• Petrol, diesel and hybrid options
• All are strong, turbocharged performers
• All come with an automatic gearbox
  

With a range of one diesel, two petrols and a plug-in hybrid, the Touring range offers fewer engines than the saloon without a performance variant available. It’s all very sensible here, while xDrive all-wheel drive is optional on the plug-in hybrid and standard on the 540i petrol. Once upon a time you could get a four-wheel drive 520d and the smooth six-cylinder 530d, although these choices were dropped in 2023.

All are turbocharged, and every model comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that can be controlled via paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. We found the transmission to be largely intuitive if left in automatic mode, but there are times (say, on a particularly fun stretch of B-road) when it’s more satisfying to select the gears yourself. It’s also easier done with paddle shifters than a gear stick.

Petrol engines

The BMW 520i has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 184hp and 290Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and can hit 139mph. It’s the weakest engine in the range as it needs to work harder to get up to speed, especially when fully-laden. It’s certainly quieter than the diesel equivalent and might make sense to those who don’t cover large distances.

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Upgrade to the 540i xDrive and you get a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. With 333hp and 450Nm of torque, it accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds before heading up to 155mph. All-wheel drive is standard on this model, giving good traction so you can make the most of the performance. It’s a smooth and refined engine when you’re driving gently and sounds good when you put your foot down.

Diesel engines

We’ve driven both the 520d and 530d that is no longer available to order. The 520d is impressively smooth and quiet for a four-cylinder diesel engine, and delivers acceptable performance and low- to mid-range flexibility for typical driving. With 184hp and 400Nm, it’s perfectly adequate for most with 0-62mph taking 7.6 seconds.

Rev it harder and the refinement deteriorates, performance seems a little sluggish and the power delivery quickly plateaus – the 5 Series Touring is a heavy car after all, so there’s nothing particularly unusual in that.

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The 530d xDrive marks a significant upgrade in terms of refinement and performance, thanks to its 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Although no longer available, it’s well worth finding if you’re looking at dealer stock or nearly new options. Not only do you get 286hp, but also a massive 250Nm of extra torque over the 520d, and it’s torque that’s key to a diesel’s mid-range thrust.

The additional performance turns the 5 Series Touring into a genuinely quick car, and also suits the luxurious Touring better than the 2.0-litre 520d. It’s quieter at rest, smoother through the range and more flexible too.

Its relaxed power delivery might be the only downside for some, as it doesn’t push you back into the seat as much as some might hope – you can thank the all-wheel drive neutralising the power delivery – so it’s not the most exciting way of building up pace. This will be ideal for those who want to waft and relax effortlessly, however.

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What’s it like to drive?

• The nimblest executive estate
• Comfier than you might expect
• Adaptive suspension worth having

The 5 Series has a bigger, less nimble feel than the more compact 3 Series, so while it handles neatly, rides well and grips strongly, the balance is tilted more towards comfort than outright dynamics, with some body roll. A comparable Mercedes E-class equipped with air suspension is more comfort-focused.

Both cars are good to drive, but it’s the BMW that strikes the better compromise. Indeed, with adaptive suspension fitted and set to its stiffest setting, the 5 Series is the most enjoyable big wagon to hustle, not counting proper performance cars like the AMG E63 S.

While four-wheel drive is available, it’s a clever system, which retains the sporty feeling of rear-wheel drive with added grip in more extreme circumstances – there’s no wheelspin when accelerating hard from a busy junction, for instance. It’s arguably overkill with the 530e (and hurts efficiency) and definitely was when it was offered with the 520d.

The steering has good weight although some of our testers found the 520d’s helm a bit too light when compared to larger engined 5 Series models. You’ll find precious little feedback, but immediate rivals are no better and in some cases worse, with the variable ratio steering available in the E-Class springing to mind here.

We’ve tried the 5 Series Touring on optional adaptive suspension (only available with the M Sport Pro pack) and this results in a smooth ride quality in Comfort mode with a gentle, controlled lull to suspension movements and only occasional patter at low speeds on rougher urban surfaces. Upgrading from 18-inch to 19-inch or 20-inch alloys does create a slightly firmer feel because the tyres’ sidewalls are thinner, but it’s still impressively compliant.