in the numerous heavily camouflaged prototypes, the grille of the 5 Series isn't as big as any of BMW's newer models like the 7 Series. Along with the narrow and slim headlights, the 5 Series somehow sticks to BMW's traditional aesthetics, and we love them for that... for now. Our opinion, of course, could change once the car has been fully unveiled.
As for the interior, the official teasers have revealed a portion of the 5 Series' dashboard that's heavily inspired by the flagship 7 Series. The new 5 Series and i5 will also be one of the first BMWs to debut with the latest iDrive 8.5 infotainment. Sitting below the main infotainment screen is the Interaction Bar ambient LED lights that were inherited from the 7 Series.
It'll Be More Technologically Advanced Than Ever
As with every new-generation vehicle, the amount of technology it gets will always be pushed forward, and with the next-generation BMW 5 Series, we expect that to happen as well. Expect some of the features found in the flagship BMW 7 Series to trickle down to the 5 Series, though the 31-inch 8K Theater Screen and the flagship sedan's other rear-seat amenities probably won't make it to the midsize luxury sedan that's mostly still driven by its owners.
BMW has also lagged behind quite a bit in terms of driver-assistance tech, and it's only this year that they'll finally offer SAE Level 3 conditional autonomous driving in the 7 Series. We can expect this in the BMW 5 Series as well, but probably not right after the car is launched. However, adding too much technology comes with its own risks.
It Will Have A Less Gimmicky Interior
That risk is making a vehicle have too many useless tech gimmicks. We recently talked about how the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class's interior represents everything that's wrong with cars today. With almost every new feature in the car being mostly gimmicks as opposed to actually improving the driving experience (I mean, did any executive that owns an E-Class wished their car had built-in Tiktok?), the interior of the 5 Series seems to be more toned down.
In fact, based on the teasers, it will come with the new iDrive 8.5 and the Interaction Bar ambient LED lighting that runs across the dash and that's it. No passenger-side screen to see here nor built-in third-party apps that will probably be interesting for the first few weeks of ownership and then everyone will simply return to using their smartphones instead while on the road.
It'll Probably Be Better To Drive Than The E-Class
BMWs have always been known to be a hoot to drive, and while that driver connection factor has ever-so-slightly diluted over the years, Bimmers have still felt more dynamic compared to the cossetting nature of Mercs. That trend should continue with the new 5 Series, even in its i5 electric guise. No details have been confirmed yet, but rumors suggest a 590-horsepower dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup in the rumored M Performance version called the M60 will be offered. There will also be an entry-level eDrive40, which uses a single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout and offer 335 horsepower.
As for the models with an ICE, the 5 Series will most likely feature electrification across the lineup, ranging from mild-hybrid to plug-in hybrids. Expect a mixture of gas and diesel engines as well, ranging from four-cylinder engines to inline-sixes in the higher-end models. Of course, an automatic transmission will be fitted as standard here.
The most noteworthy of all would probably be the M5, which is rumored to share the plug-in hybrid twin-turbo V-8 drivetrain of the XM. Whether this will be the same drivetrain in Label Red version with 735 horses or the 644 horsepower version in the standard XM is still unknown. On the upside, this means that the M5 will still come with a V-8, whereas the Mercedes-AMG E63 is rumored to downsize to an inline-6 plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
There's Going To Be A 5 Series Touring, But...
Okay, so now for the exciting bit. Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG confirmed that there will still be a wagon version called the BMW 5 Series Touring. In fact, he even confirmed that BMW's first electric wagon called the i5 Touring is coming out in 2024. Unfortunately, there's a high chance that any of the wagon versions of the 5 Series won't be coming to the United States because of our obsession with crossovers and SUVs.
There's a bit of good news, however, if you're in the market for an M5. That's because according to Car and Driver, there's heavy consideration that there'll be an M5 Touring once again for the first time since the V-10-powered E60 generation. More importantly, it's also rumored to be considered for the North American market as a way to compete with the Audi RS6 Avant--another hot wagon that's surprisingly doing well in terms of sales.
With the 2024 BMW 5 Series and i5 now on the horizon, it shouldn't take long before it gives the equally-new 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class some healthy German competition. Based on these reasons, would you now consider wait for the BMW 5 Series or are you already hell-bent on getting the new E-Class instead?