The 2026 BMW 540i xDrive Legacy Edition is anything but old school; it proudly showcases what BMW has to offer currently and gives us a glimpse to what the future beholds. 

Admittedly, I am by default a BMW pessimist; reminiscing about the days of golden era BMWs that exuded a sense of quiet confidence and restraint, versus the current era of BMWs that seems to fetishize ginormous kidney grilles and accent lighting. 

But in the quest of turning a new leaf, being in this profession requires all of us to have a degree of objectivity when it comes to the current automotive landscape. I have a BMW 5-Series from that aforementioned golden era – a 2003 530i, or E39 in Bimmer parlance – which many believed to be the sweet spot of the 5-Series; the perfect blend of engaging driving dynamics and everyday comfort, yet not too overburdened with electronics. 

First Impressions

The current generation of BMW 5-Series – dubbed the G60 – continues what made this mid-size luxury sedan so desirable from its inception; an executive saloon that strikes the perfect balance between lower-management 3-Series, yet not as in-your-face as the “here’s your severance package” executive 7-Series. New for 2026, the 540i xDrive Legacy Edition is a special, limited-run version of the G60, with only 151 units destined for the Canadian Market. 

It’s not just about exclusivity; it’s a love letter to what made the 5-Series of past generations so popular and loved amongst enthusiasts – an inline-6 powered sport sedan that not just looks the part, but does so with a sense of assertiveness without being too pompous. For the Canadian market, the Legacy Edition briefly revives the non-PHEV version of the B58 Turbocharged Inline-6 motor in a 5-Series. Regular series production of Canadian-market G60 5-Series (excluding the M5) mainly comprises of two versions of the fully-electric i5 and two flavours of the gasoline motor; the 530i xDrive with the B48 Turbocharged Inline-4 Motor and the more powerful 550e with the PHEV-version of the B58 Turbocharged Inline-6 Motor. Confused? So was I.

Under the hood

Catapulting this 4,370 pound brute is a B58 inline-6 paired to the ZF 8-speed automatic, the industry standard of powertrain applications. Despite weighing as much as it does, this 5-Series is no slouch, no matter what drive mode you are in. It provides the driver with such confidence in providing linear throttle response, even in Efficient/Eco Mode. 

BMW continues to set the benchmark in terms of powertrain calibration; feeling almost telepathic – predicting the optimal gear to be in especially when you decide to use Sport Mode while going through the twisties. Making 375 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque aided by a 48-volt Mild-Hybrid system, it’s good for 0-100km/h in around 4.7 seconds, only 0.3 seconds slower than our 2025 BMW 550e tester – also with a B58 but bolstered a plug-in hybrid setup. This Legacy Edition 5-Series is still plenty fast for you to get to and from work, with lots of time to spare while flexing at the local Starbucks drive-thru. 

Ride and handling

Outside of daily Starbucks drive-thru runs, work commutes and Longos grocery runs, the 540i xDrive Legacy Edition can still hold its own while driving spiritedly on the weekends, or if you decide to take the long way home. Yes, it’s heavy, but can it put a slight grin on your face while a Hans Zimmer musical score is playing in the background as you take that on-ramp at a brisk pace? Absolutely. 

Although it may not be as light and tossable as an E39 from the golden era, 5 Series BMWs are generally comfortable going at a six to seven-tenths pace, which our tester is more than adequate doing while barely breaking a sweat. The steering is light and actually takes a bit of steering input to maneuver, but still provides some steering feedback to what the front-end is doing. Go beyond six or seven tenths and you’ll definitely feel the heft of this 5-Series. Below that, the car is drama free and quiet as a whisper as expected from a modern luxury sport sedan.  

Regardless of what drive mode you are in, the 540i xDrive takes even the nastiest of road imperfections and basically says, “Oh, that was nice… continue.” Riding on these 21” BMW Individual multi-spoke wheels with 35 aspect-ratio tires, this car is surprisingly comfortable to do daily commutes in as it glides over pavement with ease; a testament to superb suspension tuning and dampening without the need to resort to electronic adjustment or air springs. 

