2024 BMW 5 Series price and specs: Sad you can't buy a Tesla Model S EV? BMW's new electric car will turn that frown upside down!

BMW Australia’s new-generation 5 Series will arrive with two electric vehicle (EV) options that should fill the hole left by the discontinuation of the Tesla Model S in the local market.

But before we get to the EVs, the 2024 5 Series line-up will open with the 520i, powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance.

Outputs hit 153kW/330Nm, which are sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission for a 0-100km/h run in 7.5 seconds.

Positioned at $114,900 before on-road costs, the new 520i is $7200 pricier than before, but with a new-generation changeover also comes a more substantial car with a longer equipment list.

Stretching in every aspect, the new 5 Series is 5060mm long (+97mm), 1900mm wide (+32mm), 1515mm tall (+36mm) and features a 2995mm wheelbase (+20mm) to liberate more in-cabin room for passengers.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch M alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, M Sport suspension, powered tailgate, keyless entry, push-button start, carbon-fibre-clad dashboard, front sports seats with heating, dual-zone climate control, Alcantara and synthetic leather interior trim, LED headlights, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a wireless smartphone charger.

Handling multimedia duties is massive 14.9-inch touchscreen with functions for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio and voice commands.

But stepping up to the mid-tier i5 eDrive40 swaps out the combustion powertrain for a 250kW/430Nm electric motor that cuts the 0-100km/h time to 6.0s.

With 582km of driving range on offer thanks to an 84kWh battery and priced at $155,900, the i5 eDrive40 could easily slot in for buyers considering a now-unavailable-in-Australia Tesla Model S.

Equipment additions over the 520i include 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, a 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, full-leather interior and metallic paint.

The i5 eDrive40 also features DC fast-charging up to 205kW, which can recoup from 10-80 per cent of battery in just 30 minutes, while AC charging power can reach up to 22kW.

BMW Australia is also throwing in a five-year Chargefox subscription with the purchase of each i5.

However, topping the 5 Series table – at least until the M5 comes on stream – is the i5 M60 xDrive, which ups the ante to 442kW/820Nm and pricing to $215,900.

This means the 0-100km/h sprint can be dispatched in just 3.8s thanks to all-wheel-drive grip, while still boasting a driving range of up to 516km (with the same 84kWh battery as the i5 eDrive40).

Extra gear added to the M60 includes 21-inch wheels, active anti-roll adaptive suspension, quad-zone climate control, an M rear spoiler and cooled front seats.

Of course, myriad of options are available across the line-up such as different-look wheels, unique paint schemes, Merion leather interior and an M Sport Plus package – the latter setting buyers back upwards of $4000 depending on trim.

One piece of the 5 Series puzzle yet to be revealed however, is the petrol engine’s fuel consumption and the electric car’s efficiency, but figures should be revealed closer to the large premium sedan’s local launch later this year.

2024 BMW 5 Series pricing before on-road costs

Keyword: 2024 BMW 5 Series price and specs: Sad you can't buy a Tesla Model S EV? BMW's new electric car will turn that frown upside down!