TEST DRIVE. The 7th gen BMW 5 Series looks and feels like the 7

The 5 Series is one of the most important cars in BMW’s Indian portfolio. Its dual character, of being able to keep back benchers comfy during the daily commute and also transform into a satisfying driver’s car during the weekend, has been the reason for its popularity. It is an executive luxury sedan with a streak of dynamism (BMW calls it the business athlete). Of course, the M5 takes it to a different level all together.

The 5 Series was one of the first cars brought by BMW into India and two generations of the car have already been on offer for Indian buyers. The German luxury marquee has officially launched the next – seventh – generation of the model and global deliveries are expected to commence from February next year. BMW organised the first global media drives of the new 5 Series Saloon last week and we travelled to Portugal to take the car out on the streets of Lisbon and the scenic country roads outside the city.

Despite seeing numerous photos of the new 5 and its facial resemblance to the current generation 7 Series, it still takes you by surprise when you look at it for the first time. In the flesh, with so much of the new 5 looking very 7 Series-like it is tough not to get the impression that BMW too has gone the way of the other two competing German luxury car brands. And the new 5 Series’ design similarities seem to go beyond copying the reinterpretation of the kidney grille and the signature headlamp LED rings already seen in the new 7 Series.

Fans of Bangle design and his flame surfacing, especially the ‘5’ of two generations ago (E60), will find the new model’s design unadventurous. They may be tempted to call this a tendency to choose a corporate identity over individual design character. But even if this new 7th gen 5 Series’ design would be termed a low-risk approach, it would still be difficult to deny that it looks good. With the 7 Series, BMW brought in some very modern styling changes and the fact that the 5 Series gets those bits too puts its hierarchical position in perspective. And who is going to complain about buying a baby 7 Series.

Younger buyers in newer markets are driving the changes in the new 5 Series, including its ride quality. It’s more coupe-like profile and (yet) bulked-up stance will be universally appealing. The long bonnet, late-sloping roofline and the longer rear overhang manages to give the new 5 a coupé-like profile, and yet enables maximising space in the cabin and the boot. A thin C-pillar and bigger front and rear glass also allows the design to deliver a large greenhouse.

While the front adaptive LED headlights and the airdam’s design emphasis on width makes it look very much like the 7 Series, the rear still looks like an adaptation of the previous generation 5 Series. The new model also gets better aerodynamics with an active stream kidney grille and air curtains behind the front wheels. The new 5 is marginally longer than the previous gen, but visually looks larger.

First thing which strikes you in the new 5 Series’ cabin is the jump in quality, workmanship and choice of materials used. No radical changes here too like with the exterior, so it is clearly a BMW cabin with a surprisingly similar layout to the new 7 Series. Many cabin design elements have been given makeovers without altering their fundamental design. Take the gear stick and the steering wheel, for example, both of which look very similar to the 7 Series. The hexagonal design of the centre console, the driver-orientation and the broad, cross-stitched leather seats are other features that seem to have been carried over at least in terms of design and reference.

The new 5 Series also gets a truck load of new features that take it dangerously close to the 7 Series in terms of its sheer equipment levels. The iDrive touch controller with gesture control, the full-colour head-up display, the Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound music system, wireless charging for mobile phones, BMW night vision and auto door closing are the kinds of features that may leave buyers content with the new 5, instead of plonking even more cash for the larger 7 Series. The new 5 even gets the BMW display key with its own touch screen control based functions.

In addition to a whole range of safety features, the new 5 Series also gets active lane assist along with adaptive cruise control. There is even a auto lane change function. All of these worked like a charm during my test drive in Lisbon. Adaptive cruise control needs the use of radar, and has been opened up for use in India too. But, it is unlikely that these functions will be usable in Indian driving conditions.

The new 5 Series saloon has been officially launched with two petrol (530i and 540i) and two diesel (520d and 530d) engines. There is also the M550i xDrive, which is the M version with its 8-cylinder petrol engine with an as yet undisclosed displacement, but capable of a peak power of 462hp. And there will be the 530e iPerformance, a plug-in hybrid version with a 4-cylinder, two-litre petrol engine and electric motors, and a combined range of 650kms.

The two variants which were available for drives during the testing event in Lisbon were the 530d xDrive and the 540i xDrive (both all-wheel drive versions). The 530d is uncannily quite inside the cabin. BMW’s diesels unlike Merc’s are inherently quieter, but this one takes it to another level. This 3-litre, six-cylinder engine produces 265hp of power and 620Nm of torque. The 540i’s similarly sized 6-cylinder petrol engine produces 340hp of peak power and 450Nm of peak torque. Both these engines feel as powerful and quick to drive as they seem from their numbers. The petrol engine feels more refined and packs uncharacteristic punch, with peak torque being available from 1,380rpm. In the 530d, the diesel engine’s massive amounts of torque had the assistance of the BMW all-drive system. We weren’t offered the regular 530d rear wheel version. Both these engines are paired with the 8-speed steptronic auto transmission and both of them had an additional adaptive (auto detects and adjusts to driving style) mode.

The new 5 Series’ ride quality is also much better. The ride feels more pliant now, while still offering the legendary road grip that this model is already known for. The rear seat feel like the perfect place to be too and that is good news for Indian buyers. Also music to our ears was the fact that the new 5 Series models across the range are more frugal fuel sippers, thanks to weight-savings of about 100kgs and improved engines.

The 530d is the engine that has been confirmed for the India-bound model. The petrol engine version is yet to be confirmed. The trim levels will also vary for the India-spec variants. But what can be expected is a large dose of surprise. So, hold on to your wallets. The new 5 will be worth the wait.

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