BMW 540d xDrive 2025 review: Sedan

BMW is the boss of modern mid-sized sports sedan.

It all started with the original 5 Series of 1972, predating both the 3 Series and 7 Series that flank it, giving the Bavarian brand a fresh tilt against its more comfort-biased Mercedes-Benz arch enemy.

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From the humdrum 520i and stunning i5 EV to the ballistic hybrid-V8 M5, BMW continues to evolve the 5 Series. So, it may come as a shock to learn that, in 2025, a big six-cylinder diesel version of the eighth-generation G60 series has landed in Australia.

Kicking off from $134,900 before on-road costs, this is far from affordable, and is plainly at odds with where the industry is heading – an out-of-favour three-box sedan powered by a great big dirty diesel engine.

BMW is serious here. Beyond the usual luxury-car accoutrement and latest safety tech, buyers score all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, trick adaptive LED headlights, adaptive dampers, a glass roof, powered boot lid, 18-speaker premium audio, a digital key with personalised preferences, adaptive cruise control, surround-view cameras, remote-control parking, heated/powered sports front seats, an M-Sport trim kit, BMW Connected Drive with auto-emergency assistance and 20-inch alloys. What more could you want?

A prettier face? For the most part, today’s 5 Series is a handsome, well-proportioned four-door sedan (and Touring wagon), possessing a self-assured air of dignity that most SUVs can’t hope to match. But the bloated kidney grille is like a big red nose smack in the centre, especially with its LED lipliner radiating to embarrassingly vexing effect. Who asked for this?

@carsguide.com.au 2025 BMW 540d xDrive :camera: 223kW/670Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo diesel engine :camera: 6.5L/100km :camera: $134,900 before on-roads -- Does the BMW 540d xDrive stand as tall as our other favourite current 5 Series models, like the sweet i5 EV and ballistic M5 V8 hybrid missile?Ugly grille aside, the handsome, spacious and beautifully-finished five-seater leans into its BMW-ness with intoxicating relish, combining effortless torque-rich performance with exceptional fuel economy, in a stirring dynamic package.As a sedan in a luxury SUV world, and – controversially – a diesel to boot, the 540d xDrive is an outlier – yet it’s way cooler as a result. Too bad the price of entry is so steep.#BMW #5Series #540d #i5 #M5 #sedan #car #carsguide #fyp ♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au

In contrast, the 540d’s interior is a symphony of style and substance. The solidity, tactility and aroma are alluring, making it possibly the loveliest new-car interior of the year. At least as our test car was specified.

Highlights include the silky-smooth feel of the touchscreen, consistently crisp graphic design themes, the beautiful glow of the ambient lighting (in the right colours) and all the crafted finishes and textiles within reach or sight. No cheapo plastics here.

Even the thick-rimmed steering wheel's suppleness is delightful, bonding the driver to the business end of the 5 Series down below.

In an example of virtual and physical controls blending nicely, the 14.9-inch central display never calls for a distracting deep dive into sub-menus whilst on the go. Easily identified, the main settings are either a press of a button or prod of a screen away.

To that end, let’s also praise the intuitive iDrive controller that further encourages eyes-on-road, perfect driving position, sumptuous front seats, effective ventilation and the first dependable wireless charger we’ve ever used. An uplifting cabin experience all round, then.

OK. We can live with the limited storage, poor rear vision (though the camera clarity is revelatory) and occasional trim rattle disturbing the serenity.

But what is with BMW instrumentation nowadays? Why abandon decades of benchmark dial design purity for messy digitised angled nonsense? The alternative configurations are equally unintelligible. Something special has been lost. Even an electronic facsimile of classic-era analogue counters to shut up whiney motoring journalists, as per the latest Ford Mustang, would suffice. Only the excellent head-up display saves this from being a complete botch.

But back to better things.

The 540d is a five-metre long vehicle with a three-metre wheelbase, so getting in the back seat isn’t as hard as its low and swoopy lines in this era of body SUVs suggest, and once there, a nicely-angled backrest, soft cushion and plenty of amenities make the back row a sumptuously cosy place to be. And, like Fido, we’re also glad the windows wind all the way down.

Further back, the 60:40 split/fold backrest reveal a long and wide boot floor, measuring in at 520 litres, but no spare wheel choice in Australia is a poor oversight.

The 540d’s 223kW/670Nm 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel boasts a 48-volt mild hybrid system, featuring a motor/generator for a 13kW/200Nm boost while collecting otherwise-wasted kinetic energy under braking. Have no doubt: it proves there’s still life left in an ICE, providing oodles of gloriously syrupy thrust.

Mated to a sublime eight-speed torque-converter auto, the BMW lopes along like a giant taking huge strides, covering ground and flattening hills with relentless ease while wearing Ugg boots to muffle the sound. This is true, refined, sophisticated GT motoring.

And that’s all in Normal mode. Select Sport, and the 540d’s mood intensifies, with more huff, more puff and a whole lot more muscle underfoot. That 5.2s 0-100km/h number seems pessimistic. That’s attainable from a brief squirt of extra boost via the paddle shifters, packing a real wallop.

Our trip meter showed 6.2L/100km, which is better than the published average of 6.5, whilst our pump-to-pump refill revealed 7.3L/100km.

There’s no disguising the sedan’s size and weight, but its keen (four-wheel) steering and tenacious (AWD-enhanced) traction melds seamlessly to provide terrific agility and control, in the tightest of turns to the widest or fast-corner arcs, the BMW glides through.

That the 540d manages all that dynamic discipline, while providing an appropriately isolated ride that errs on the firm side, speaks volumes for the company’s suspension engineering genius. And speaking of progress, the advanced driver-assist safety systems are exquisitely tuned to work with – and not against – the driver.

Only the occasional smaller-frequency bump-thump sometimes catches it out. Not even tyre drone is an issue. This thing is limo-quiet.

Fast Facts:
Year/Make/Model	2025 BMW G60 540d xDrive
Engine hybrid	3.0L 6-cyl turbo-diesel mild
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Power	223kW @ 4000rpm
Torque	670Nm @ 1500-2500rpm
0-100km/h	5.2
Kerb weight	1905kg
Power-to-weight ratio	117kW/tonne
Avg. fuel consumption	6.5L/100km
CO2	172g/km
Fuel tank/range	60L/923km
Warranty	5 year/Unlimited kilometres
Service Interval diagnosis	Condition-based self diagnosis
Length/Width/Height/Wheelbase	5060/1900/1515/2995mm
Cargo capacity	520L
Turning circle	11.8 metres
Ground clearance	154mm
Towing capacity braked/unbraked	2000/750kg
ANCAP rating	5
Price	$134,900