Drive into the future

BMW's 5 Series design, full-throttle power and tech specs suite cruisy and spirited drivers alike. Photo / Supplied

BMW has sold 5.55 million 5Series worldwide since it launched in 1962. In New Zealand, the vehicle takes a back seat to the 1 and 3 series, but remains a target for buyers with upwardly mobile aspirations.

What's new
A longer, lower, wider body with a wider track, longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs; a toned-down yet muscular design; and a more driver-focused cabin with the fascia angled seven degrees towards the driver.

An eight-speed ZF auto among a suite of features filched from the 7series; more power with lower thirst; and an immense range of tech available, including: self parking; head-up display; lane-change warning; active cruise that judges distance to the car in front and begins braking if an impact is imminent, even without cruise selected; and front-wing cameras to help judge your departure from driveways and parking buildings - there's now no excuse for scratching a rim.

The company line
BMW says it has developed the technology of tomorrow for the automobiles of today. New Zealand will get the 190kW/310Nm, 3.0-litre, 528i; the 225kW/400Nm, 535i, twin-power, turbo six; plus the 300kW/600Nm, 550i, 4.4-litre, eight-cylinder petrols next month.

The 135kW/380Nm, 520d, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel arrives in September. Prices range from $107,000 to $173,000, with cost and timing for the 535d, six-cylinder diesel yet to be confirmed.

What we say
It's harder for premium brands to impress now that things such as keyless start appear in cheap-as-chips, entry-level cars. But BMW has managed it. You expect a $143,000 conveyance to go the extra mile, but not necessarily in so many areas.

This 5 Series can be your comfy cruiser, yet rewards a spirited driver tackling a demanding road. The basics - air, sounds, satnav - are easy to access, but so is a far more complicated features menu.

You can check the oil and tyre pressures at the touch of a button. Not only can you adapt the suspension, steering weighting, safety aids and drivetrain from normal, to sport, to sport-plus, but in sport you can select the sharper chassis response or just a more responsive engine. Meanwhile, you get more power using less fuel thanks to more efficient powerplants, and hybrid-style interventions such as brake energy regeneration.

It's easy to write some of this stuff off as toys for the rich, but much of it will filter down to everyday drivers.

On the road
The latest 5 delivers a capable chassis further honed by the symphony of electronic aids.

That was ably demonstrated by the 535i during our Downunder launch, for we punted it down demanding curves with 45km/h corner after 45km/h corner, fringed by solid trees and slick with autumn rain.

We abandoned "normal" settings for "sport". Both suffer the jiggly ride imparted by run-flat tyres, with Sport's still comfy while honing performance just enough. Sport-plus weighted the steering and suspension to an unnecessary degree for real-world enjoyment, while crippling the stability aids - not wise, given the conditions and the proximity of those fire-scorched eucalypts. Sport does allow some rear movement, and we didn't need the $3000, active, rear-steer option given this car's dynamic superiority.

Meantime, the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, twin turbo that's so quiet when cruising growls pleasantly when you get a move on.

As for fuel economy, BMW claims 8.4l/100km; our car hit 9.4 overall, and 11.8 for our 350km, lead-footed launch drive.

Why you'll buy one
Luxury suit hides hooligan heart.

Why you won't
The techiest bits are cost options despite the purchase price.