Compare 2017 BMW 530i vs 540i Review | Ramsey, NJ

Performance

The 2017 BMW 530i boasts a brand new two-liter inline four. This engine delivers 248 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a gain of eight horses. The top speed rises from 130 to 155 mph when you opt for the M Sport package. Xdrive also makes this smart car faster, trimming the 0-60 sprint to 5.8 seconds. For even more horsepower, the 2017 BMW 540i has a new V-6. Gaining 35 horses, the improved powertrain delivers 335 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque. You’ll notice the extra help when you make the 0-60 sprint in 4.9 seconds. It’s slightly faster if the sedan has xDrive. To enhance your driving experience, you can turn a dial to alter the steering tension and throttle response.

Appearance

Regardless of which 5 Series edition you pick, you’ll get BMW’s premium cabin. The leather-like upholstery can be upgraded to full leather if you prefer. The standard cockpit has a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The 16-way power-adjusting sport seats boast driver memory capability and power-adjustable side bolsters. If you still want more, you can enjoy ventilated, massaging seats with a 20-way adjustable multicontour system.

Twelve speakers fill the cabin with music. You can step up to a 16-speaker Harman Kardon or make the jump to the 16-speaker, 1,400-watt Bowers and Wilkins. Navigation, HD radio, Bluetooth audio streaming, and 20-gigabyte storage ensure you have all of the entertainment and information you’ll need. Technophiles will love the gesture controls on BMW’s smart 10.3-inch touchscreen. Of course, it lets you pinch and swipe, but there’s more to it than that. If you want to turn down the volume, you just make a circle on the screen. To skip a song or start navigation, you point with two fingers. A swipe of the hand rejects an incoming call. For the kids, you can get dual 10.2-inch entertainment screens with a DVD player.