In this article:
Who is the BMW 5 Series a good car for?
What is the BMW 5 Series like to drive?
Tech features in the BMW 5 Series
Similar cars to the BMW 5 Series
Is the BMW 5 Series a good car?
The BMW 5 Series is one of the German automaker's more premium offerings and as such a lot of attention is paid to its design and development. The 5 Series provide customers with comfort, safety and good handling dynamics but also some of the latest technology developed by the Bavarians. It is definitely a good car with lots on offer.
Who is the BMW 5 Series a good car for?
The BMW 5 Series is a good car for families requiring a comfortable and safe vehicle with enough legroom and luggage space. While the entry-trim 520d derivative will be ample for these requirements, the Bavarian automaker offers a variety of engine and trim options to meet not only your requirements but also your wants.
Is the BMW 5 Series a good first car?
The BMW 5 Series might not be as compact as its 1 Series or 2 Series ranges but is still as easy to drive once you get used to its dimensions. Occupants can also enjoy their trip, rest assured that the model retains some of the best safety technology should an inexperienced driver get into an accident. As alluded to earlier, the 1 and 2 Series ranges might be more applicable for new drivers, however, the 5 Series will definitely get the job done.
Is the BMW 5 Series a good family car?
The basic recipe for a good family car is to have enough space for both the front and rear occupants, a comfortable drive for longer trips, a large boot for everyone's luggage and good safety credentials should the unexpected happen. In this respect, every derivative in the BMW 5 Series range manages to tick all of those boxes and in the case of the BMW M550i xDrive and BMW M5, even more.
Is there a Hybrid BMW 5 Series?
While locally you are able to purchase petrol- and diesel-powered 5 Series, BMW did develop a range of hybrid derivatives namely the 520e, 530e, 530e xDrive, 545e xDrive. At the time of writing this article, these variants, however, doesn't feature on local dealership floors but we can expect more of these hybrid and even fully electric models to arrive in the near future.
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What’s it like to drive?
Reviewers opinion
"We test the BMW 520d, powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 140kW and 400Nm while returning a claimed 4.7l/100km on the combined cycle. The model we test here is the Luxury Line model with a few options selected in the form of display key, parking assist plus, gesture control, multi-function instrument display, navigation system professional among others."
- Chad Luckhoff, AutoTrader
Read the full BMW 5 Series review >
What does it look like?
Exterior
Interior
What is the BMW 5 Series like inside?
Being one of BMW's more premium offerings, it's no surprise that the interior comes with luxurious leather upholstery. This is bolstered by the soft-touch surfaces around the cabin, not to mention the contrasting trim panels in the facia and door panels. Standard on the 520d and 530i variants feature the BMW Live Cockpit Plus package which sees a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen installed as well as a 5.1-inch display between the analogue dials in the instrument cluster.
Included functionality of this entry-level system includes a hands-free facility with intelligent voice control. Customers can also switch between the USB, radio, MP3 players and navigation system with the standard iDrive controller which incorporates touch functionality. Connection to the system is made convenient through Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth or the WiFi interface. Customers also gain access to 4G LTE connectivity via the hard-wired SIM card. Needles to say, the interior of the BMW 5 Series is a very nice place to be.
Style
The styling on the current BMW 5 Series takes a time-honoured approach and unlike the new M3 and 4 Series models, the 5 Series retains its horizontal kidney grille layout, the kidneys also retain good proportions unlike the units found on the 7 Series. While somewhat understated when compared to the aforementioned ranges, the 5 Series exudes class with distinctive creases along the sides and an aggressive front and rear bumper design.
The interior takes a similar route as it incorporates clean and strong horizontal lines across the dashboard. Like the exterior, the interior is also uncluttered and clean, only retaining physical buttons where it is required with the rest of the functions incorporated into the infotainment system.
Tech features
- Active headrests for front seats
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Alarm system
- Antilock Braking System (ABS)
- Brake Assist
- Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
- Dynamic Brake Lights (flashing under
emergency braking) - Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
- Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
- Parking Assist
- Rearview camera
- Tyre Pressure Indicator
- Driving Experience Control
- Adaptive M suspension
- Automatic Start/Stop function
- Electromechanical park brake with automatic hold
function - Servotronic steering system
- Cruise control with braking function
- Ambient lighting with mood lighting
design - Automatic air conditioning with 2-zone
control - BMW Live Cockpit Plus
- Keyless engine start
- Personal Profile
- Rain sensor
- Roller blinds for the rear windscreen and rear windows
- Electronically adjusted front seats
- Automatic tailgate operation
- High-beam assist
- Concierge Services
- ConnectedDrive Services
- Stereo speaker system with 6 speakers
- Intelligent emergency calling
- Real Time Traffic Information
- Remote Services
- TeleServices
Price and specs
Which is the cheapest 5 Series?
The cheapest BMW 5 Series is the standard trim 520d - prices usually start from R 987 296
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How much does it cost?
| BMW 520d | from R 987 296 |
| BMW 530i | from R 989 642 |
| BMW 520d M Sport | from R 1 049 696 |
| BMW 530i M Sport | from R 1 063 242 |
| BMW M550i xDrive | from R 1 509 938 |
| BMW M5 competition | from R 2 328 224 |
*Pricing correct at time of publishing and subject to change without notice.
Comparisons
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