Can 2024 BMW 530i Buyers Skip xDrive All-Wheel Drive? Our Test Results Say...

Hot on the heels of testing the all-wheel-drive 2024 BMW 530i xDrive, we got an identically equipped rear-drive 530i (née sDrive) to test, as well. Does AWD or RWD make a difference in our testing results of the entry-level gas-fed 5 Series?

What Powers the 2024 BMW 530i?

Regardless of which-wheel-drive a 530i has, it gets the same direct-injected turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and supplemented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The entirety of that engine-derived torque arrives at a mere 1,600 rpm, and when needed, is enhanced by up to 18 lb-ft added by the electric motor. Depending on drive settings, its highly tuned eight-speed automatic transmission operates with either invisible gear changes in the comfort-driven modes or head-tossing upshifts in the sportier modes, say, after a hard launch at the test track.

Both 530is came equipped with the $3,000 M Sport package (suspension, brakes, steering wheel, trim); optional 21-inch wheels ($1,800) with Continental EcoContact 6Q (star) M0 grand touring summer tires sized 245/35R21 in front and 275/30R21 in back; the $2,550 Premium package (loads of tech); a glass roof ($600); and a Bowers & Wilkins audio system ($950). The difference in weight is just 161 pounds, but the heavier xDrive AWD version carries 1 percent more of its mass on its nose.

With both powertrains set to the most aggressive Sport Plus mode, electronic stability/traction control disabled, and transmission in Sport drive, neither car is powerful enough to elicit wheelspin on an aggressive launch. Both leave the line with stately gusto, but as one would expect, the AWD 530i xDrive reaches 30 mph a tenth of a second ahead (2.0 vs. 2.1 seconds). That eye-blink xDrive lead is erased by 50 mph, where the RWD 530i tied then passes it on the way to its own 0.1-second lead at 60 mph (5.5 vs. 5.6 seconds). The lighter rear-drive 530i increases its lead at the end of the quarter mile where it crosses the finish line at 14.1 seconds at 98.6 mph compared to the xDrive’s 14.3-second at 96.0 mph best.

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AWD or RWD Grip

We’re inclined to believe the Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan where we tested the 530i xDrive provides slightly more pavement grip than the Honda Proving Center in California where we tested the RWD 530i. Why? Wearing identical tires, the best stop from 60 mph for the heavier xDrive requires just 100 feet, whereas the lighter rear-driver eats up a still impressive 107 feet. More revealing, however, is the two-way average lateral acceleration recorded on the 100-foot-radius skidpad. The AWD 530i nets 0.95 g. The RWD car? Just 0.89 g. Some of this difference can also be attributed to the 530i xDrive’s ability to provide a skilled driver the ability to control and maintain a greater slip angle for the full circuit, where the rear-drive version understeers stubbornly from start to finish.

Despite the measured performance differences elsewhere, both cars turn in mediocre 25.8-second MotorTrend figure-eight lap times. Neither car can break traction and spin a tire on corner exits due to the underpowered and over-tired setup.

Is There a Reward or Penalty for AWD?

Is opting for xDrive AWD worth the $2,300 premium over a base 530i in terms of added performance? According to our test results on dry pavement, no. On the other hand, if low traction is part of your annual driving routine, there’s a good case for it and no fuel economy penalty. The EPA estimates the 530i gets the same 27/35/30 mpg city/highway/combined with xDrive or without, which is impressive for true five-seat luxury sedans weighing either side of two tons.

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What’s Not to Like About the 530i?

One trait that remains the same between the two versions of the same car is that neither one is able to provide any useful feedback to the driver. Their short-travel brake pedals are effective especially in initial application, and the systems withstand numerous stops without degrading but also without telegraphing impending ABS activation. The mild hybrid motor boost effectively eliminates turbo lag at low rpm, giving the impression of a much more powerful engine, and yet the drivetrain stays completely isolated from the cabin. The chassis is stable and steering precise, not requiring correction during cornering, but the helm otherwise completely lacks feedback to allow the drivers to determine how much grip is available at either the front or rear of the cars.

While both drivers wrung the best possible performance out of the RWD and AWD 530i variants without putting a tire wrong, the driving experiences are empty and sterile. This is the sort of driving experience we’ve grown to expect from many battery-powered vehicles, not a gas-powered BMW sedan. While the 3 Series (or more acutely the 2 Series) retains a modicum of driver engagement and pleasure, this version of the new 5 Series doesn’t feel like it’s produced by the same company. Meeting performance metrics is one thing, but BMW could try doing so with a little more of its traditional flair than you’ll find here.

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