In an interesting review of the new BMW 5 Series, the UK journalists at Fifth Gear begin with the following statement: “The new 5 Series has taken an already impressive car and improved it – the result is an executive saloon that handles like a sports car.”
Overall, the new BMW 5 Series was rated 4.5 out of 5, and despite some initial negativism from UK journalists, the latest 5er is shaping up to be a strong contender in the luxury sedans segment.
Here are some of the areas were BMW scored four and five points:
STYLING
The latest generation of the 5 series has followed other BMW models by moving away from the controversial and eye-catching styling of previous cars. The folds on the bonnet make it clear that this is the new car and it is different enough for passers-by to know you are in the latest version, even if it doesn’t set any new standards in design.
HANDLING
The old 5 Series was renowned for its fantastic handling, and its replacement has moved the bar even higher. The intelligent steering system makes the bigger-engined versions feel like a smaller sports saloon.
PERFORMANCE
The six-cylinder engines are rapid and offer similar performance in petrol or diesel guise with 62mph coming in 6.0 and 6.3 seconds respectively. Although we’ve not yet driven the predicted best-seller, the 4-cylinder 520d, an 8.1 seconds 0-62mph time promises good things, too.
And here is the one where a three rating was given:
VALUE FOR MONEY
The standard leather is a welcome addition to the standard spec list, joining Bluetooth, parking sensors and cruise control. The option list is long and potentially expensive though, and you could easily add £10,000 – £15,000 to the purchase price.
Author: Horatiu B.
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/04/15/fifth ... -5-series/