BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series G30 at a glance

The G30 is a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive executive car with optional xDrive all-wheel drive. Compared with the F10 it replaced, it looks more aggressive and grown-up, with clear echoes of the 7 Series that make it feel even more upmarket. The fastback body of the previous generation moved to the separate BMW 6 Series range. More BMW models are in our BMW catalogue, and the flagship is covered in our BMW 7 Series section.

Body styles

The seventh-generation 5 Series is built in three body styles:

• four-door sedan (G30);
• five-door Touring wagon (G31);
• four-door sedan with a longer wheelbase (G38).

Exterior

The G30's carefully judged proportions hide plenty of power beneath a sharp "business suit". Like the 7 Series, it has larger kidney grilles, flanked by full-LED headlights, and a large bumper with effective aerodynamic elements and big air intakes. BMW says its drag coefficient of 0.22 is the lowest in its class, compared with 0.29 for the F10. Optional adaptive LED headlights include BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 metres. The grille itself is active: its slats have four positions and open or close completely depending on how much cooling the engine needs.

In profile, strong wheel arches, crisp creases along the doors, a sloping roofline, chrome window surrounds and air breathers behind the front wheels help aerodynamics and make the 5 Series instantly recognisable. Seventeen wheel designs from 17 to 20 inches are offered, and ground clearance is 144 mm. At the rear, striking LED tail lights, a large bumper and exhaust outlets spread to each side, a low stance and wide lines give the car presence; the sculpted boot lid has a convenient handle. The exterior was designed by the Design BMW Automobiles studio under Karim Habib.

Interior

The cabin has changed significantly while remaining recognisably BMW. A new thick-rimmed three-spoke leather steering wheel is comfortable and slightly sporty, with many buttons. The instruments are a colour display with chrome-framed virtual dials that can show almost everything the infotainment screen can. The cabin balances driver-focused sportiness with elegance and is very well insulated.

The centre console carries a 12-inch ConnectedDrive touchscreen with voice and gesture control, as in the 7 Series, plus internet access, Apple CarPlay and navigation; it also shows the surround-view camera image. Below sit two rectangular vents, a CD slot and radio controls, then a dual-zone climate panel with a display, two knobs and buttons. The centre tunnel is trimmed almost entirely in wood with chrome accents and holds a storage tray with cupholders, the gear selector and controls for the iDrive controller, parking brake, stability control and automatic parking. An air ionisation function improves cabin air.

The front seats have modest side bolstering, leather upholstery and electric adjustment; massage and touch-sensitive adjustment are available. Ambient lighting with various colour combinations and a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound system with diamond tweeters (16 speakers, including aluminium-grilled door speakers) add atmosphere. The leather rear bench seats three, though two travel more comfortably because of the high transmission tunnel; there is an armrest and a separate climate zone, and space is generous in every direction. The boot holds 530 litres, and the 40:20:40 rear backrest folds to extend it. Nets, tool boxes, a first-aid kit box and two cupholders are fitted in the boot. Materials are of high quality and the fit and finish stand up to close scrutiny.

Engines and transmissions

All engines meet the Euro 6 standard. At launch two petrol and two diesel engines were offered, with more powerful versions and a plug-in hybrid added to the range.

The 520d reaches 232–238 km/h; the other versions are electronically limited to 250 km/h. The base diesel can be ordered with a six-speed manual gearbox; every other engine uses the eight-speed Steptronic automatic. Drive goes to the rear wheels or, with xDrive, to all four, with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch sending torque to the front axle.

Chassis

The G30 is built on BMW's modular CLAR platform, with double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear axle that uses separate links instead of a large lower arm. Options include electronically controlled adaptive dampers, Dynamic Drive active anti-roll bars and Integral Active Steering with rear-wheel steering. The body combines high-strength steel and aluminium (bonnet, boot lid, roof and rear rails), and the dashboard support is made of magnesium alloy. Variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering with electromechanical assistance gives quick, precise handling, and ventilated disc brakes work with ABS, brake assist, EBD and further assistance systems.

Safety and equipment

The 5 Series earned the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and its safety technology is almost on a par with the 7 Series. It offers advanced ABS with DBC, DTC and ASC, light and rain sensors, active cruise control, tyre-pressure monitoring, front and side airbags, ventilated brakes, an automatic parking assistant, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive headlight control and lane monitoring.

Even the base car has many airbags, an 8-inch infotainment screen with six speakers, dual-zone climate control, navigation, LED lights front and rear, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, ABS and ESP, the eight-speed automatic, stop-start, 17-inch alloys, heated front seats and steering wheel, active cruise control, keyless start and BMW Teleservice. Higher trims add four-zone climate control, memory seats with extended electric adjustment, a 10.25-inch Bowers & Wilkins system with 16 speakers, tablets built into the front headrests, adaptive sports suspension and brakes, and intelligent automatic braking if a frontal collision threatens.

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners praise the striking, sporty styling, which is clearly different from the F10, a roomy cabin with better materials, very comfortable front seats, attractive instruments and lighting, good visibility and traditionally strong sound insulation. The engine is barely audible, performance is ample in town and on the motorway, the suspension feels tight and absorbs large bumps, the car stays composed in corners and gear changes are almost imperceptible. The boot is large, and the diesels are economical with strong low-end pull. The glossy plastic trim, however, attracts fingerprints and dust. The main rivals are the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6; against them, the G30 offers benchmark handling, a richer standard specification and a distinctive, status-conscious look.