► New 2017 BMW 5 Series

New BMW 5 Series 2017 review

The all-new BMW 5 Series has arrived, and we get behind the wheel to see if it can compete with the best executive cars on sale
For more than 40 years, the BMW 5 Series saloon has been battling it out at the the top of the executive car class. Yet recently, the current version has began to show its age and has been overtaken by newer rivals from Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar.
However, BMW isn’t taking this lying down and has pulled the covers off an all-new, seventh generation version of its popular 5 Series saloon.

Not only is the new 5 Series faster, lighter and more efficient than ever, but it’s loaded with top-shelf tech and promises to rival larger luxury cars for comfort and quality. Plus, bosses claim that the combination of a crash diet and sophisticated chassis upgrades make the 5 Series almost as agile as the smaller 3 Series saloon.

So then, BMW has set a tall order for itself and the new 5 Series. We got behind the wheel of one of the first examples in Portugal and gave it a thorough workout on some challenging roads. The 520d is tipped to be the biggest seller, but the only diesel car available on this early launch was the bigger, six-cylinder 530d.

Step up to the newcomer and it is clear BMW has taken no risks with the design. In such a conservative sector it’s clear that the design mantra within the firm was ‘evolution not revolution’. It’s handsome and beautifully proportioned, but many of the visual cues have been carried over from the previous car.

There are some neat details, though. Like on the 3 Series, the distinctive LED headlamps now flow into the large double kidney grille, plus the car’s sheet metal features more eye-catching curves and creases. These additions help hide the car’s bulk, and despite being 36mm longer and 6mm wider than before, the 5 Series looks no bigger than its predecessor. It’s aerodynamic, too, with entry-level models delivering a stunning low drag coefficient of 0.22Cd.

Our Luxury trim test car won’t be available in the UK, but visually and mechanically it’s virtually identical to the SE that will be the big seller here. Buyers wanting an injection of racy appeal can choose the M Sport model, which adds deeper front and rear bumpers, subtle side skirts and larger 19-inch alloys.

Yet while the exterior of the 5 Series is fairly conventional, under the skin there have been big changes. The basic platform is shared with the flagship 7 Series, but without that model’s expensive carbon fibre core. However, extensive use of aluminium for the structure, body panels and suspension means the newcomer weighs around 100kg less than the old car.

These weight-savings combine with the double wishbone front suspension and new five-link rear axle to give the 5 Series more alert and agile responses than both its predecessor and its immediate rivals. The BMW’s crash diet also helps boost performance.