Compare the2023 BMW 5 Series SedanVS 2023 Lexus ES

The 5 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The ES doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the 5 Series Sedan and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The 5 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the ES’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series Sedan for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 44 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 5 Series Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 5 Series Sedan second among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The ES isn’t in the top three in its category.

The 5 Series Sedan has more powerful engines than the ES:

As tested in Motor Trend the 530i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the ES:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the 5 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the ES Hybrid.

Regardless of its engine, the 5 Series Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The 5 Series Sedan has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The 5 Series Sedan has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES’ standard fuel tank (18 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The 5 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ES doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 5 Series Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

The 5 Series Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES are solid, not vented.

The 5 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the ES:

For better traction, the 5 Series Sedan has larger standard tires than the ES (245/45R18 vs. 215/55R17). The 5 Series Sedan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (F:245/35R20 & R:275/30R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The 5 Series Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The 5 Series Sedan’s optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the ES F Sport’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series Sedan has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES. The 5 Series Sedan’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the ES F Sport.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 5 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The ES doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 5 Series Sedan has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The 5 Series Sedan 540i/M550i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The ES doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M550i offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the ES.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 5 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the ES (117.1 inches vs. 113 inches).

The 5 Series Sedan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.9% to 49.1%) than the ES’ (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the 5 Series Sedan more stable handling and braking.

The M550i xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M550i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.5 seconds quicker than the ES 300h (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The front grille of the 5 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 5 Series Sedan has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 5 Series Sedan easier. The 5 Series Sedan’s trunk lift-over height is 26.2 inches, while the ES’ liftover is 27.4 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the 5 Series Sedan’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the ES’ useful trunk space.

The 5 Series Sedan’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The engine in the 5 Series Sedan is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the ES, the 5 Series Sedan offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 5 Series Sedan’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the ES.

The 5 Series Sedan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the 5 Series Sedan and the ES offer optional heated front seats. The 5 Series Sedan also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES.

The 5 Series Sedan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the ES.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 5 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the ES because it costs $300 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 5 Series Sedan than the ES, including $3 less for fuel injection, $155 less for a timing belt/chain and $381 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the Lexus ES, based on reliability, safety and performance.