2021 BMW 5 Series hybrid can do up to 67 km on pure electric drive

The BMW 5 Series range has been one of the best selling models for BMW and comes in a wide variety of trims. BMW has now revived its premium executive sedan for the new model year with a host of updates.

2021 BMW 5 Series Exterior

The most prominent update is the styling of the signature Kidney grille which now adopts the new BMW design language seen in their other models. The BMW kidney grille grows in width and height, drops down further into the front bumper and comes with a single-piece surround. The headlights have been made slimmer and adopt an L-shape design for a sleeker appearance and feature BMW’s laser technology.

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The rear is also redesigned with simpler lines, the exhaust tips have a trapezoidal shape and fit in nicely with the new diffuser element offered in the M-sport pack. The 2021 5 Series also gets new 18- and 20-inch wheels and adds four new paint options.

2021 BMW 5 Series Interior

On the inside, the new BMW 5 Series comes standard with a 10.25-inch or an optional 12.3-inch infotainment Display with newly designed controls on the centre console. It also comes standard with a sports leather steering wheel with newly arranged multifunction buttons. All new BMW 5 Series Sedan and new BMW 5 Series Touring models include automatic climate control with extended features as standard.

Updates to the 5 Series Hybrid models

The biggest news is the expansion of the Plug-in hybrid range which is now available across five different models –  BMW 530e Sedan, 530e Touring, 530e xDrive Sedan, 530e xDrive Touring and the 545e xDrive Sedan with a six-cylinder in-line combustion engine which will be available later in the year. The plug-in hybrid models now feature the new BMW eDrive Zone function which automatically switches the car to an all-electric mode when entering ‘green zones’.

The electric range is increased to 67 km compared to last year model’s 66 km. Power gets a bump from last year’s 252 hp to a healthy 40 hp increase leading to 292 hp (thanks to the XtraBoost feature which is now standard) while the torque output remains the same. The new 530e sedan accelerates faster to 100 km/h (5.9 seconds) compared to the previous year’s model (6.1 seconds).

The CO2 emissions remain relatively unaffected in the new model line. The detailed figures are provided in the following tables.

Table comparing all the new plug in models:

2020 BMW Plug-in Hybrid range specifications	BMW 530e Sedan	BMW 530e xDrive Sedan	BMW 530e Touring	BMW 530e xDrive Touring	BMW 545e xDrive Sedan
Engine	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission	Six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Engine Power	135 kW/184 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm	135 kW/184 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm	135 kW/184 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm	135 kW/184 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm	210 kW/286 hp at 5,000 – 6,000 rpm
Electric Motor output	80 kW/109 hp	80 kW/109 hp	80 kW/109 hp	80 kW/109 hp	80 kW/109 hp
Combined Output	215 kW/292 hp	215 kW/292 hp	215 kW/292 hp	215 kW/292 hp	290 kW/394 hp
Torque (combined)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)	600 Nm (442 lb-ft)
Acceleration (0 – 100 km/h)	5.9 seconds	5.9 seconds	6.1 seconds	6.1 seconds	4.7 seconds
Top speed	235 km/h [146 mph]	230 km/h [143 mph]	225 km/h [140 mph]	225 km/h [140 mph]	250 km/h [155 mph]
Fuel consumption	1.8 – 1.7 l/100 km [156.9 – 166.2 mpg imp]	2.1 – 2.0 l/100 km [134.5 – 141.2 mpg imp]	2.1 – 1.9 l/100 km [134.5 – 148.7 mpg imp]	2.3 – 2.1 l/100 km [122.8 – 134.5 mpg imp]	2.4 – 2.1 l/100 km [117.7 – 134.5 mpg imp]
Electric Range	62 – 67 km	56 – 58 km	58 – 62 km	53 – 56 km	54 – 57 km
CO2 emissions	42 – 39 g/km	49 – 46 g/km	47 – 43 g/km	52 – 49 g/km	54 – 49 g/km

A comparison of last year’s model and the facelift model:

Comparison of the 2019 530e & 2020 530e	2020 BMW 530e Sedan	2019 BMW 530e Sedan
Engine	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission	Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, plug-in hybrid system with synchronous electric motor, eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Combined Output	215 kW/292 hp	185 kW/252 hp
Torque (combined)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)	420 Nm (310 lb-ft)
Acceleration (0 – 100 km/h)	5.9 seconds	6.1 seconds
Top speed	235 km/h [146 mph]	235 km/h [146 mph]
Fuel consumption	1.8 – 1.7 l/100 km	1.8 to 1.6 litres/100 km
Electric Range	62 – 67 km	61 to 66 kilometres
CO2 emissions	42 – 39 g/km	41-36 g/km