2018 BMW M550i xDrive Road Test and Review

2018 BMW M550i xDrive by Miles Branman ・ Photo by Miles Branman

Vehicle attributes were once strictly defined by segment: a luxury car was comfortable, an off-road vehicle was durable and a performance car was fast. Car buying was certainly simpler, but you needed a fleet to span the range of functionality. These days, the mass market is a blur of hybridized vehicles (and I don’t mean gas-electric powertrains). Consumers want efficiency, versatility, reliability, comfort — just about everything, really — all baked into a single car. On paper, everyone should buy a crossover (and many people do), but the problem with do-it-all vehicles is that they don’t always do any one thing that well. 

The sedan, and specifically the performance sedan, still has its place in the world. With a lower center of gravity and coefficient of drag than an SUV, passenger cars inherently handle better and ride more quietly than lifted vehicles. Among the current crop of performance sedans, the mid-size 2018 BMW M550i xDrive looks to have the right mix of agility, luxury and tech. Here’s what we learned after spending a week with Bavaria’s V8 bruiser.

What’s New For 2018

Earlier this year, BMW introduced its all-new G30 generation 5 Series. Initially, only 530i and 540i models were available — with four- and six-cylinder engines, respectively. For the 2018 model year, BMW wedged its 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood of the new 5 Series, added M Performance hardware and birthed the M550i xDrive. Though BMW has offered 550i models for years, this is the first M-Sport version — falling in line with the M240i, M340i and M760i versions of other BMWs. Until a new M5 goes on sale in 2018 (with a claimed 600 horsepower), the M550i is the quickest 5 Series ever built.

Photo by Miles Branman

Exterior Styling

The previous-generation 5 Series was, in this reviewer’s opinion, the least compelling BMW design in recent memory. Remove the badges and it was an amorphous, moderately upscale four-door — hardly the aesthetic goal for the original performance sedan. Thankfully, today's model is a tremendous improvement from all angles. Re-sculpting of the front and rear fascias, a stronger character line and new wheel designs provide a more distinctive, modern look. Enhancing the redesigned body are 19-inch M Performance lightweight wheels, larger front air intakes, a gunmetal gray rear diffuser, trunk lip spoiler, black painted dual exhaust ports and M550i badging. While Audi often garners praise for its sharp light signatures, BMW’s dual-wave LED headlights and milky C-shaped LED taillights look fantastic day or night. Though the M550i makes a greater impact than lesser 5 Series models, its physique is more debonair than dramatic. To say the M550i’s exterior is the least impressive thing about it only speaks volumes about the vehicle’s engineering and cabin quality.

Photo by Miles Branman

Interior Comfort

In contrast to the flashier interiors found in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, BMW has always chosen a more restrained interior design. While the intent has been to reduce distraction for the driver, BMW is finding many of its new customers appreciate a little embellishment. To accommodate, BMW has moved the needle slightly more towards a sense of occasion.

Shiny piano black trim now adorns the center stack, brushed metal and textured wood grain is integrated within the dashboard, there’s a larger center-mounted display, and BMW’s traditional analog instrument cluster is now a largely digital system. Add in the blue contrast stitching/piping against available cognac leather seats and the M550i’s cabin affords plenty of eye candy. Whether these changes align with your taste or not, inarguable improvements include a quieter cabin, more supple seats, additional passenger and cargo volume and a smoother ride.

Photo by Miles Branman

Convenience and Safety Features

Not only is the new 5 Series more captivating — it’s smarter, too. BMW’s “gesture control” (first seen on the 7 Series) allows passengers to adjust the radio, accept or reject phone calls and perform various other functions via hand signals. It might sound like a gimmick, but I found the system to work precisely as advertised. After only a few days with the car, I was using gestures absentmindedly. Meanwhile, BMW's iDrive continues to be a class-leading infotainment system with intuitive controls via the steering wheel, voice commands, the 10.25-inch touchscreen display or a control knob. Customizable tiles on the crisp, responsive monitor help you access popular functions like navigation, weather and vehicle settings in a snap. Another tech boon is the digital display embedded within an analog instrument cluster, which shows driver assistance features and telemetry data. Last but not least is the improved head-up display, which can be tailored to show whichever information you find most relevant. BMW also deserves credit for its latest driver aids. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and monitoring functions adapt quickly and smoothly to changes in traffic, giving us our best look yet at an autonomous driving system. While they aren’t perfect, BMW’s assistance features add a genuinely useful (non-frustrating) safety layer.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy

With two more cylinders than the 540i and 121 more horsepower, the M550i feels more like a true M car than it does a standard 5 Series. In fact, thanks to its sophisticated xDrive all-wheel drive system, the M550i is quicker to 60 mph than the current M5 — despite making substantially less power. Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 developing 456 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, paired to a ZF eight-speed automatic.

From a standstill, the M550i will burst to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and continue accelerating to its electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. As a fun reference point, the Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 supercar does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds; for a 4,350-pound sedan to be barely half a second slower than a modern Lamborghini is astounding. The EPA estimates the 2018 M550i will return 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined — not groundbreaking fuel economy figures but strong for any V8-powered car.

Photo by Miles Branman

Driving Dynamics

After styling, the 5 Series most needed improvement to its driving dynamics. Though the old model was among the most engaging mid-size luxury sedans, it was still below BMW’s own practiced standards for driving enjoyment. Once again, the new model seeks to smooth over ruffled feathers. Standard features on the M550i include an adaptive suspension, sport brakes, a sport-tuned transmission and all-wheel drive. Available upgrades (equipped on my test car) include "M Suspension Plus," active roll stabilization and four-wheel steering.

Upon pitching the M550i into a corner, the first thing I notice is how light the car feels. Chassis tweaks and a longer wheelbase create the sense of stability and agility. With the adaptive suspension set to Sport or Sport Plus mode, the M550i plants itself to rocket out of corners. The AWD system effectively maintains grip, and while torque vectoring might further enhance performance, I’m blown away by the car’s handling prowess. If the M550i needs anything, it’s a dose of steering feedback. The electronic steering rack can explain some of the disconnect compared to a hydraulic system, but competitors including Porsche have better electronic units. The M550i is responsive to driver inputs and loads in agreeable steering weight, but getting a read on tire behavior is tough.

Photo by Miles Branman

Pricing and Packages

The 2018 BMW M550i starts at $72,100 plus $995 in destination fees. Popular add-ons include the $800 Cold Weather Package (heated steering wheel, front/rear heated seats), $1,700 Driving Assistance Plus Package (lane-departure warning, frontal collision warning, city collision mitigation and pedestrian protection), $3,600 Dynamic Handling Package (adaptive M Suspension Plus, active roll stabilization and integral active steering), $1,200 Executive Package (soft-close doors, ceramic controls, wireless charging, Wi-Fi hotspot, enhanced Bluetooth and USB) and $700 Parking Assistance Package (surround view camera, front/rear parking sensors). Some standalone extras include Apple CarPlay ($300), Gesture Control ($160) and a Bowers & Wilkins sound system ($3,400).

Photo by Miles Branman

Highs and Lows

Highs: -    Astounding acceleration -    Truly innovative convenience and safety features -    Smart, upscale styling -    Plush, quiet ride Lows: -    Minimal steering feel

Photo by Miles Branman

Competition

Based on its size, price and performance, the M550i has three key competitors: Audi’s S6 ($70,900), Mercedes-AMG’s E43 ($71,600) and Jaguar’s XF-S AWD ($66,200). Among these, the M550i makes the most power and is the quickest to 60 mph, though the similarly priced S6 isn’t far behind. Despite being the most expensive of the set, the E43 struggles to keep up with either the BMW or Audi. Though it may not be the most handsome (the Jaguar takes that honor), the M550i is more entertaining to drive, more comfortable and more innovative than all of its rivals.

Photo by Miles Branman

Our Take

After building a case against do-it-all vehicles, the 2018 BMW M550i introduced an unforeseen caveat. With sports car acceleration, luxury car ride quality and the next level of convenience technology, BMW’s fastest 5 Series is a multi-faceted success story. Even after the new M5 hits dealerships, the M550i will remain a compelling sport sedan and a positive pivot for the German automaker.

Photo by Miles Branman