BMW 5-Series Saloon (10 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 25 January 2012
BMW is renowned for building cars that are great to drive but sometimes at the expense of comfort. However that's not the case with the 5-Series. It's the most complete executive saloon on the market and manages to blend superb handling with limousine-like comfort as well as unsurpassed cabin refinement. The elegant styling gives it a larger appearance than the previous model and is more akin to the bigger 7-Series, which is also the case with the upmarket cabin. Compared to its predecessor, this 5-Series feels more sophisticated and has the edge over alternatives like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The engine line-up is hugely impressive, with every model, even the entry-level 520d, offering great performance. It's also incredibly well equipped and all models get leather seats, parking sensors and Bluetooth. This is the car that truly sets a new standard for executive saloons. The BMW 5-Series is such a well-rounded car that it's hard to beat - especially when you take into consideration how good it is to drive, the excellent levels of standard equipment and its wallet-friendly fuel economy. With all this in its favour, the BMW 520d SE Business Media Saloon romped away with the 2011 Parkers Cost of Motoring award in the Executive sector.
5 out of 5

Other BMW reviews

Facts & Figures

Standard Trim

More Figures

3.0 ActiveHybrid 5 4d Step Auto

See 87 used BMW 5-Series Saloons for sale, starting at £9,500

SE

More Figures

520i SE 4d

More Figures

520i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520i SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520i SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

520i SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i SE 4d

More Figures

530i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

530i SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) 4d

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

535i SE (Start Stop) (Professional Media] 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE (Start Stop) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE (Start Stop) (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE (Start Stop) (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerformance SE (Prof Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerformance SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerform SE(Bus Med) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerform SE (Prof Med) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE 4d

More Figures

535i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

535i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i SE(Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

535i SE(Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i SE 4d

More Figures

523i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

523i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i SE (Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

523i SE (Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i SE 4d

More Figures

528i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

528i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i SE (Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

528i SE (Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i SE (Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE 4d

More Figures

520d SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520d SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d SE (Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

520d SE(Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d SE 4d

More Figures

525d SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

525d SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d SE (Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

525d SE (Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d SE 4d

More Figures

530d SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d SE (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530d SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d SE (Media Pack) 4d

More Figures

530d SE(Media Pack) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d SE 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d SE (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d SE (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

See 87 used BMW 5-Series Saloons for sale, starting at £9,500

M Sport

More Figures

520i M Sport 4d

More Figures

520i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520i M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

520i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

528i (245bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i M Sport 4d

More Figures

530i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

530i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

525d (218bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

530d (258bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d (313bhp) M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport (Start Stop) (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport (Start Stop) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport (Start Stop) (Business Med) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport (Start Stop) (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerformance M Sport 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance M Sport (Prof Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerform M Sport (Bus Med) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d BluePerform M Sport (Prof Med) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerformance M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerform M Sport (Bus Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d (258bhp) BluePerform M Sport (Prof) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

535i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i M Sport 4d

More Figures

523i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

523i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

523i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

523i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i M Sport 4d

More Figures

528i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

528i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

528i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

528i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

550i M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport 4d

More Figures

520d M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520d M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

520d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

520d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d M Sport 4d

More Figures

525d M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

525d M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

525d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

525d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d M Sport 4d

More Figures

530d M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d M Sport (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

530d M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

530d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

530d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d M Sport 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d M Sport (Business Media) 4d Step Auto

More Figures

535d M Sport (Professional Media) 4d Step Auto

See 87 used BMW 5-Series Saloons for sale, starting at £9,500

Efficient Dynamics

More Figures

520d Efficient Dynamics 4d

More Figures

520d Efficient Dynamics (Business Media) 4d

More Figures

520d Efficient Dynamics (Professional Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance Efficient Dynamics 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance Eff Dynamics (Bus Media) 4d

More Figures

520d BluePerformance Eff Dynamics (Prof Media) 4d

See 87 used BMW 5-Series Saloons for sale, starting at £9,500