BMW 7 Series vs BMW 5 Series

The 2024 BMW 5 Series was designed with a focus on aerodynamics and modern styling, presenting a clean and minimalist aesthetic both inside and out. The 530i test car featured a prominent shiny grille and intricate 21-inch wheels, with the M Sport bodywork adding a touch of flair, especially when paired with the Carbon Black paint. Inside, the M Sport treatment continued with Smoke-colour Veganza artificial leather, aluminum trim, and artistic metal speaker grilles, contrasting with the otherwise black cabin. However, the interior suffered from reflections and glare, complicating the use of controls. The BMW Curved Display housed most features on a screen, with traditional iDrive controls on the centre console, though these touch-sensing controls on gloss black surfaces were frustrating to use. Despite these issues, the 530i M Sport exuded luxury, with advanced technology like the BMW Curved Display and iDrive 8.5 infotainment system.

In contrast, the 2024 BMW 7 Series appeared more conventional than its predecessors, with a traditional luxury sedan shape from the windshield backward. The front, however, featured a massive grille flanked by narrow LED headlights, making a bold statement. The car's appearance varied greatly with different colour and trim choices, including two-tone schemes on the 760i trim. Inside, the cabin was less controversial, with beautifully made metal speaker grilles and seats available in various materials and colours. The interior featured a broad crystalline-looking strip with customizable ambient lighting, echoing the crystal theme throughout the cabin. Novel amenities included a rear-seat theatre screen and a panoramic sunroof with patterned ambient lighting, enhancing the luxurious feel.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series, specifically the 530i model, was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It accelerated to 96 km/h in 5.9 seconds, with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The engine was quiet and smooth, with an eight-speed automatic transmission providing seamless shifts. The M Sport suspension offered a supple ride, and the car handled well on twisty roads, thanks to variable-ratio sport steering and M Sport braking components. However, the driving experience felt remote and muted, lacking the connection between driver and machine that BMW was once known for. Fuel economy was decent, with the 530i M Sport returning 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the evaluation loop, slightly above the official estimate.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series offered two powerful powertrains in Canada: the 760i with a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 producing 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, and the 750e plug-in hybrid with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine and electric motor, delivering 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The 760i accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, while the 750e did so in 4.7 seconds. The 750e excelled in fuel efficiency, rated at 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres (electric) and 9.4 L/100 km (gas) combined, though real-world figures were closer to 8.4 L/100 km. The 7 Series handled like a sports sedan, with precise steering and minimal body roll, aided by standard air suspension and optional rear-wheel steering. However, the 750e's brake and gas pedal modulation were inconsistent at lower speeds, affecting the driving experience.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series excelled as a luxury car, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The driver’s seat felt larger than a midsizer, with a high seating position and good visibility. The standard power-adjustable front seats were comfortable, wrapped in perforated Veganza artificial leather, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard in Canada. The rear seat was equally comfortable, with good legroom, headroom, and footroom. Interior storage was adequate, with a tray for smartphones, door armrests, and a small bin under the centre armrest. The trunk offered 521 litres of space, though a spare tire storage box reduced cargo room.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series, available only as a long-wheelbase sedan, prioritized comfort and opulence. The front seats were well-padded and supportive, with numerous adjustment settings and an optional massaging function. Rear legroom was generous at 1,087 millimetres, with rear seats as comfortable as the front. Rear passengers had access to door-mounted control screens and optional ventilated and massaging seats. The trunk offered 523 litres of cargo volume for the 750e and 540 litres for gas-only models, with a pass-through for skis and a low load height. Interior storage was unremarkable, but the overall passenger space was impressive.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single curved display, running BMW Operating System 8.5. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, navigation, and optional wireless smartphone charging. The iDrive controls on the centre console were part of a touch-sensing panel, which was prone to lint and fingerprint smudges. The Premium packages added a head-up display, voice and gesture controls, and a Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound system, though the sound quality was underwhelming. The Parking Assistant Professional provided an exterior camera array and a Drive Recorder system, while an interior camera allowed remote monitoring and selfies.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series boasted a massive curved-screen display combining a 12.3-inch driver's screen with a 14.9-inch infotainment display, running iDrive 8.5. The interface was primarily touchscreen-driven, with customizable tabs for apps and info. The system included a voice assistant, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, though the latter couldn't control most vehicle functions. An 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo was standard, with an optional 40-speaker system available. A head-up display and a 31.3-inch theatre screen for rear passengers were optional, though the latter was finicky to control and blocked the rearview mirror when in use.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series came with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Driving Assistant Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, evasive steering assist, lane-change assist, and emergency stop assist. The 5 Series earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though it hadn't been assessed in a new moderate-overlap frontal-impact evaluation.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it shared platform architecture with the 5 Series, which earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, adaptive headlamps, parking sensors, safe exit warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Advanced Driver Assistance Package added partially automated active driving assistant and highway assistant, offering limited hands-free capability.