Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 41

B

MW’s seventh-generation
5 Series range opens
with the $89,990 520i, with a
135kW, 2.0-litre turbopetrol
four. At $94,900, the 520d
runs a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre
turbodiesel four, while the
$111,900 530i, tested here,
has a 185kW/350Nm 2.0-litre
turbopetrol four.
Six cylinder power starts
with the $122,300 530d, with a
195kW/620Nm 3.0-litre turbodiesel
straight six. The $142,300 540i
runs the latest version of BMW’s
signature engine, a 3.0-litre
turbopetrol straight six, with a
potent 250kW and 450Nm.
The 530e iPerformance, a
2.0-litre petrol-electric plug-in
hybrid that can travel up to 50km
on electricity alone, is $111,900.
Touring wagon variants
include the $94,900 520d and
the $111,900 530i.
Every model in the 5 Series
line-up comes standard with the
suite of radar- and camera-reliant
aids BMW calls Driving Assistant
Plus. Key features include active
cruise control and lane-keeping.
These deliver a level of semi-
autonomous driving much like

the equivalent systems included

under Mercedes’ Intelligent

Drive umbrella. The BMW’s

active cruise is fi ne, but its

lane-keeping can annoy with its

inconsistent ability to read road

markings, just like the E-Class.

Also standard in all Australian-

market 5 Series is a package of

parking aids, a head-up display

and BMW’s Connected Drive

bundle of online services, app

integration and more. Higher-

grade models add adaptive LED

headlights. It’s a broadly similar

list of latest-gen tech to that

offered by Mercedes.

The interior is roomy and

inviting. Beautifully made and

fragrantly luxurious, it’s also

quite user-friendly.

Instruments are now fully

digital on a 12.3 inch screen,

still mimicking a traditional

twin dial analogue layout and

with different information and

graphics depending upon the

drive mode selected.

There’s comfort to go with the

space, too, although the 5 Series’

rear seats don’t seem quite as

comfortable as the E-Class’s.

The BMW’s interior is also

impressively quiet and the 530L

boot is bigger than ever.

The 5 Series combines

a smooth ride with quite

outstanding handling. The

BMW’s electric-assisted

steering is excellent.

Every model except the base

520i/520d comes with standard

adaptive dampers, which allow

the driver to choose exceptionally

sharp handling, at some cost to

ride comfort, or alter the mix in a

more forgiving direction.

The 530i 2.0-litre’s delivery

is broad, smooth and strong,

except in Eco Pro mode, which is

sluggish and will give you a true

understanding of turbo lag.

Still, Eco Pro does what it says

and can return remarkably low

fuel consumption numbers for

a car of this size. Around town,

where automatic stop start helps

the cause, the 530i uses 8-10

litres per 100 kilometres. At a

steady 100km/h the 2.0-litre can

get close to fi ve litres per 100

kilometres on the highway.

Sport mode puts you into an

entirely different machine. The

engine becomes much more

lively and responsive all the way

from idle to its 6700rpm redline,

as does the transmission, which

offers crisp, well-timed shifts if

you leave it to its own devices,

or similarly effective manual

operation if you use the paddles

on the wheel.

Overall, the new BMW 5 Series

regains class leadership from

Jaguar’s impressive XF and the

disappointing Mercedes E Class.

The 530i is a bargain, a superb

drive, and all the luxury car you

could ever need.

S BMW 5 SERIES FROM $89,990

THINGS WE LIKE

 Classy interior ambience

 Instrument panel user-friendliness

 Sleek exterior design

 Adaptive suspension delivers

excellent dynamics and a comfort-

able ride

 Superb 3.0-litre petrol six

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Like the E-Class, you wonder if

some of the tech is really neces-

sary or just a gimmick

Rear seat comfort isn’t great

Run-fl at tyres

Weak resale values

SPEX (530i)

Made in Germany

2.0-litre turbopetrol four/eight-

speed automatic/rear-wheel drive

185kW of power from

5200–6500rpm/350Nm of torque

from 1450–4800rpm

0–100km/h in 6.2 seconds (claimed)

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

5.5L/100km highway; 7.5L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 141g/km

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, adaptive suspension,

Driver Assistant Plus with radar

cruise, automatic emergency

braking and cross traffi c warning,

head up display, Nappa leather

upholstery, automatic dual zone

air, digital instruments, Connected

Drive, iDrive6, 10.25 inch

infotainment touchscreen, navigation,

Bluetooth for two smartphones,

digital radio, 19-inch alloy wheels

Redbook future values: 3yr: 44%;

5yr: 30%

compare with ...

Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Mercedes

E-Class, Volvo S90

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS