Insurance Group: 36
MPG: 44.1
CO2: 149
0-62 Mph: 7.9 secs
BHP: 184 BHP
Range: 679 miles
However, the SE trim still comes with loads of equipment and the interior looks slick and elegant. The space of the saloon is also practical and makes the car suitable as a family car as well as a company car.
PROS: One of the cheapest models in the 5 Series range, with great driveability and impressive fuel economy with low CO2 emissions. The SE trim comes with plenty of equipment.
CONS: The diesel version is much more efficient and has more of a gutsy performance. The car needs additions to the suspension in order to improve the handling.
As you would expect from a BMW, the drive of the 5 Series is smooth, powerful and refined, although it does require a lot of extras to reach its potential.
The suspension on the 5 Series is not as supportive as you might expect but there is a rather expensive option to add Variable Damper Control to the four-cylinder models and Adaptive Drive to the six-cylinder models, which is worth the money for the difference it makes in the performance and handling.
The cabin is insulated from the outside noise of the engine, tyre and suspension, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds. The gears are responsive and make acceleration effortless.
The 520i SE has a 184 bhp engine delivering 19 9lb-ft of torque at 1250-4500 rpm and reaches 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 141 mph.
The BMW cabin is arguably one of the best available and the 5 Series is made with high-quality materials and is beautifully finished. This is a complete executive saloon offering the elegance and practicality of the BMW badge on top of great performance from the engine.
The SE saloon comes with leather seats, power steering, stability control, cruise control, climate control, alloy wheels, stereo, MP3 connectivity, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth as standard, with optional extras including satellite navigation for £1,580. The backseat entertainment option includes satellite navigation.
The ‘Efficient Dynamics’ technology that keeps the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions low includes an automatic stop-start system, brake energy regeneration, tyres with less rolling resistance, along with improved aerodynamics, while manual gearboxes have an Optimum gearshift indicator to help drivers know when to change gears.
BMW are manufacturers that have a great track record when it comes to reliability, so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern for buyers.
Safety is top quality, too with standard equipment including a minimum of six airbags, dynamic stability control, cornering brake control, dynamic brake control and dynamic traction control. An optional extra is the Active Security Package (with lane change and lane departure-warning systems), with an alarm, deadlocks and locking wheelnuts as standard. The 5 Series also comes with a spring-loaded bonnet, which limits damage during a crash.
In space terms, the 5 Series are practical cars with loads of space in the front and back. Although BMW claim it is a five-seater, the middle back seat is not ideal as it has to accommodate the large transmission tunnel which runs through the centre of the car. The boot is sizeable too, offering 520 litres of space when all the seats are in place.
The 5 Series benefits from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, which makes it a great business car option with economic running costs and low CO2 emissions. The 520i SE model costs £31,190 and has a combined economy of 41.5mpg and CO2 emission rate of 157g/km.
The 520i SE is one of the cheapest options in the 5 Series and comes with a good amount of kit and equipment as standard. The fuel economy and CO2 emissions are excellent for the engine size but the diesel version is much better value for money in terms of running costs and performance.
There is always the downside to the 5 Series that it requires a few expensive extras such as the suspension modifications. These completely alter the performance of the car and are vital additions but will affect the price considerably.
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