It seems that every 20 years or so, BMW likes to attract controversy. Wind back the clock to the early 2000s and you might see where we’re going with this. In 2001, the world feasted its eyes on the fourth-generation 7-Series with its, um, radical looks.
Not content with that, the fifth-generation BMW 5-Series also got an extreme makeover in 2003. It ditched the smooth and elegant lines of its predecessor, replacing it with acute angles, sharp lines, and a very polarizing look.
Going back to the present, and the same thing is happening all over again. Just take a look at the all-new 7-Series and 5-Series. The internet and BMW die-hards had a few words to say about the brand, ranging from a few praises to rather scathing remarks. History repeats itself, as they say.
Now, I am a bit of a BMW 5-Series fanatic. I’ve owned the third and fourth-generation models, as well as having driven most iterations of the executive sedan. My favorites will always be the ones I had (E34 and E39, for those who prefer Bimmerspeak), but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed driving these cars, regardless of generation. Okay, there’s one generation that I wish was better, but the 5-Series generally always met or exceeded personal expectations.
But regardless of who’s reviewing it, every motoring journalist around the world will have high expectations of any new 5-Series. It’s always been the sedan (or wagon) to beat in its segment, and it’s expected to combine the the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ ethos of the brand and the comfort and refinement one expects from a car of its price tag. It’s the student-athlete who’s the MVP and Summa Cum Laude with the bonus of a pleasing personality.
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This new one, now known as the G60, is no different. What we have here is the BMW 520i, the entry-level model, and it’s time to see if it can do its predecessors proud.
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Styling
I will admit that, when I first saw photos of the car, I didn’t know exactly what to feel. Shock would be a good place to start as it was such a huge departure from the last two models. The seventh and eight-gen models were subtle and elegant, but this one threw away the company’s styling rulebook altogether.
The huge grille, which illuminates by the way, is flanked by a pair of sharp, upswept headlights. Its slim corner air intakes further emphasize the ‘in-your-face’ look of the front end. Subtle, it ain’t.
Then there’s the black cladding that surrounds the entire lower half of it. No, it’s not a crossover, but it wouldn’t look out of place in an X5. As expected, there are more flares and creases to be seen here. The rear is just as controversial as, well, the rest of the body. It’s nothing like its predecessors, for better or worse.
Months have passed since its global debut, and seeing it in person still hasn’t worn off its shock value. As a longtime 5-Series fan, I can see shades of the equally polarizing fifth-gen (E60) model here. The thing is, the E60 went from being maligned to still looking modern and contemporary 20 years on. Only time will tell if the G60 can do the same.
Interior
The Europeans seemed to have waged war on buttons, and it’s evident here in the all-new 520i. Seriously, the only true buttons in here are the window switches, the trunk release, the engine start and stop button, cruise control, and steering wheel audio controls.
In this 5-Series, most buttons have been replaced by haptic feedback panels, while most functions are within the infotainment system. It’s rather daunting and intimidating, especially if you’re coming from previous BMWs. One does get used to it after a few days with the car, but the minimalist and high-tech interior isn’t the easiest to navigate. Heck, even the air-con shutters are controlled with a touch panel.
Aesthetically though, the interior is a conversation piece. It’s nearly concept car-like in its execution, and one will appreciate its smooth and clean lines. Okay, the ‘screens stuck to the dash’ look will draw mixed opinions, but it doesn’t look out of place in the cabin’s theme. We’d prefer a three-spoke steering wheel, though.
Cabin materials are of the soft touch variety, as one would expect from this kind of car. The build feels solid with an air of quality surrounding the cabin. Again, it’s what’s expected and demanded from any BMW product. The few buttons that remain in this car are pleasant to touch, meaning the Germans haven’t forgotten how to make pressing something feel satisfying.
Space is no issue in the 520i. After all, any sedan that measures over five meters long better have more than enough room for five inside. Leg, head, and shoulder room is no issue, but typical in any rear-wheel drive vehicle, the person sitting in the middle of the backseat won’t have the best of times. It’s not bad, but they’ll wish the fifth passenger didn’t tag along.
If there’s one thing that baffled me about the 520i, it’s the trunk. Abroad, there’s 520 liters of space available, but the Philippine version comes with a bulky spare tire container that eats up nearly all of that. The result is a trunk that’s no bigger than a compact sedan in terms of volume.
Even more puzzling is the fact that the car came with run-flat tires, which somewhat negates the need for the spare. Another alternative would be a tire repair kit, a portable air compressor, or both, just to give owners that extra peace of mind.But if one really insists on a spare, IwishBMW makes spare tire holder was smaller just to make the most of its cavernous cargo area. Besides, there’s a good chance these cars will be used by golfers, and those folks need their trunk space.
