BMW 5 Series: The Mid-Size Sedan Mercedes and Audi Should Probably Be Worried About

By Team Dailyrevs  

BMW 5 Series: The Mid-Size Sedan Mercedes and Audi Should Probably Be Worried About

  • BMW 5 Series sales jumped 56% in early 2025, outpacing the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 in the European luxury segment.

  • The electric i5 and Touring models are not just selling—they’re reshaping what buyers expect from a premium sedan.

  • BMW’s powertrain strategy is winning by offering choice without compromise in a market that still values flexibility.

While Rivals Chase Headlines, BMW Racks Up Sales

Forget concept cars and splashy unveilings. BMW’s 5 Series is quietly outselling everyone in the room. In just four months, it sold 20,402 units across Europe, outpacing both the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6. That’s a 56% leap year-over-year—a stat that doesn’t scream, but speaks volumes.

BMW didn’t get here through gimmicks. It got here through product clarity and understanding the European buyer better than anyone else.

Mercedes-Benz E Class Estate W213 Image Gallery

BMW’s Multi-Fuel Playbook Is Working—And Here’s Proof

You want gasoline? Done. Plug-in hybrid? Sure. Full EV? No problem. The 5 Series isn’t trying to predict the future—it’s hedging smartly against it. Nearly 9,000 buyers chose the i5, showing that electric is gaining traction—but BMW's strength lies in giving people options, not ultimatums.

This powertrain agnosticism has become a strategic advantage in a fragmented market.

The 2025 BMW M5 Touring Image Gallery

Long Roofs, Big Wins: Why Touring Is the Real Hero

In markets like Germany, sedans are respectable—but wagons are religion. The Touring variant now makes up over 60% of i5 sales, showing that utility hasn’t gone out of style. Especially when it looks this sharp and drives like this.

While other brands are busy feeding the SUV craze, BMW is cleaning up with a long-roof model that knows exactly who it’s built for.


Mercedes Is Still in the Game—But on the Back Foot

Mercedes isn’t losing outright—but it's reacting. The E-Class saw a 19% increase, and Audi’s A6 managed 10%, but both lag BMW by thousands of units. That’s not just market fluctuation; that’s strategic outmaneuvering.

If this pace holds, 2025 could be the year where BMW cements itself as not just a volume leader, but the emotional favorite too.

BMW 5 Series Touring Image Gallery

Audi’s A6 May Still Be Gearing Up

It’s worth noting that the Audi A6 is now transitioning into its fully redesigned C9 generation—with the 2026 model marking a clean-sheet update. While its current numbers trail BMW and Mercedes, they may not reflect the full story yet. It typically takes a few quarters for an all-new model to hit its stride, especially in a segment where fleet decisions, leasing cycles, and conservative buying behavior dominate. The A6's true performance curve may yet be ahead.

2026 Audi A6 Avant Image Gallery

Why the 5 Series Doesn’t Feel Like an “Electric Car”

BMW didn’t make the i5 look weird or feel experimental. That’s intentional. It still walks, talks, and drives like a 5 Series—just without the fuel stops. That restraint is paying off. Buyers want progress, not reinvention.

This is BMW doing electric on its own terms—and finally, it feels like the market is responding in kind.

Final Lap: BMW Didn’t Just Get Lucky—They Got Smart

This isn’t a fluke quarter. It’s a signal that BMW’s product planning, particularly in the 5 Series range, is sharper than it’s been in years. Plug-in or petrol, sedan or estate, the brand has positioned itself perfectly in a fragmented market.

And while Stuttgart and Ingolstadt have the engineering firepower to strike back, it’s clear they’re playing catch-up—for now.