BMW 3 Series vs BMW 5 Series
Figures updated
The BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the 3 Series G20 (2019–) and the G60 (2023–) 5 Series on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 651,982 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the BMW 3 Series for the lower price, or the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs.
- The BMW 3 Series is the cheapest to buy new: from £41,945, £11,165 less than the BMW 5 Series.
- The BMW 5 Series has the biggest boot: 520 litres, 40 more than the BMW 3 Series.
- The BMW 5 Series has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the BMW 3 Series fails its MOT about 17% more often.
- The BMW 5 Series is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £166 a year less than the BMW 3 Series at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a BMW 3 Series: it fails on them 2.3 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the wheels on a BMW 5 Series: it fails on them 2.2 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | BMW 3 Series3 Series G20 (2019–), 4-door saloon | BMW 5 SeriesG60 (2023–), 4-door saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £41,945 to £66,475July 2026 price list (best) | £53,110 to £79,830July 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 4-door saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 480 litres | 520 litres (best) |
| Length | 4,709mm | 5,060mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,827mm | 1,900mm |
| Height | 1,435mm | 1,515mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–374 PS | 208–489 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 4.4–8.4 sec | 4.3–7.5 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2023) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 32.8–42.1 mpg | 42.8–45.5 mpg |
| CO2 | 19–182 g/km | 14–139 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,453 (40.3 mpg) | £1,287 (45.5 mpg) (best) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,453 (petrol) | £1,287 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 134Well above average | 157Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.5% | 20.3% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 14.0% | 11.9% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.4% | 12.5% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 24.8% | 19.9% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.8% of tests) | Tread depth (2.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Wheels (2.3×) | Wheels (2.2×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 453,392 | 198,590 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,700 | 10,900 |
| On sale | 2019 on | 2023 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series more reliable?
The BMW 5 Series. Like for like on age and mileage, the BMW 3 Series fails its MOT about 17% more often (reliability scores 157 and 134, where 100 is average). 20.3% of BMW 5 Serieses and 24.5% of BMW 3 Serieses failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series?
The BMW 5 Series is 351mm longer (5,060mm against 4,709mm). The BMW 5 Series has the bigger boot: 520 litres against 480.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series?
The BMW 3 Series: new prices start at £41,945, £11,165 less than the BMW 5 Series (from £53,110). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series?
Comparing petrol versions, the BMW 5 Series costs about £166 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,287 against £1,453), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series?
Euro NCAP gave the BMW 3 Series 5 stars (2019) and the BMW 5 Series 5 stars (2023). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the BMW 3 Series or the BMW 5 Series?
Pick the BMW 3 Series for the lower price, or the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.