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The BMW 5 Series is one of the best large saloon cars. It’s roomy, practical, full of high-tech equipment, comfortable and enjoyable to drive. No matter how many people or how much stuff you’re taking with you, the 5 Series makes journeys easy and enjoyable, which makes it a particularly good choice for families.
The current version of the 5 Series has been sold new since 2017, when it replaced a version sold from 2010 to 2017. The current version improves on what was an extremely good car with different styling, more space, improved engines and even more high-tech features. The range was updated in 2020 with different headlights and mild-hybrid power on most engines.
Saloon and ‘Touring’ estate bodies are available. There’s a wide choice of ‘i’ petrol and ‘d’ diesel engines, plus ‘e’ plug-in hybrids. The engine’s power is indicated on the car’s badge – 530, for example. The higher the number, the more power it has. There are manual models, but automatics are much more popular. Some have four-wheel drive, which BMW calls xDRIVE.
You can choose from SE, Luxury and M Sport trim and equipment packages. M Sport models have a sportier look with deeper bumpers and bigger wheels. They feel a bit sportier to drive, too. There’s also the high-performance M550i and bonkers-fast M5.
All 5 Series models are extremely well equipped with climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth accessibility and parking sensors. Many also have sat nav, leather seats and smartphone connectivity. Note that Apple CarPlay was added alongside Android Auto only in 2020. That’s just the tip of a tech iceberg. Some models have features like a head-up display, adaptive cruise control and massaging seats, to name but a few.
The 5 Series is surprisingly fuel-efficient for a large, powerful car. According to official figures, petrol models of the current version can give average fuel economy of 26-47mpg and diesels can give 47-62mpg. Older versions can give 32-41mpg (petrol) and 50-65mpg (diesel). Plug-in hybrids can give more than 100mpg and have a zero-emissions range of around 30 miles.
Other large saloon/estate cars like the 5 Series include the Audi A6, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class. The BMW is as good as any of those. It’s an excellent all-rounder that’s as comfortable, well equipped and practical as an executive car should be.
The 5 Series is a large car with a very roomy interior. All but the tallest of people should have no complaints about leg or headroom in the front and back. Three adults can squeeze onto the back seat, though the middle seat is more suitable for children. There’s a big boot, if not the biggest for this type of car. A week’s holiday luggage will fit in the saloon and its back seats fold down if you need even more space. But the Touring estate is ultimately more practical with its full-height boot lid.
Safety organisation Euro NCAP gave the current and older versions of the 5 Series a full five-star rating for features designed to protect the driver and passengers. Both models come with tech that helps reduce the chances of a collision happening in the first place.
Since 2020, most 5 Series models, both petrol and diesel, have mild-hybrid power. They also have an extra electrical system which improves fuel economy and CO2 emissions and makes the driving experience a bit smoother. Two plug-in hybrid models are also available – the 530e and 545e. The 530e can give a zero-emissions range of 31-37 miles. The more powerful 545e has a zero emissions range of up to 34 miles.