The BMW M5 and the venerable 5-Series as a whole have been a persistent presence in BMW showrooms for years. While the large sedan has been eclipsed by SUVs in the sales charts these days, it’s still a rock solid offering that has its own lineup of loyalists.
But what if you’re looking to enter the PHEV ranks and don’t want an SUV to crimp on your need for speed? BMW thinks it has the thing with the 2025 BMW 550e
Better than the M5? You bet it is
While that statement might sound like sacrilege once you dig into the finer details, you do see where we are coming from. The M5 is still motivated by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that now benefits from a plug-in hybrid setup. The engine makes the right noises but the suspension is way too stiff and really compromises its day to day usefulness.
This is where the 550e comes in. While it does not get the V8, it does get a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six that’s paired with a hybrid system. The setup makes 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. That’s impressive when you consider it only makes 17 less horsepower than the V10-powered E60 M5 and yet it manages to match that model’s 4.1 second 0 to 60 time. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is standard.
The biggest star of the show though is the air suspension. It provides a softer tone and it really makes the car more comfortable over rough pavement which is a marked improvement over the M5. The steering is still crisp and the 550e did a good job communicating its intentions to the driver especially in sharp cornering. However, the 550e is still a pretty portly car and there were times where it reminded you of just how heavy it is especially in passing maneuvers.
Bland as a Ritz cracker
The 5-Series received a styling update a short while back and unfortunately, it’s about as bland as you can get. Unlike older iterations of the 5-Series that boldly embraced their lines (even with their infamous Chris Bangle penned touches) this iteration of 5-Series is decidedly more conservative. The front headlights and the twin-kidney grilles are sporty looking but the rear-end is very bland and that’s not helped by the side profile which plays it safe at the cost of styling.
Our tester arrived with the M Sport package which spices things up a bit with package exclusive rims and other touches but those items can only do so much to hide the fact the styling is still too bland for its own good. It’s a shame too because the lighting itself does give the 5-Series a distinctive presence in night time driving.
The interior is a world of contradictions
The interior of the BMW 550e continues to embody some of the best and worst traits of the 5-Series. The basic design is stylish and the front seats are comfortable but some of the materials used do feel cheaper than they should be especially in this segment.
The interior is very ergonomically sound but the iDrive 8.5 system’s extensive use of screen-based controls for most functions did make us miss some of the analog controls that once were part of older iDrive systems. The back seats are tight for taller adults but children and shorter adults can fit back there in a pinch for shorter journeys. The trunk is decent but there are rivals that have bigger accommodations back there. Options are a bit interesting in the 550e with the 550e not getting cooled or massaging seats standard a rather odd omission when others in its segment add those in standard when you get to equivalent trims.
The 550e also gets BMW’s “My Modes” feature which allows owners to choose from several modes: Personal, Expressive, Sport, Efficient, BMW Relax Mode, Digital Art Mode and Theatre Mode. This is something we have seen in other BMW models but “Expressive Mode” is our least favorite of the bunch with tacky visuals and pumped in artificial sounds that make you feel your in a publicly funded tram versus an ultra-expensive BMW.
How much?
Pricing for the BMW 550e xDrive starts at $75,500 with our optioned tester arriving at the office with a final as-tested price of just over $78,000. This pricing is on par with rivals and it doesn’t hurt either that the model gets an EPA-rated 68 MPGe.
However, the 5-Series’s age is starting to catch up with it and its wrinkles are making it a harder sell for buyers who will most likely pass it up and go for either the larger 7-Series or one of BMW’s growing army o SUV models. But we think you should give it a chance, because if you do, you might just be pleased with some of the 550e’s inner qualities.
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