2022 Lexus ES vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series presented a restrained design, distinguishing itself from other BMW sedans with its understated elegance. It underwent a minor styling refresh, which included sleeker LED headlights and a larger, yet tastefully sized, twin-kidney grille. The sedan's design updates also featured trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and new bumpers for the M Sport Package. Despite being 1.2 inches longer, the 5 Series maintained a commendable drag coefficient of 0.27. Inside, the familiar BMW layout remained largely unchanged, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and shifter style reinforcing the brand's identity. While the interior materials varied by trim level, the Nappa leather option in the 540i xDrive test car added a touch of luxury, though the sporty steering wheel felt somewhat out of place.

The 2022 Lexus ES continued its legacy as a staple in the Lexus lineup, balancing the need to attract younger buyers while retaining its loyal, older demographic. Built on the Global Architecture-K platform, the ES offered a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout with optional all-wheel drive. Its design featured elegant proportions and a sleek roofline, though the spindle grille and assertive headlamp shapes were polarizing. The interior, while precisely assembled, had an asymmetrical dashboard that felt cluttered. The F Sport model's two-tone leather seating added a sporty touch, contrasting with the rest of the car's more conservative design. The inclusion of a small analog chronometer in the touchscreen housing aimed to highlight the ES's heritage but instead contributed to the dash's dated appearance.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a diverse range of powertrains. The base 530i sedan featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i model, equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivered 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive and 4.6 seconds with xDrive all-wheel drive. The M550i xDrive boasted a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp, while the M5 offered a more powerful version with 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. Additionally, the 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with an electric range yet to be confirmed for 2021.

The 2022 Lexus ES came in three models, each with distinct powertrains. The ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds. The ES 350, with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 307 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor, producing a net 215 hp and achieving 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds. The ES 250 AWD test car, while smooth and predictable, felt slow compared to its luxury sedan peers. The ES 350's V6 offered more engaging performance, while the ES 300h excelled in fuel economy with 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available as a four-door, five-seat sedan, offered spaciousness reflective of its exterior dimensions. Front-seat space was competitive, and while rear seats appeared less roomy on paper, they provided ample room for passengers. The 540i model boasted 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing rivals like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The rear bench's 40/20/20 split fold allowed for accommodating longer items. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with various adjustments, providing supportive bolstering. However, forward visibility was hindered by the long hood, though a surround-view camera system aided maneuverability.

The 2022 Lexus ES, despite the SUV trend, offered practical advantages with its sedan form. It provided 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, consistent across models, including the hybrid ES 300h. The second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat, enhancing cargo capacity. The ES's lower center of gravity and ground clearance compared to the Lexus RX contributed to better handling and maneuverability. Inside, the ES featured ample storage, with bottle pockets, cupholders, and a spacious center console. The dash layout, while functional, lacked aesthetic appeal, though the prominent volume knob was a practical feature for mature drivers.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring the iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The infotainment screen's graphics were excellent, though the instrument cluster's layout could be confusing. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile interface, complemented by voice control and gesture controls, though the latter required learning specific gestures.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility. Standard audio included a 10-speaker Pioneer system, with upper trims offering a 12.3-inch touchscreen and Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio. The touchpad interface, while improved, remained challenging on rough roads. A 10-inch head-up display was available, enhancing safety by displaying critical information in the driver's line of sight. The ES also offered a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist, standard on upper trims. Lexus Enform connected services provided various trial memberships, including Safety Connect and Service Connect.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, while not crash-tested by the IIHS for 2021, received a "Top Safety Pick+" award for the 2020 model. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. BMW's driver-assist tech was noted for its sophistication and smooth operation, particularly in traffic-jam assist and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Lexus ES received top safety ratings, earning a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional standard features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and 10 airbags. Lexus Enform Safety Connect provided emergency services alerts for three years.