When it comes to premium estate cars, outright size isn’t the be all and end all. If it was, everyone would buy the Mercedes E-Class and BMW wouldn’t bother making a new 5-Series Touring at all. But when it comes to BMWs there’s usually more than meets the eye.
Despite being marginally larger than before, with a total loading space of 1,670 litres, the new 5-Series Touring is still 280-litres down on the mighty Merc - but it’s by no means small.
The BMW will still swallow a couple of mountain bikes, carry four people and their golf clubs in business class style or transport the whole family, together with baby paraphernalia, anywhere you want to go.
It may only have an extra 20-litres of boot space, or 60 with the seats folded, over the old car but what matters is that there are now some handy new features to make your life even easier. The first is that when you open the tailgate the luggage cover retracts or lowers automatically. Also the rear seats can be folded down in one go by simply pulling a lever in the boot while their backs are spilt 40:20:40 for greater flexibility. You can even recline them by 11 degrees for extra comfort or put them forward for more boot space. However, this feature is a £280 option. Our only real complaint is that BMW didn’t see fit to make key fob-operated tailgate control standard like it is on the E-Class.
But the Beemer makes up for this with its higher quality interior. Inside, no other car in this segment feels quite so upmarket. The exterior design is stylish too - BMW’s conservative new look somehow seems more at home on the estate than the saloon. And thanks to the longest wheelbase in the class the 5 Series Touring has very little front and rear overhang - something which helps its sporty stance.
But is the driving experience up to scratch? For lugging loads along Snowdonia’s mountain passes, no other car comes close. There’s an abundance of grip and unflappable body control. That said the new 5 Series Touring doesn’t feel quite as involving to drive as its predecessor, although it’s still a cut above the E-Class.
On the plus side the new car is much more capable at ironing out the bumps in our battered British roads. In fact the 5 Series Touring’s suspension, which includes a self-leveling pneumatic system at the rear, is the car’s most impressive asset.
We drove the entry-level 520d, but arguably it’s the engine that makes the most sense. Smooth, punchy and incredibly efficient it makes the hugely talented six-cylinder 530d and 535i models seem vaguely irrelevant. Our test car featured the six-speed manual which felt strangely at odds with the car’s laid-back demeanour, if you can afford the extra £1,495 we’d recommend going for the silky eight-speed auto.
RIVAL:
The E-Class Estate has always prided itself on offering more room than any of its rivals, and the latest model is no different. Why buy an SUV when you can have all the space in a sleek E-Class shell?
Price: £30,380
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 380Nm
0-62mph: 8.3 seconds
Top speed: 138mph
Economy: 54.3mpg
CO2: 137g/km
Equipment: Leather upholstery, Bluetooth, parking sensors, cruise control, air-con, self-levelling air suspension
On sale: Now
Disqus - noscript
the old touring already has the opening rear glass window.......
What a pity BMW haven't learnt much about wagons since they introduced their "Touring". The rear floor is still not flat, the seats don't fold to form a baulkhead to stop items from rolling down between the seats. Having had a Mercedes & now the owner of a 2000 BMW 530D, I won't be replacing the BMW with another for these reasons alone. They are more but I won't bother.
A 520dSE has served me well in 07-57 saloon guise.
I have just ordered a 520dSE Touring for October delivery.
What clinched the deal (apart from a stunningly good price)?
Finally BMW have put the wiper blades the right way round (for UK drivers) on the Five. No more wearing out driver-side blades twice as fast as the near-side blades. Anyone want two unused left-hand side wiper blades (BMW only sell you a pair, but Halfords are half the price!). So, that's the only complaint in 33 months and 56k miles. I'll have another - easy decision.
Would MIke the Director care to email the place where he got his stunningly good price? I'm impressed with the car; expensive though it is against a better equipped Luxury Car of the Year - Skoda Superb Estate.
Anyone who would vote the Skoda, Luxury Car of the Year clearly has a problem understanding what the word "luxury" means!
It is not just about what you get to play with, it is also about styling (Skoda??) Comfort and longevity. In three years time the BMW would retain a sizeable chunk of its purchase price. The Skoda witll be worth about the same as a well used Mondeo!
The name on the Skoda should give a clue! If you have to call a car "Superb" , you are truly trying to convince yourself...
Looks as though RUMOUR has a problem,one of jealousy. The FACT is the SUPERB, especially in Elegance form is a vehicle which has gained a strong following, hence the build waiting time of 7 months and a vehicle with which the BMW cannot compete either in termsof value for money and probably not in amount lost in depreciation. The Superb is such fantastic value that VAG are rumoured to be drawing it back either in value for money or equipment included. There was a comparison report done a year ago involving a Bentley Continental at £125K, BMW 7 Seires at circa £ 74K, Audi circa £44K and Skoda Superb at £25K. The Superb came out on top , better built than the Bentley and nothing could touch it for value for money. Not for nothing was it Car of the Year last year plus ,best Towing car and Skoda the best manufacturer. Swallow your prejudice Rumour and come to terms with facts.
If the 320D Tourer were fitted with comparable equipment with Superb Elegance, it would cost at least 27% more than the Skoda. Admittedly the max speed at 138 is almost 10mph more, but who cares , totally academic as neither can be used. With 0-62 the BMW is just under 2 secs quicker , but again,who cares, except maybe a boy racer or someone who hasn't exactly matured in accordance with their age, and which vehicles' difference no doubt is reflected in insurance grouping, the Superb in 140 bhp diesel mode being Group 10 , several less than the BMW, I am sure?