2024 BMW 5 Series vs 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2024 BMW 5 Series was designed with a focus on aerodynamics and modern styling, presenting a clean and minimalist aesthetic both inside and out. The 530i test car featured a prominent shiny grille and intricate 21-inch wheels, with the M Sport bodywork adding a touch of flair, especially when paired with the Carbon Black paint. Inside, the M Sport treatment continued with Smoke-color Veganza artificial leather, aluminum trim, and artistic metal speaker grilles, contrasting with the otherwise black cabin. However, the interior suffered from reflections and glare, complicating the use of controls. The BMW Curved Display housed most functions on a screen, with traditional iDrive controls on the center console, though these were touch-sensitive and could be frustrating to use. Despite these issues, the 530i M Sport exuded luxury, with advanced technology like the BMW Curved Display and iDrive 8.5 infotainment system.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, available only as a five-door hatch, offered a more expressive design than its predecessor, though not necessarily more attractive. The wide-mouth grille, standard LED headlights, and a light strip on SE and Autobahn models added creative touches, but the low placement of these elements gave the car odd proportions. The 380 special edition package, standard on manual-transmission models, included gloss black 19-inch wheels, a black roof, and mirror caps. The interior combined classic GTI styling with modern tech, featuring a digital instrument cluster, a large infotainment screen, and heavily bolstered front seats with signature plaid upholstery. The steering wheel, however, seemed borrowed from a VW Atlas. The GTI's interior was a blend of practicality and style, with some haptic controls that hindered functionality.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series, specifically the 530i model, was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system enhanced efficiency, and BMW estimated a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. The 530i excelled in acceleration and overtaking, with a quiet and smooth engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifted seamlessly. The M Sport suspension provided a supple ride, and the car handled twisty roads with ease, thanks to variable-ratio sport steering and M Sport braking components. However, the driving experience felt remote and muted, akin to playing a video game. Fuel economy was below expectations, with the 530i M Sport returning 24.7 mpg on the evaluation loop and averaging 26.7 mpg during the test week.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It offered a six-speed manual transmission and a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard. The GTI's chassis included an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential and optional adaptive damping, providing precise handling and a stable feel. The driving experience was smooth and mature, with linear powertrain response and no turbo lag. The GTI excelled as a daily driver, offering comfort and quietness, especially with adaptive dampers. While it lacked the excitement of some competitors, the GTI was a well-rounded car for real-life scenarios.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series excelled as a luxury car, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The power-adjustable front seats were wrapped in perforated Veganza artificial leather, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was equally comfortable, with ample legroom, headroom, and footroom. Interior storage was adequate, with a tray for smartphones, door armrests, and a small bin under the center armrest. The trunk offered 18.4 cubic feet of space, though a spare tire storage box reduced cargo room. The enclosed trunk hinges maximized available space, with deep wells on either side of the spare tire container.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered practicality with its hatchback body style, providing 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 34.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Passenger space was comparable to sport compact sedans, with slightly more second-row headroom but less first-row headroom. The GTI included standard features like heated front seats, automatic climate control, and ambient lighting. SE and Autobahn models added a sunroof, keyless entry, and leather upholstery. However, haptic controls for temperature and audio volume hindered functionality, as they lacked physical feedback and were awkwardly placed.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system under a single curved display, running BMW Operating System 8.5. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a personal eSIM 5G connection, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, navigation, and more. The iDrive controls were part of a gloss-black touch-sensing panel, which collected lint and fingerprints. The Premium Package added a head-up display and Natural Interaction, allowing voice and gesture controls. However, the Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) voice control was inconsistent, with some impressive features but also notable shortcomings. The optional Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound system was a reasonable upgrade, though sound quality was not exceptional. The Premium Package also included Parking Assistant Plus, with an exterior camera array and an interior camera for remote monitoring.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI came with an 8.25-inch touchscreen on the base S trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and a six-speaker audio system. SE and Autobahn models had a 10-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was generally user-friendly, though satellite radio information took time to display. The 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster offered four configurations, but the design was somewhat cheesy, and information conveyance was lacking. The GTI's infotainment system was well-executed, but the driver-centric instrument cluster needed improvement.

The 2024 BMW 5 Series came with Active Driving Assistant, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. BMW Assist eCall provided automatic collision notification and an SOS emergency request button. The Driving Assistant Professional Package added advanced features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist, though our test car did not have this package. The lane-departure warning system was sophisticated, issuing alerts only when necessary. The 5 Series earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though it had not been assessed in a new moderate-overlap frontal-impact evaluation.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI received top "Good" scores in some IIHS crash tests, though full ratings were not available. Headlights received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings, depending on the trim level. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The GTI also had Intelligent Crash Response and, in DSG-equipped models, Emergency Assist. Additional features included park distance control, park assist, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition.