BMW has been making rapid advancements over the years, thanks to the dedication of its designing team. The continuous research and development activities have promised something new and exciting with every new facelift of their popular vehicles. The company has kept its customer hooked to its products by adding many new features with every new vehicle model and variant. The company started garnering fame by launching the BMW New Class series in 1962. Since then, the company has made it a prime priority to create the most luxurious and advanced vehicles for generations to come.

From airplane engines to luxury cars, BMW has been doing it all for a very long time. There is no doubt that this German giant has been able to carve a niche for itself in all these years through the power of constant engineering up-gradations. The 3 series introduced as a compact segment of the New Class series gained popularity because of the focus on performance and driveability. The New Class series was aimed at producing some of the finest executive saloons for the lovers of luxury and hasn’t failed to surprise us since its introduction.

The BMW 5 Series is one such executive class vehicle that BMW started producing in the year 1972. It was the direct successor of the New Class sedans and, since then, has undergone a transformation for almost four decades. The 5 series we see today is in its seventh generation, and the facelift coming up in 2021 will mark the beginning of the eighth generation of these premium luxury sedans. Moreover, BMW is also working on the hybrid models, which might be revealed soon globally. The Indian market will have to wait a little longer for that.

BMW 5 series launch & review

The new BMW 5 Series was launched in June 2021 in three variants (one petrol and two diesel variants). The 530i Sport, 530d M Sport, and 520d Luxury Line are currently being manufactured locally in India in the Chennai-based plant.

At first look, the 5 series facelift impresses with the refreshing styling on the outside with updated headlamps and front bumper update. The rear and sides remain more or less the same, with the rear getting a slightly updated version of the tail lamps. The front bumper has been redesigned with wider air intake grills and LED DRLs with a luminosity of 650 meters, as claimed by the company.

The cabin has been upgraded fantastically with a wider, more accessible 12.3-inch infotainment display LCD touch screen accompanied with gesture control. The instrument cluster remains digital, and in fact, the cockpit now really feels like sitting inside an airplane with all the gadgets and displays. The connectivity feature has been upgraded with seamless support of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The updated iDrive software enables over-the-air updates to be downloaded and installed directly to the car. Not only this, the air conditioning has been upgraded further to accommodate 4-zone climate control. This promises the best of luxury and comfort for both the driver and the passengers.

Premium leather seats and upholstery characterize the plush interiors. The seats are ergonomically designed, enabling maximum comfort while riding. BMW hasn’t played much with the colors, retaining the feel and warmth of luxury from its predecessors. Power windows, panoramic sunroof, and ambient lighting are some of the most enjoyable features of these luxury sedans. The glass sunroof surely adds a touch of royalty and class to the interiors.

The color contrast on the dashboard gives it an elegant and sophisticated look and charm. Currently, the BMW 5 series sedans can be availed in two color options: Phytonic Blue (Metallic) and Bernina Grey. The facelift retains most of the styling elements from its predecessor but is sturdier and tougher than the former. The updated Cluster Architecture platform on which the chassis built relies on has been revamped to improve the overall toughness of the vehicle while reducing the weight. It ensures better handling and higher fuel efficiency.

Braking and safety have been given prime importance in the new generation of the 5 series sedans. The Anti-lock Braking System and Electronic Braking Distribution give an edge to the drivers in tight conditions. Active drive assist is another safety feature onboard the vehicles that enable driver and passenger protection at all times. The system detects fatigue, stretching seat-belt, mishandling, etc., to alert the drivers in time before getting into trouble. Pedestrian detection system enables automatic braking in city traffic. There are 8 airbags on board that guarantee complete safety to everyone inside the car during accidents or high-speed collisions.

