2024 BMW 5 Series; biggest in class, fully electric drivetrain options...

and questionable rear-end styling.

Whenever a new 7 series is launched it gives an insight into what the next 5 series will be like, not just in terms of features and technology but also in the looks department. When BMW unveiled the E65 7 series in 2002 no one imagined the 5 series that debuted after it could be as controversial. While it was certainly easier on the eye than the 7 series and even striking to some people, it remains the odd one out of the entire 5 series range going back to the 70s. So when the black sheep G70 7 series arrived last year there was foreshadowing as to how the upcoming 5 series will do on looks. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the promotional footage until the camera panned to the back of it. BMW has done it again.

The new BMW 5 series does a stellar job catching up to the E class and hitting Mercedes where it hurts with the new all-electric i5. It has grown! The new 5er has officially surpassed the 5-meter mark having an almost identical footprint to the 7 series from two generations ago. The E class, it should be mentioned remains a smidge over 100 mm shorter than its rival. How much of this extra girth translates to room inside is already questionable as the bigger 5 series is 20 liters short on boot space. The i5 however bests the EQE’s figure by 60 liters at 490 liters. BMW promises the rear passengers will benefit the most from the extra space, but the E class has already matched the current S class in terms of shoulder space at the back. So, only a head-to-head comparison will tell.

As with any new luxury sedan, the 5 series comes with a host of new features. There’s a large panoramic roof like in the 7 series. It is not split in the center like the one found in the Mercedes. But it also cannot be opened like the latter. Inside, the Veganza seats with faux leather of vegetative origin provide a good alternative for vegan customers. But ironically BMW offers a leather-wrapped steering standard with this option. The air vents are small and almost invisible in contrast with the rest of the dash. This feature does wonders for the ambiance of the cabin and in my opinion makes the fascia look better than that of the Mercedes. The most notable new feature inside is the air console supported gaming system, which allows your smartphone to be used as a joystick to play preinstalled games on the center screen of the dashboard. Unlike the E class, there is no third interface in front of the passenger. The most sensational new feature is the highway assistance feature allowing the driver to suggest lane changes using their eyes. When traffic slows down in front of the car, it prompts the driver to change lanes. The driver simply has to glance at the exterior mirror on the desired side and the system will simply check for traffic and complete the maneuver.

The most notable addition to the model range like in the 7 series is the all-electric version. The i5 unlike the EQE shares its shape with its ICE’d stablemate. Audi too will be launching a dedicated electric only model soon, leaving the Electric 5 as the only mainstream-looking option of the three, which is not a bad thing considering how short-sighted this EV sensationalism is. 10 years from now the other two would be left scratching their heads with no new engines to fit their E-class and A6 ranges. BMW, being the smaller company of the three is likely using the same design on financial grounds. But this move will ensure the survival of the legendary 5 series range no matter what the drivetrain is.

The new 5 series will sell in large numbers and continue to be a cash cow for BMW. But those looks are a point of contempt. Compared to the new model its predecessor looks positively archaic and more of an organic replacement to the f10. Unlike Mercedes, BMW certainly seems to be leaving behind its traditional styling cues and pushing its language radically toward the future. The sloping boot lid no doubt helped achieve the low drag coefficient of 0.23. But this, the shape of the taillights and their placement, along with the blacked-out details of the M sport line all come together to give the new 5 series that gopping rear-end. It’s almost as if everything was hastily designed in profile with no consideration for its three-quarter appearance. BMW could have certainly spent more time reaching much more balanced proportions from the B pillar backwards. I can imagine this area being the most enhanced come the LCi model. Despite this, the new 5 series will sell strongly in its new markets, where its buyers who are mostly newcomers to the brand, do not prioritize traditional styling cues and balanced proportions as much as the old guard. To summarize, the new BMW 5 series is way bigger than its rivals, will take commands from your eyes, and looks best on TikTok.