The all-new 5 Series shares a platform between pure petrol, plug-in hybrid and pure electric powertrains. The need to accommodate batteries beneath the floor of the i5 makes the side shoulder line taller than before, but two sculpted character lines along the side draw the eye smoothly from long bonnet to elegantly tapering bootline. The traditional ‘face’ of the 5 Series has been updated, with an almost-upright BMW kidney grille flanked by slim LED headlights. Compared with its predecessor the new 5 Series is 97mm longer, 32mm wider and 36mm taller, with longer wheelbase to give rear seat passengers some extra legroom. Veganza upholstery on seats, dash and door panels comes as standard and a panoramic glass roof is optional. All 5 Series come in M Sport trim, with M Sport Pro as an option.
PERFORMANCE
The all-electric i5 has its own web page, so here we’re focused on the petrol and hybrid models. The range starts with the 48V mild hybrid 520i, which produces 208hp, accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and returns up to 48.7mpg on the standard WLTP cycle. Next comes the plug-in 530e, with power increased to 299hp thanks to electric motor assistance, returning a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds and delivering up to 63.4 miles in pure-electric mode. The most powerful hybrid is the all-wheel drive 550e xDrive; this hits the 62mph barrier in 4.3 seconds and has an all-electric range of up to 55.9 miles. Quoted fuel economy figures for plug-in hybrids can be deceptive: the 530e’s figures are 403.5 – 470.8mpg, reflecting the EV-only content of the WLTP’s 23.25km standard route. But equally you could do a week of short commutes in EV mode, charging every night, and never use a drop of petrol.
TECHNOLOGY
Executive car buyers expect advanced tech for their money, and the 5 Series doesn’t disappoint. The fascia is dominated by the BMW Curved Display, housing a 12.3-inch driver information display and a central 14.9-inch control display beneath a single, curved glass screen. Beneath this, the BMW Interaction extends across the width of the instrument panel and includes touch-sensitive control panels for ventilation and air conditioning. The BMW iDrive is based on Operating System 8.5, offering a new graphic display and a ‘Quick Select’ function for the most-used controls. Video on demand including YouTube is available (when stationary) as is a new ‘gaming’ feature in collaboration with the AirConsole platform. Wireless phone charging, and a 205-Watt Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, are standard features.
SAFETY
BMW’s Driving Assistant comes as standard on every 5 Series; this includes enhanced front collision warning to detect oncoming traffic, cyclists and pedestrians when turning. Lane departure warning with active lane return now also reacts to oncoming traffic; the package also includes rear collision warning, exit warning, evasion assistant and crossroads warning with brake intervention. For Level 2 autonomous driving, the optional Driving Assistant Professional package includes distance control with ‘stop & go’ function as well as steering and lane control assistance.
