BMW 5 Series vs Lexus ES

BMW 5 Series vs Lexus ES: Satisfy Your Need for Speed

There's a way to feel like you're flying, even without lifting off the ground. All it takes is a high-powered engine and a long, open stretch of road. Press down on the accelerator, and you'll know what it's like to fly.

Granted, the Lexus ES requires extra suspension of disbelief. As the top engine offered in the sedan is a V6, the most horsepower you can eke out is 302. While that overpowers many garden-variety cars, it's not much of a match for a track-ready engine.

The BMW 5 Series, on the other hand, offers a V8 in its M550i xDrive trim level. Thanks to TwinPower Turbo, this V8 cranks out a whopping 523 horsepower.

If it's the flying-while-grounded feeling you're after, the BMW 5 Series is more likely to deliver.

Making Your Track Dreams a Reality

It's not just the engines that sets the performance of these two sedans apart. The BMW 5 Series makes more of an overall push toward the racetrack with some of the sport features it offers:

• M Sport Differential
• M Sport Brakes
• Adaptive M Suspension with electronically controlled dampers

These available features, not offered in the Lexus ES, provide added control and smoothness to your drive, especially when cornering or hitting the brakes.

All-wheel drive is also offered in the BMW 5 Series to add extra grip and traction on uneven or slick roads. Fortunately, the Lexus ES does offer all-wheel drive, too, even though it skips other athletic features.

Safety That Looks Out for You

One area where these sedans do have a bit in common is safety. To protect drivers and passengers, both the BMW and Lexus models provide intelligent driver-assisting features to watch and respond to the road for you.

A great example of this tech is Lane Departure Warning, which you'll find iterations of in each vehicle. Such a feature knows when you drive out of your lane and can send reminders to get you back on track.

However, the BMW 5 Series offers the Active Protection System. On top of its driver-assisting features, it provides more personally attuned gadgets, such as Fatigue & Focus Alert, which can sense when you may be overly tired or distracted. This added personal touch goes above and beyond to keep you safe.