New BMW 5 Series 2021 pricing and specs detailed: High-tech and sporty shift for updated Mercedes-Benz E-Class rival

BMW has confirmed pricing and specs for its updated seventh-generation 5 Series large sedan.

The 5 Series will go on sale in six variants, including petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid, as well as a two-pronged all-wheel drive performance variant.

The range kicks off with the 520i – a rear-wheel drive 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 135kW/290Nm.

Starting from $95,900 before on-road costs, standard equipment on the 520i includes 19-inch wheels, M Sport suspension, sport seats, aerodynamics package, and steering wheel, adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist, ambient interior lighting, 12.3-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB digital radio, leather interior trim, a holographic head up display, parking assistant, and wireless phone charging.

Next up is the 530i and 530d.

The 530i is priced from $115,900 and increases power output from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo to 185kW/350Nm. It includes all the specification on the base car, plus M Sport brakes, automatic tailgate, heated front seats with lumbar support, adaptive suspension package, and harmon/kardon premium 16-speaker audio system.

The $125,900 530d meanwhile, shares the same standard equipment as its petrol counterpart, but is instead powered by a 3.0-litre inline-six diesel engine with two-stage turbocharging. This ups power outputs to 195kW/620Nm.

It is now the only way to get BMW’s traditional inline-six engine layout in the range, with 3.0-litre petrol sixes (overseas offered as the 540i) not featuring in the new line-up.

There will be no wagon variants or petrol inline-six in the new 5 Series range.

The 530e is the line-up’s plug-in hybrid alternative. Priced from $118,900, it pairs the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with an electric motor integrated into the transmission. In petrol mode the car has a stated output of 135kW/300Nm, while in electric mode the motor has an output of 80kW/265Nm. BMW claims the 530e has an electric-only range of 67km.

It can be charged using Type 2 ‘Mennekes’ charging infrastructure, or a domestic wall socket. It also comes with an ‘XtraBoost’ function, adding extra power from the electric motor under acceleration in Sport mode. The brand claims this can temporarily boost maximum output to 215kW for up to 10 seconds. The 530e is also offered with ‘eDrive services’ and ‘Acoustic protection for pedestrians’.

At the top of the roost is the M550i and its paired-back Pure spin-off.

Starting at $152,900, the M550i significantly ups the ante with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, mated to the brand’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Total outputs are 390kW/750Nm which will propel the 550i from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Standard fitment is upped to include 20-inch alloy wheels, ‘M Performance tuning’, M Sport differential, 'Adaptive M Suspension Professional', four-zone climate control, soft-close doors, extended leather cladding, ‘ambient air’, electric sunroof, BMW Laserlight premium front lighting system, and standard metallic paint.

The Pure version of the M550i takes a significant price cut to $137,900 while removing the more luxurious features from the car, including roll stabilisation, active steering, Laserlight headlights, sunroof, metallic paintwork, soft-close doors, ‘ambient air’, and extended leather trim.

All variants have an eight-speed 'Steptronic' torque converter automatic transmission. A BMW spokesperson confirmed to CarsGuide that the internationally-available Touring wagon variant will not be offered in Australia, citing low demand.

The new 12.3-inch multimedia screen dominates the dash (international variant shown).

BMW offers its cars with a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty promise, (behind Genesis and now Mercedes-Benz which both offer five-year warranties), and the 5 Series is subject to computer-determined ‘condition-based servicing’. Like rivals, BMW offers pre-paid service packages to cover these intervals in either Basic or Plus plans.

The new 5 Series range, including the yet-to-be-priced M5 will hit dealerships in October.

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