Compare the2025 BMW 5 SeriesVS 2024 Lexus LS

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 LS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the 5 Series and the LS 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.

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 LS has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The 5 Series’ corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the LS’ (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 LS (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 LS isn’t in the top three in its category.

The 5 Series has more powerful engines than the LS:

As tested in Car and Driver the 530i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the LS 500h 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid:

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

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 LS Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the BMW 5 Series uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The LS requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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 LS (5 to 7). This means the 5 Series produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the LS 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 LS doesn’t offer launch control.

The 5 Series stops much shorter than the LS:

For better traction, the 5 Series’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the LS (F:255/35R21 & R:285/30R21 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20).

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 LS’ standard 50 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 LS 500 F Sport’s 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series offers optional 21-inch wheels. The LS’ largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The 5 Series offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the LS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The 530i xDrive handles at .95 G’s, while the LS 500h AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 530i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the LS 500h AWD (25.8 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The BMW 5 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 650 pounds less than the Lexus LS.

The 5 Series is 6.9 inches shorter than the LS, making the 5 Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 LS doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 5 Series has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the LS.

The 5 Series has a much larger trunk than the LS (18.4 vs. 17 cubic feet).

The 5 Series’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The LS doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

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 LS’ automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Lexus LS by over 10 to one during 2023.