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BMW 5-Series Saloon 520 d road test report

520 d

Cars do not come much more legendary than the BMW 5-series. Now in its fifth generation the car has been manufactured by the German carmaker since 1972. The current version, the one reviewed here, was updated in 2008, and comes with a choice of five engines – 2.5 and two 3.0 litre petrol with a 2.0 (reviewed here) and 3.0 diesel options. Aesthetically the car has grown into its looks over the years; from initially splitting opinion the car now is a popular and good looking model on British roads.

Road Test Reports Says 4.5 star rating
A front-facing image of the BMW 5-Series Saloon 520 d

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Image number 2 of the BMW 5-Series Saloon 520 d Image number 3 of the BMW 5-Series Saloon 520 d Image number 4 of the BMW 5-Series Saloon 520 d
RICHARD SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

As you would expect with a mainstay of the executive market the 5-series comes with plenty of power under the bonnet. Even the 520d manages to pack a punch, capable of a top speed of 144mph and a respectable 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, way behind other engine sizes but still enough in most situations. Behind the wheel you certainly do not feel like the car is underpowered, capable of swift acceleration to get up to cruising speed. Another excellent feature of the car is its CO2 emissions; the car comes in at an excellent 136g/km - good news for company car drivers looking for an executive saloon under 160g/km.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

A BMW with poor handling is about as common as finding hen’s teeth and the 520d simply excels – with perfect responsiveness at all speeds the car does exactly what the driver requests and demands, a real car lovers car. Equally brilliant is the cars ride, again the car provides the driver and passengers a comfortable and capable feeling each and every time.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

Along with the 3-series the 5-series really is BMW bread and butter, they’ve taken every precaution to ensure that these potentially high-mileage vehicles are built to last. The domain of the travelling executive the car is designed to cruise for long distances and to tot up large annual mileage. Inside the cabin the car feels well built and luxurious, top draw materials have been used built for comfort and to last.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

A multitude of airbags come as standard, as you would expect including an advanced head protection system. The car comes with a mind-boggling amount of equipment to protect, such as Anti-lock braking, Automatic stability control, Brake force display, Cornering brake control, Dynamic traction control and electronic brake-force distribution to name a few! The car performs well in Euro NCAP with four-stars for both driver and child safety.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

With bags of room in the rear it’s an excellent option for those with families. The boot has a respectable amount of volume at 520 litres, which is better than the executive-class average. The 5-series also has the flexibility and space to cope with the rigours of the daily commute and turn into a large, spacious family when the weekend comes.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

The BMW 5-series is a firm favourite as a company car, and the 520d provides excellent value when you consider its many attributes such as CO2 emissions, fuel economy, build quality and refinement. The demand for 5-series is such that residuals remain strong even on high mileage vehicles, as people know these are built to last. The 5-series remains a cornerstone of the BMW line-up and there is plenty of mileage left in this model yet.

Submitted: 22/04/2009 11:21:24

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