Driving Experience

We’ll just start with the facts: the 520i, in this iteration, features a 2.0-litre turbo four that produces 190hp and 310Nm of torque, enabling it to go from 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds. It doesn’t sound like much, but truthfully it is more than adequate for day-to-day motoring in Singapore, although you’re unlikely to wring much excitement out of the powertrain. The unit generally goes about its business smoothly and efficiently, without much drama or fuss.

It’s a theme that seems to be endemic in the 520i’s driving manners though. The ultra-light steering is rather devoid of feel and feedback, and the suspension feels quite soft through the corners, with noticeable pitch and roll. It does sharpen up a bit when you stick it in Sport drive mode, but a BMW shouldn’t have to resort to these to offer an engaging drive that should be built-in by default. Perhaps the optional M Sport suspension might improve things, but in our experience that tends to come at the expense of ride quality.

And so you feel like you have to end up choosing between ride comfort and handling prowess, because in the 520i, in this form at least, the setup feels more geared towards the former. It is undoubtedly a very comfortable and refined car to drive on the highway, and for the average 5 Series customer who just wants to ride around all day undisturbed, maybe that’s just exactly what they want. But for the keen driving enthusiast, it does raise questions as to whether one should eke out that little bit more for an M Sport, or even go for the electric i5 variant which boasts more power and greater efficiency.

Conclusion

It’s a bit hard not to view the new 520i with a slightly cynical lens. It does have its strengths, like its relatively restrained yet classy design, some neat interior touches, and an excellent ride quality. If you’re okay with that in what is otherwise a decent car, then that should be more than enough. But in truth, we probably expected more from a brand like BMW, especially when it comes to its reputation for delivering driving excellence. 

Fundamentally, we know that there is a good car under the skin. It just needs the right sort of drivetrain and setup, and we reckon with more power and a sportier suspension, the new 5 Series will go a long way towards redeeming itself.

BMW 520i Launch Edition

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