Technical specification

Some of the key technical specifications of the 5 series are as follows:

Facelift upgrade features

BMW has introduced a number of key features in the facelift upgrade. The company has added these features to enhance safety and make the vehicles more tech-savvy. The features comply with both EU as well as Global automobile standards. The highlights are:

• iDrive Touch controller: The iDrive touch controller enables the driver to control the driving modes, run diagnostics and troubleshoot simple errors with a single touch panel. The control becomes quite convenient and easy to understand.
• Active Protection: The Active protection system onboard the new BMW 5 series detects early signals of driver fatigue and makes adjustments to improve the alertness of the drive. The ConnectedDrive feature ensures that the driver is safe in all driving conditions.
• Active Driving Assistant: The Active Driving Assistant features pedestrian detection, a front collision warning system, lane watch, and emergency braking at low speeds.
• Anti Dazzle Headlamp beams: The anti-dazzle feature of the new BMW 5 series improves nighttime driving. The beam nullifies the high beam of oncoming traffic and enables better visibility.
• OTA updates: The new iDrive OS 7 upgrade enables users to update the onboard software from anywhere over the air. It ensures that your vehicle remains updated at all times.
• Multifunction Steering wheel: The multifunction steering wheel allows for instant access to communication and multimedia controls. The features allow for a more comfortable ride to the drivers while multi-tasking. Although it is always recommended to stay focussed on the road while driving, some practice can help drivers maintain the dicta without hassle.
• Driving experience control: The driving experience control feature allows users to switch between Comfort Mode, ECO Pro mode, or the Sport Mode. Users can expect the best mileage from the ECO Pro mode while the best performance from the Sport Mode. The Comfort mode is a balance between the two and lets the iDrive assist make adjustments according to the driving conditions.

Model variants

The new BMW 5 Series is being offered in three variants. BMW decided to discontinue the base model 530i and go ahead with the 530i M, 530d M Sport, and 520d Luxury Line. The 530d M sports variant is the top model on offer and loaded with all the new upgrades and features.

The 530i M Sport petrol is loaded with a 1998cc 4-cylinder engine that produces a maximum power output of 248bhp and a torque of 350Nm at 4500 rpm.

The 520d Luxury Line comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder motor, while the M sports variant boasts of a heavy 3.0-liter 6-cylinder diesel engine under the hood. The 2.0-liter diesel engine dishes out a maximum torque of 400Nm and 184bhp of power, while the 3.0-liter diesel engine is capable of generating a whopping 620Nm of torque and 261bhp of power.

Pricing

The BMW 5 series petrol variant, the 530i, starts at INR 59.80 lakhs, while the diesel variants, the 520d Luxury Line and 530d M Sport, are priced at INR 59.30 lakhs and INR 66.80 lakhs, respectively. (Exclusive showroom prices)

The BMW 5 series pricing range puts the sedans in the premium luxury sedans as per the Indian luxury car market. Although the top variant of the BMW 5 series pricing puts it in direct competition with rivals such as Mercedes Benz E Class and Audi A6, Mercedes manages to offer more features and luxury at a par price. Audi and BMW give tough competition to each other when it comes to performance, while BMW tries to make more stylish vehicles than the latter.

Final Verdict

The all-new BMW 5 Series lives up to the hype of the brand’s premium luxury sedan offering. The sedans are not only sedately styled but are power-laden too. There’s a sense of royalty and class around these sedans, and that’s the major reason why people root for these machines. BMW is known to build the driver’s car, and the new 5 series edition marks the statement in bold letters. Packed with luxury features and smooth drive handling, this sedan proves to be a class-act for BMW every single time. It is very difficult to combine everything expected of a premium luxury car inside one package, but BMW does that with finesse.

Reliability is another key area where BMW manages to tick all the boxes, while safety and comfort features are what make these sedans the first choice among its fans. No doubt, the 5 series has a separate fan base owing to the sheer driving pleasure these vehicles have to offer. They are flamboyant, elegant, and low-hung mean machines that are giving their competitors a run for their money at any time.

All in all, the brand new BMW 5 series is a must-try for all the driving thrill-seekers as well as for the laid-back, lazy passengers. The rivals such as Mercedes E Class and Audi A6 do seem to outrun the BMW 5 series in the longer run, but nothing can beat the refinement that BMW has to offer.

Stay tuned for more news on upcoming developments in the automobile sector in India. We will be bringing in more exciting news on the latest launches and upcoming vehicles.