2020 5 Series Sedan Interior
While the overall design of the 5 Series' interior isn't the most adventurous, it's a cabin with real substance. Rich materials abound, with soft-touch surfaces everywhere you look. While Audi has largely replaced physical buttons with expansive touchscreens in all new A6 models, the 5 Series successfully melds familiar knobs and switches with the latest iDrive system and the new digital instrument cluster. Seat comfort is superb, and space utilization is excellent, although rear knee room isn't exceptional considering the size of the BMW. While there are many standard creature comforts, the 5 Series can also be specified with a host of advanced extras such as remote control parking, LED adaptive headlights, and a rear-seat entertainment system.
2020 5 Series Sedan Interior Photos
Seating and Interior Space
Five passengers can be accommodated comfortably in the 5 Series, although as is often the case, the rear middle seat occupant will be less comfortable than those in the outer two seats because of a raised center seat. The driving position is comfortable and highly adjustable, with the steering column also offering enough range for most. Legroom and headroom are generous front and rear, although rear-seat passengers have only average space for feet under the front seats. Rear legroom can get a tad pinched if the driver and front-seat passenger are taller. Ingress and egress are made easy thanks to wide-opening doors. In terms of visibility, the 5 Series offers a clear view out of the rear window, and the rear headrests don't get in the way of the driver's view out. A decently sized glasshouse all-round ensures that there are no awkward neck-craning moments for the driver.
2020 BMW 5 Series Sedan Interior Dimensions:
| BMW 5 Series Sedan Trims | 530i Sedan | 530e iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid | 530e xDrive iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid | 530i xDrive Sedan | 540i Sedan | 540i xDrive Sedan | M550i xDrive Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom Front Seat | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. | 38.8 in. |
| Headroom Back Seat | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. | 37.5 in. |
| Legroom Front Seat | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. | 41.4 in. |
| Legroom Back Seat | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. | 36.5 in. |
| Shoulder Room Front | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. | 58.7 in. |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. |
Interior Colors and Materials
As with the exterior, the interior of the 5 Series can be specified in a wide range of colors and materials. The comprehensive color palette is made up of the following shades: Canberra Beige/Black, Black, Ivory White, Cognac, Night Blue, Mocha, Caramel/Black, Smoke White/Black, and Tartufo Full. On the 530i, Canberra Beige/Black or Black are the standard color options, along with SensaTec-upholstered seats. Dakota leather is a $1,450 option, Nappa leather is $2,450, and Merino leather is $5,150. Opt for the 540i, and Dakota leather is standard, with Nappa leather being a $1,000 option and Merino leather costing $3,700. Dakota leather is also standard on the M550i, with Nappa leather an additional $1,000 and Merino leather an extra $3,200.
On all variants, a range of standard wood trims can be chosen including Fineline Ridge Wood and Burl Walnut Wood. Aluminum Rhombicle is a sportier alternative. Upgrades include an Individual Piano Black finish and Individual Plum Brown Wood, each costing $1,080. The M550i also gets a SensaTec-finished dashboard for an even more luxurious feel.
2020 5 Series Sedan Trunk and Cargo Space
There's a surprisingly large gulf in trunk size between the 5 Series and its key rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. While the BMW offers a commodious 18.7 cubic feet of space, the Mercedes can only manage 13.1 cu.ft. The 5 Series' trunk is large enough to accommodate six carry-on suitcases or four sets of golf clubs, while the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats make it possible to load a bicycle, provided the front wheel is removed. Tethering hooks and small nets are also fitted in the trunk to prevent items from rolling around once on the move.
Small-item storage space is fair, with water bottle holders in all the doors and a covered compartment in front, which is ideal for storing your mobile phone. Both the glovebox and the compartment below the center armrests are decently sized.
2020 BMW 5 Series Sedan Trunk and Cargo Space Photos
2020 BMW 5 Series Sedan Cargo Dimensions:
| BMW 5 Series Sedan Trims | 530i Sedan | 530e iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid | 530e xDrive iPerformance Plug-In Hybrid | 530i xDrive Sedan | 540i Sedan | 540i xDrive Sedan | M550i xDrive Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trunk Volume | 18.7 cu. ft. | 14.5 cu. ft. | 14.5 cu. ft. | 18.7 cu. ft. | 18.7 cu. ft. | 18.7 cu. ft. | 18.7 cu. ft. |
2020 5 Series Sedan Infotainment and Features
Features
A quick look at the extensive range of optional features would lead you to think that the 5 Series is poorly equipped, but this isn't the case. The base 530i gets keyless entry, 16-way power front sports seats with a memory system for the driver, dual-zone climate control, a two-way power glass moonroof, BMW's extended ambient lighting with 11 predefined lighting designs, a backup camera, adaptive LED headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The 540i is very similarly equipped, but gets leather upholstery as standard. Moving up to the M550i ups the luxury feel and adds a SensaTec dashboard, 20-way power multi-contour front seats, and hands-free trunk-lid opening/closing. A dizzying array of options - both standalone and bundled together in several packages - means that customizing your 5 Series can quickly become an eye-wateringly expensive exercise. Available extras include remote control parking, a rear-seat entertainment system, a head-up display, BMW's gimmicky-but-interesting gesture control, and an essential in luxury car motoring from a class above: automatic soft-closing doors.
Infotainment
The 2020 BMW 5 Series gets two significant upgrades: the iDrive 7 infotainment system and the addition of BMW's latest Live Cockpit Professional digital instrumentation display. The iDrive system can be used to control the 10.25-inch central display by voice, via the touchscreen, or using the traditional touchpad central controller. The images displayed are crisp and clean. While there is an initial learning curve to master, the system is otherwise intuitive and slick. Live Cockpit Professional is a bit less successful - while the large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster certainly looks modern, the counterclockwise tachometer, and the general layout of information is fussier and less customizable than systems from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
Standard connectivity features include Apple CarPlay integration, but only with a one-year free trial. Android Auto, unfortunately, is still missing from every BMW. There's also USB connectivity, HD radio, Bluetooth streaming audio, and navigation, while the 530i and 540i feature a 12-speaker HiFi sound system. Connected Package Professional gets you real-time traffic updates and includes BMW's new natural language voice command system. The M550i gets a superb Harman Kardon surround sound system with 16 speakers, along with SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a one-year all-access subscription.