Engine performance
Yes, the 520i comes with an engine that reflects the badge designation. It’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with mild-hybrid assist. It’s good for 208hp and 330Nm of torque, so there’s a fair bit of shove. It’s not the fastest sedan in the world, but it should satisfy most.
Admittedly, I’d love to see the 255hp 530i being an option here someday, but that choice is limited to the North American market. The even juicer 375hp in the 540i is a dream, but again, only for North America.
But back to the 520i, how does it feel? It’s smooth and quiet for the most part, only raising its voice ever so slightly under hard acceleration. It’s brisk enough for the daily drive and offers adequate overtaking performance. In the local setting at least, it won’t leave you wanting for more. The 0 to 100kph claim of 7.3 seconds is believable.
It’s not bad on fuel, either. The old 520i would do around 6.5 to 8 km/L in city traffic, but this new one does 8 to 9km/L with little effort. It’s good to know that the mild hybrid system in it makes a big difference. On more open roads, 10 to 13 km/L is achievable, and there’s no doubt it’ll do around 15 km/L on the highway thanks to its eight-speed automatic.
Speaking of the automatic, it’s well-matched to the engine, seamlessly shifting from one cog to another. It’s never jerky or hesitant, which is great considering the tester I drove didn’t even have 100km on the odometer.
Ride and handling
If I were to judge a car on its chassis alone, this redesigned 5-Series easily gets a perfect score. If you want to know what the near-ideal balance of ride and handling is, you need to steer it around some bends.
I’m also glad to report that BMW did a fine job tuning the electric power steering. Its first attempt dulled the experience, but the previous model mostly rectified that. In this one, BMW has dialed it in. It’s one of the better electric power steering systems out there, and it offers great feel and feedback from the wheel. You almost forget that the car is over five meters long.
Then, there’s the ride. It’s supple without being wallowy or floaty, and impact harshness is dealt with one hushed thump from the suspension. It’s not cloud-like, but the car does a great job of staying level for as much as it can. If anything, the chassis almost makes you forget about the daunting interior controls.
Extra features
The local-spec BMW 520i doesn’t come with a whole host of advanced driver assist systems. There is forward collision warning, but features such as adaptive cruise control and other semi-autonomous driving features are unavailable.
On the flip side, it already comes standard with other safety features like stability control and the parking assistant. The audio system is care of Harmann Kardon, and Connected Drive services are finally included. Of course, Apple CarPlay of the wireless variety is standard, as well as wireless charging.
As for that screen, it’s a nice thing to interact with once you get the hang of it. The graphics are crisp and clear without much in the way of lag. Animations are spot on, and it can either display realtime driving info or your entertainment options. Also stored there are the driving modes and themes, namely Personal, Sport, Efficient, Relax, Expressive, and Digital Art.
Personal is essentially comfort mode and is set as default. Sport does exactly what it says on the lid, and so does Efficient. Relax tones down the ambient lights and rolls up the rear sun blinds, while Expressive gives the drive, er, expressive artwork on the screen and other lighting effects. Digital Art cranks up Expressive mode to 11. During its stay with me, I shuffled between Personal, Sport, and Relax.
Verdict
BMW fans will understand this next reference: It's like a modern-day E60 with a chassis that's hard to beat in its class wrapped in an body that stirs up a conversation. Whether it'll be a positive or negative reaction is up to the person who looks at it, but no one can deny the capabilities of its chassis.
It’s not the most generously equipped luxury car out there. Nor is it the easiest to use when it comes to the interior. However, one can almost forgive it because of its balance. It’s comfortable where it counts and athletic when you want it to be. That was always the hallmark of the 5-Series and it’s great that it’s still the case in the latest version.
Yes, it’s got a whole load of tech in there, some you may or may not need. It’s also got quite a price jump at P4,990,000, a far cry from the previous version’s tag of P4,490,000. That said, that extra P500,000 does get you an all-new chassis, a great ride, and even better feel and feedback behind the wheel. Enthusiasts might want a little more power under the hood, but the basic ingredients that makes BMW’s mid-size sedan great are still present.
Honestly, that’s the thing that counts the mostin the 5-Series.
SPECS: 2024 BMW520i
Price: P4,990,000
Engine: 2.0-liter mild-hybrid turbopetrol
Power: 208hp
Torque: 330Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Layout: Rear-wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
See Also
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- BMW
- drives
- BMW 5-Series
- BMW Philippines
- car review
- BMW 520i
