BMW 530e hybrid practicality & boot space
The 530e loses some boot space in order to accommodate its batteries, but it’s still adequate for practicality by executive-saloon standards
| Length | Width | Height | Boot volume (seats up) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,936mm | 1,868mm | 1,479mm | 410 litres |
There’s no estate version of the 530e, so practicality-lovers may find it a bit compromised from the off. If a big estate boot is on your priority list, you may want to look at the Mercedes E-Class hybrid or the Volkswagen Passat GTE.
But for anyone satisfied with a saloon, the 530e is likely to be good enough. There’s loads of space for four passengers and a decent-sized boot, although you have to pay extra to get split-folding rear seats.
BMW 530e hybrid interior space, storage and comfort
Even tall occupants will be comfortable in the back of the 530e, although the middle back-seat passenger has to straddle a prominent hump in the floor. There’s also loads of storage space, with cup-holders, door bins and cubbyholes aplenty.
Boot space
The 530e’s battery pack sits under the boot floor, which eats up 120 litres of the luggage space you get in a non-hybrid 5 Series.
That leaves 410 litres in total, which is enough for a couple of big suitcases, and a flat boot floor makes loading bulky items easy provided they fit through the unavoidable limitations of the letterbox-shaped saloon boot opening.
Split-folding rear seats aren’t standard, so you’ll want to pay extra to get them if you do think you’re going to want more space on occasion.
