BMW 5 Series Sedan

The significant evolution of the BMW 5-Series also includes the extensively revised cabin layout, which has been inspired by the rest of the new-generation BMW offerings available alongside it. For the Philippines car market, the new BMW 5-Series has Veganza Perforated and Quilted upholstery with dark silver accents and a dark graphite matte effect. 

The fancy-looking cockpit behind the new-generation flat-bottom multi-functional steering wheel has a curved design with full-TFT screens for the instrument console with multiple display modes and the new-generation touchscreen infotainment system. The dashboard here also has an interaction bar between the upper dashboard and door panels, which houses touch-based controls for automatic climate control and other functions. The fanciness of the cabin of the new BMW 5-Series is further upped by the ambient lighting on offer. 

The Philippines-spec BMW 520i is feature-packed with equipment like a premium Harman-Kardon sound system, a crystalline effect for the drive mode controller in the lower centre console, four-zone automatic climate control with rear AC vents, electronic parking brake, wireless charging pad, a panoramic glass roof, electrically-adjustable front sports seats with memory functions and an air purifier. Space on the inside is better than the previous-generation model but is still not what one expects from a car of its class.  

Wearing a fresh and new-age design, the new BMW 5-Sereis looks bulkier and flashier than the model it replaced. It might have lost a bit of the sleekness of its predecessor but compensates for it with some cool-looking elements that make it look very modern.

The trademark double kidney grille of the new BNMW 5-Series has a dynamic shutter mechanism for optimal airflow as and when needed, with the grille also having satin silver surrounds and vertical slats within it. The Matrix LED lights with inverted L-shaped daytime running LEDs look sleek and have a sweptback design, accentuating the width of the car. There are tiny and slim air curtains on the sides of the simple-looking front bumper.  

The subtle-looking side profile of the BMW 5-Series has 19-inch alloy wheels, a smooth design for the fenders and door panels, old-school flap-type door handles and a satin silver finish for the window panel surrounds and C-pillar garnish. At the back, the new BMW 5-Series has trapezoidal sleek LED tail lamps with wider design towards their outer edges. 

The BMW 5-Series has always been known for its dynamic driving experience, and this new eighth-generation version takes that experience one notch above. With a double wishbone at the front and multi-link with steel springs and hydraulic dampers at the rear, that come with stiffer-tuned coil springs, the 5-Series also has adaptive M suspension professional with electronically controlled dampers.

In the Philippines, the BMW 5-Series comes with a single powertrain setup – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Featuring 48V mild-hybrid technology for better fuel efficiency and responsiveness, this turbo-petrol engine claims 208 bhp of maximum power and 330 Nm of maximum torque in the 5-Series.

Justifying its positioning as a premium mid-size luxury sedan, the BMW 5-Series is armed with all the modern safety amenities like forward collision mitigation with a cross-traffic warning, lane keep assistance, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic warning with automatic braking and front collision mitigation with left turn warning. This car also has eight airbags, ABS with EBD, a 360-degree parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, electronic stability control, and traction control.

The new eighth-generation BMW 5-Series might have become heavier than before, but with extensiveness of the change in all other parameters, including the engine performance, ride and handling balance and cutting-edge design outweigh the weight factor.