Compare the2025 BMW 5 SeriesVS 2024 Lexus ES

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 5 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 5 Series has standard Cross Traffic Warning with Brake Intervention, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the 5 Series 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the BMW 5 Series is safer than the ES:

The BMW 5 Series achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The ES last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023.

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series 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 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 5 Series’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 5 Series second among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The ES isn’t in the top three in its category.

The 5 Series has more powerful engines than the ES:

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

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the ES:

Regardless of its engine, the 5 Series’ 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 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 5 Series higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus ES (5 to 7). This means the 5 Series produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ES every 15,000 miles.

The 5 Series’ 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’ brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

The 5 Series’ 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 stops much shorter than the ES:

For better traction, the 5 Series has larger standard tires than the ES (245/45R19 vs. 215/55R17). The 5 Series’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (F:255/35R21 & R:285/30R21 vs. 235/45R18).

The 5 Series’ 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’ optional 255/35R21 front and 285/30R21 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 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES. The 5 Series’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the ES F Sport.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 5 Series’ wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the ES (117.9 inches vs. 113 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 5 Series is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ES.

The 5 Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.5% to 47.5%) than the ES’ (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the 5 Series more stable handling and braking.

The 530i xDrive handles at .95 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 530i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the ES 300h (25.8 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The front grille of the 5 Series 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 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

The 5 Series has a much larger trunk than the ES (18.4 vs. 13.9 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the 5 Series’ 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’ 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 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 has standard driver and 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’ 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’ 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.

The 5 Series has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the ES. The 5 Series 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 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the ES.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 5 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the ES.

The 5 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The ES doesn’t offer an automated parking system.