Style is subjective

In terms of theatre, the 540i Legacy Edition is no stranger to the plethora of tech and gimmicks that adorn higher-end BMWs, but does so with grace and silence. Despite being equipped with the M-Sport Pro Package, this 5-Series is not plastered with M-badges that seem to be found in every crevice on BMWs of recent, which is a breath of fresh-air and quite frankly, adds to the charm and understated theme of the Legacy Edition. 

The front fascia, as with many BMWs of this day and age, takes some getting used to, especially with the pronounced kidney grilles that look more at home on an SUV than a “mid-size” sedan. To top it off, the outline of the grilles are illuminated, which is a love it or hate it attribute of the G60. Our tester’s Maldives Blue II Metallic over and Smoked White Veganza – BMW’s way of saying vegan leather – is a stunning colour combo that garnered lots of compliments from passersby and other BMW owners. 

Let’s address the elephants in the room. This current generation of BMW 5-Series is massive. It makes people wonder why even bother calling this vehicle segment mid-size when it’s just as big as the iconic E38 7-Series. Remember the 1997 film 007: Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan controlling the BMW from his cell phone? That BMW. (I’ll remind you that despite being larger, significantly faster, and wildly more efficient, this new car is almost two hundred pounds lighter than that car; they don’t build ’em like they used to for sure -Ed.)

Tech and toys

The other elephant – though a lot more tolerable for me personally – is the lack of physical switchgear in the center console area. Although there’s a general push in the luxury space for minimalism and cleanliness, it’s not as egregious as a Mercedes-Benz or Volvo product when it comes to switchgear – or lack thereof – due to their approach to technology. 

One thing I do appreciate with the week I had with this particular tester is the usability and learning curve with the iDrive 8.5 user interface. Although our team misses the previous generation of iDrive which gave you a plethora of physical switchgear to use, this current iteration of iDrive still allows you to become easily acquainted with accessing certain core functions such as the HVAC, infotainment, and Drive Modes. The user experience becomes second nature after interacting with the infotainment on a repeated basis.

On the point of nature, escaping the concrete jungle and into this 5-Series is almost like going into an isolation tank. As with this current generation of BMW, build quality is top-notch with no panel rattles or creaks in our tester. The doors close with a solid, classical Germanic thud that makes its BMW ancestors proud and will muffle out the squeaks and rattles from Mercedes-Benz and Audi products. 

Sound, or lack thereof

In terms of sound deadening, there’s so much of it that it makes the inline-6 motor seem like it’s in the next room. In Efficient/Eco Mode, the car is so quiet that I almost forget that there’s a real engine propelling this yacht. Even in Sport Mode, which usually opens up a valve or two in the exhaust system in most vehicles, it does little to amplify the external sound but rather via noise enhancement through the speakers, which is a nitpick in an otherwise mostly faultless luxury automobile. To add even more icing on the cake, this 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system provides so much clarity and depth; making the symphony orchestra sound like they are actually happening in front of me.

Money

The base price to get into an entry level 5-Series, more specifically the 530i xDrive, will run you about $72,900 CAD. Our 2026 BMW 540i xDrive Legacy Edition tester comes in at $94,500 CAD before any additional fees. Being limited to 151 units for the Canadian Market, the Legacy Edition also includes a variety of BMW Individual paint colours to choose from such as this Maldives Blue II Metallic on our tester, along with a variety of interior colourway options for no extra charge. 

Wrap it up

The 2026 BMW 540i xDrive Legacy Edition forced me to adjust my jaded perspective and finally appreciate this 5-Series for what it is: a more-than-capable and highly competent modern luxury mid-size sedan. With a plethora of CUVs and SUVs to choose from in today’s automotive landscape – even within BMW’s lineup – a sedan offering from BMW is still a pleasant sight to see, even with the slightly garish and oversized illuminated kidney grilles. Perhaps I turned a new leaf and am starting to see the brilliance beyond the nostalgia of golden era BMWs. The G60 brilliantly showcases the new age of BMWs and will set the tone for the upcoming Neue Klasse generation of vehicles we will see in the near future.