The BMW 5-series may still look familiar on the outside, but what matters the most is how it feels on the road. Does the new 5-series feel like a proper BMW? That’s the real question.
The previous few generations have often been described as lacking in the fun to drive department. BMW has been focusing more on road comfort rather than road dynamics. It’s faster than majority of its competition but some rivals are becoming even more talented with each generation, making it harder and harder for the 5-series these days.
The standard 2-liter turbo four is the way to go honestly. It offers decent flexibility and running costs that are respectable. The optional plug-in hybrid is a great alternative if you are willing to put in the miles to make up for the higher purchase price. The 540 and M550 offer the performance that many would come to expect from a 5-series. We would stick with the 540 trim if you have to have a six-cylinder BMW, while the turbocharged eight-cylinder in the M550 could be seen as a bargain M5 rendition.
Our tester car was the 540i with xDrive all-wheel-drive system fitted optionally. This maybe the sweet spot in the 5-series range if you are seeking a striking balance between performance and running costs; you may pay a little bit more in terms of purchase price but your investments will be well protected as BMWs tend to have strong residual value.
On the road the 540 engine is silky smooth and very potent when you need it to be. However, since this is a BMW and we didn’t really care too much about shoving it around corners and bends. We decided to just drive it casually and discretely. The engine doesn’t feel overpowered when you aren’t driving it like a hooligan; and the overall feel of the transmission is pure perfection. What we like the most however is the steering isn’t overly heavy but weighs up nicely where it matters the most. We’ve driven BMWs in the past and the steering has either been extremely heavy or lackluster feeling. You can select from several driving modes depending on your mood. We left the 5-series in Eco-pro mode which helps to boost fuel economy since majority of our driving was mixed stop/start traffic. Visibility is decent all-round with wind and road noise so well suppressed that it could be considered an Achilles heel.
The infotainment system in our tester car is vastly improved over the previous generation. We can honestly say the interior looks better and feels better too in terms of quality materials and the plastics used around the dashboard. The iDrive interface is light years better than it has ever been, with improved graphics and menus that are easier to navigate through. The front seats offer superb comfort with easy adjustability. The rear seat is best left for four-passengers as the massive transmission tunnel makes having three abreast a bit of a squeeze. Boot space is decent too; the only car that may have the 5-series beat is the Volvo S90.
Our tester car came fitted with WiFi Hotspot, LED headlights with auto high beam assist and electrically operated front seats with lumbar support. Also fitted standard is 19-inch alloy wheels, integrated body-kit, dual-zone climate control and 12-speaker premium sound system powered by Harman Kardon.
You may find that the 5-series is rather dull looking compared to the Volvo S90. However, the only real difference between the two is you can option for a silky smooth turbo six-cylinder and a turbo-eight-cylinder that makes it a real bargain M5. It’s hard trying to fault the 5-series for what it is good at, but easy to loathe it for what it falls short in. BMW maybe hitting all the right notes with this 5-series but it certainly takes the wallet to really want one because there are options far cheaper and just as talented.
Likes: The interior is much improved over the previous generation. The plug-in hybrid offers decent running costs while the M550 could be considered the bargain M5 that everyone will want.
Dislikes: It’s not the most exciting looking car on the block; typical BMW being stingy on standard kit and making the desirable options expensive.
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