BMW 530i M Sport (G30 LCI): Understanding the M Sport badge

One would assume that because the car is called the 530i, it would have had a six-cylinder engine lurking under the hood. But in the interest of improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact, BMW is continuing its trend of downsizing engines. So, this “530i” has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger instead.

I was already impressed by a detuned version of this engine in my previous 5-Series review. For the 530i M Sport, the numbers are higher at 248hp and 350Nm. The power curve is very smooth, and the car doesn’t feel strained when pulling away from the lights and getting up to speed. The motor is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I spent a fair chunk of my test drive on the highway, and the car netted a combined economy figure of 13.5km/L.

Props to BMW for making this type of engine work with the large 5-Series. However, I do miss the signature sound of the automaker’s traditional six-cylinder. I think the exhaust note should be part of the M Sport experience. The 530i does spring into life with gusto when I floor the accelerator, but the noise just isn’t there.