Quality in motion but where's the emotion: BMW's understated new 5-Series

IT MIGHT feel like BMW’s range has swollen to a scale where no stone has been left unturned in the pursuit of ever bigger sales figures and market dominance.

But despite the fact that BMW seem intent on exploring ever more vague niches with its vehicles (take a look at the new X1 and 5-Series Gran Turismo) there remains just two cars that have a huge bearing on the company’s future.

When it comes to the German marque’s bread and butter, it still can’t afford to risk the failure of its 3-Series and 5-Series saloons.

Perhaps their importance in a range that has become flamboyant through its very diversity is the reason why BMW have played it relatively safe with the styling of the 2010 5-Series.

An understated antidote to the striking 5-Series of old?

Following the last generation 5’s unapologetically butch looks—it was one of the first cars penned by former BMW design chief Chris Bangle—the new car looks sleek and classy, but much more conservative.

A long, low, broad bonnet, sweeping roof-line and stubby boot creates a classic front-engined, rear-wheel-drive silhouette and is subtly sporty.

Sharp creases along the bonnet and intersecting the door handles down each flank add a welcome dose of visual drama and mirror those on the smaller 3-Series.

But there’s no doubting that the 5-Series lacks the immediate desirability which is a key asset of one of its main rivals, the Jaguar XF.

Prices for the new 5-Series range from £28,045 for the 520d SE to £53,615 for the 550i M Sport.

Making up the rest of the range are 523i, 528i and 535i petrol cars and 525d, 530d and 535d diesel cars with just the two specifications and a host of options to tailor each vehicle.

Tested here is the 535i SE which comes in at £37,300.

The 535i’s super-smooth power produces stealthy speed

A three-litre, turbocharged six-cylinder engine creates 306bhp and 295lb.ft. of torque and employs BMW’s EfficientDynamics fuel-saving measures to reign in emissions and fuel economy.

CO2 emissions of 195g/km and 33.6mpg fuel economy are a long way off the 520d’s headline figures of 132g/km and 56.5mpg but impressive, nonetheless.

First and foremost the 5-Series is a wonderfully serene cruiser, boasting excellent refinement, but the 335i has power on tap.

The gutsy straight-six delivers impeccably smooth acceleration. BMW claim that 62mph in six seconds and an electronically-limited 155mph.

Once accustomed to the artificial slowing sensation of regenerative braking—which saves fuel by generating power to feed the car’s electrical systems—the 5-Series stopping power also proves formidable.

The main thing for many mile-munching BMW drivers, however, will be the engine’s effortless flexibility at motorway speeds.

Eight-speed gearbox has a mixed personality

That eight-speed auto seems to have come on in leaps and bounds since I last experienced it in the big bummed 5-Series GT last year, but still needs the optional Adaptive Drive (£2,220) system switched to ‘Sport’ to offer crisp reactions.

In its ‘Normal’ setting it slurs between its multitude of ratios smoothly but can be found wanting when a impromptu overtake is required—failing to provide the prerequisite downshift quickly enough.

A pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles also allow manual shifts but simply engaging ‘Sport’ gives much greater access to the 306bhp on offer and sharpens up the chassis and throttle response accordingly, making the 5-Series infinitely more drivable.

Adaptive Drive is already emerging as a must-have addition to the new 5-Series.

Elsewhere on the options list is, without doubt, the best reverse camera system on the market.

An array of discreetly positioned cameras provide a true 360-view around the car and the resulting display on the wide screen dash-mounted monitor is akin to a satellite guided view of your chosen parking spot. Simply brilliant.

Quality and refinement make the 5-Series a cossetting cruiser

The 5-Series also benefits from the head-up display, previously seen on the 5-Series GT, which projects speed and cruise control info onto the windscreen, just below your eye line.

Typically high quality materials are used to create an interior which is both spacious and comfortable.

The 5-Series always feels like a large car, however, and rear leg room lags slightly behind Mercedes’ E-Class.

And although it once again missing out on the outright eye-candy appeal of Jaguar’s XF it is, nevertheless, a top quality cockpit.

Isolated from outside noise, on the move it is a cosseting haven on a long journey.

It’s fair to say that the executive saloon market has moved on since the previous generation 5-Series.

Polished package creates genuine appeal

Jaguar, especially, have made a huge impact on the market with the XF and the latest generation Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class are back on form.

But the 5-Series, despite its low-key initial impact, is packed with quality features and feels like a truly polished package.

For it’s sheer style and sporty dynamics the XF is still the car that has what it takes to rule the heart but, take some time to explore the 5-Series (and spec yours with Adaptive Drive), and you just discover the BMW’s depth of quality is enough to convince the head to rule.

 

Related topics: