BMW 5 Series
FINAL REPORT Executive saloon is still top dog in its class
WE’VE covered more than 11,500 miles in our 5 Series, but now it’s time to say auf wiedersehen. During its time on our fleet the 520d has ferried members of the Auto Express team up and down the country and across Europe, all in supreme comfort.
There’s another side to our 520d xdrive, though, as illustrated above. The brand’s marketing messages suggest the idea of ‘the ultimate driving machine’, and despite the new level of luxury and refinement the latest 5 Series has adopted, the model is still a true driver’s car at its core.
Even with a modest 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel and fitted with the added security of four-wheel drive, the 5 Series can be driven in a way more befitting of a sports car. It’s not likely that anybody will drive a 5 Series as hard as they would a genuine sports car, because that’s not what a plush executive saloon is primarily designed to do. Yet it’s testament to BMW and its team of engineers that the 520d is this capable.
We had the car over the majority of the spring and summer months so its xdrive all-wheel-drive system never really got a chance to prove its worth in adverse conditions, but it’s clear that the system doesn’t negatively affect the car’s dynamics.
I’ve never had to hurl the 5 Series around to be able to enjoy it behind the wheel; at all speeds the steering is beautifully weighted and allows you to place the car with real accuracy on the road. The 520d rides with real composure at speed and around the rutted roads of London, soaking up bumps and other imperfections without a fuss.
Given how long I’ve spent with the 5 Series, I’d also have no hesitation in recommending the £985 adaptive dampers; they’re worth the outlay. The adaptive function is particularly good, because it automatically tailors the car’s suspension set-up to suit the road ahead, but the ability to switch to a stiffer setting on a great road means you can access more of its ability.
However, one bit of technology on the 5 Series that I’m not so sure about is the gesture control system. It’s fiddly to use, not always responsive and doesn’t do anything better than a simple button on the dash.
“Despite the new level of luxury and refinement, the model is still a true driver’s car at its core”