Review: 2025 BMW 550e xDrive
The 550e can sprint to 100 km/hr in 4.3 seconds, as well as deliver 55 km of electric driving range. | CREDIT : Jack Kazmierski
In “Sport” mode the 550e really comes alive. | CREDIT : Jack Kazmierski
The centrepiece of the interior is an impressive screen. | CREDIT : Jack Kazmierski
Power, performance and a fuel-efficient powertrain combine to deliver a true win-win scenario.
The BMW 5 Series has long been popular with executives who want a performance-oriented business sedan. The 2025 550e xDrive continues to deliver the goods BMW fans have come to expect, along with an especially fuel-efficient powertrain. In short, the 550e proves that executive fleet customers can enjoy a fuel-efficient vehicle without sacrificing power and performance.
Production of the 550e xDrive began in July 2024, and the newest member of the 5 Series family features the latest BMW eDrive technology for plug-in hybrid systems, combined with a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder gasoline engine.
With a total output of 483 hp and a peak torque of 516 lb.-ft., the 550e can sprint to 100 km/hr in 4.3 seconds, as well as deliver 55 km of electric driving range, when fully charged. All-wheel drive is standard, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Driving dynamics
The 550e is a pleasure to pilot. Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet and relaxed ride, or a more impassioned journey, it’s happy to oblige. It offers a number of driving modes, from relaxing all the way to thrilling. Many performance enthusiasts will likely spend most of their time in “Sport” mode, where the 550e really comes alive.
With Sport mode engaged, the engine growls, the transmission gears down for maximum power delivery, and even the side bolsters in the front seats firm up to keep you in place on tighter turns. The power comes on strong, and acceleration is effortless.
Fuel economy
Despite all this fun behind the wheel, the 550e isn’t as thirsty as one might assume. According to Natural Resources Canada, it’s is rated at 3.5 Le/100 km (combined), when you factor in battery power, and 9.6 L/100 km (combined) for the gasoline engine alone. Considering how much power this performance sedan packs, those are decent numbers.
In our week with the car where we drove almost 900 km, we didn’t have to refuel even once, enjoying a combined fuel economy of 5.7 L/100 km. Your mileage will vary, of course, depending on whether you diligently plug the 550e in every night to recharge, and how far you drive on a daily basis.
Creature comforts and amenities
The interior is inviting and uncluttered. It’s an oasis of luxury with high-end material throughout. BMW has done an excellent job of insulating passengers from outside noise, which means that the interior is especially peaceful when running on electric power alone.
The centrepiece of the interior is an impressive screen that measures roughly six inches by 30 inches, and combines a customizable digital instrument cluster with a touch screen for the infotainment system.
The latter controls most vehicle functions, including climate control, navigation, the audio system, phone access, charging data, interior and exterior lighting controls, seat comfort settings, and much more. It also provides access to multiple apps, including games, Alexa, news, the owner’s manual, Spotify, and weather information, just to name a few. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you understand how BMW organizes all the menus and information, the process becomes more intuitive.
Key functions, like the sound system, can be accessed in a number of ways: with the touch screen, with steering wheel controls, with controls located on the centre console, or with hand gestures. So instead of smudging the touch screen with countless fingerprints every time you want to change a radio station or adjust the volume, BMW gives you numerous ways to interact with the onboard technology so that you can access key features without getting the touch screen dirty.
Safety and driver assistance
Standard equipment includes a long list of safety features and driver assistance technologies, including parking assistance, rear collision prevention, rear cross-traffic alert, park distance control, collision warning with braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional ($2,500) Advanced Driver Assistance Package, which includes a number of key technologies. For instance, the Front Cross-Traffic Alert feature warns you of oncoming vehicles whenever you pull forward wherever there’s a blind corner.
Another notable technology is the Highway Assistant, which maintain the speed and distance from the vehicle ahead, and keeps the vehicle centred in the lane when on the highway. It will even change lanes for you. The Driving Assistant Professional is another impressive technology. It’s so advanced that it can take over most driving functions, and will even merge onto the highway for you.
Now in its eighth generation, the 5 Series sedan continues to deliver the combination of power and luxury that performance-loving executives demand. The 550e, however, goes a step further by combining these key attributes with a fuel-efficient electrified powertrain. It’s one of those win-win scenarios business people love to talk about.
