BMW 5 Series LWB review: The 5 goes XL

What you see here is the all-new eighth-gen BMW 5 Series. The version for India marks a break from tradition because it’s not as much about the person sat up front as it is about the one sat at the back. And that’s because, for the first time ever, we get the 5 Series in long-wheelbase format. Formerly a China-only model, the 5 Series LWB makes its right-hand-drive debut in India. The aim is to beat the Mercedes-Benz E-Class at its own game.

BMW 5 Series LWB dimensions

So, how long is that wheelbase? 3105mm. For reference, that’s 130mm longer than the last-gen 5 Series’ wheelbase, 110mm longer than the standard wheelbase version that we get in India in all-electric i5 form, and 35mm longer than that of the 6 Series GT that this car will also replace.

What your friendly BMW sales rep will undoubtedly draw your attention to is the fact that the 3,105mm figure makes the 5’s wheelbase longest in the segment. Crucially, it's not only longer than the outgoing Mercedes E-Class LWB but also the all-new E-Class LWB that will come to India in the next few months. And it’s not the wheelbase alone. The new 5 LWB is also the longest, widest and tallest sedan in the segment.

BMW 5 Series LWB design and styling

The LWB will catch your attention for its size, yes, but to my eyes at least, it’s just not as attractive as the older 5 Series were. The athletic look that has been core to the 5 is missing, and in its place you get a limo-like stance. Not helping here are the wheels that look unusually small amidst the vast body. They’re 18 inchers, mind you, wrapped in relatively narrow 225 section but chunky 55 aspect ratio tyres. You can also opt for 19-inch M Alloy wheels in 245/55 rubber and they single handedly uplift the look.

Up front, there’s a link to the E60 gen or eagle-eyed 5 Series in the upswept headlamps, and though the grille is large, it works. M Sport trim is standard, and gets a sporty front bumper with lots of cuts and creases.

Flash value comes courtesy the Titanium Bronze elements offered with this Sparkling Copper Grey Metallic and the Carbon Black paint shade. More conventional brushed aluminium is the look of choice on the other Carbon Black option, as well as the Mineral white and Phytonic blue paint shades. Oh, and of course, the grille glows at night!

At the sides, you’ll note creases low down on the doors and a very mild interpretation of the traditional Hofmeister kink at the back. Maybe that’s why the designers felt it necessary to have 5 badging on the C-pillars, too.

There’s a fastback-like flow of the roof towards the high deck boot. The wide swept tail-lamps don’t shout BMW, and to be honest, the tail's styling is non descript. Styling elements on the bumper do help to some extent but the narrow tyres are the spoiler. The wheels and tyres make it look like an entry trim, which is not what you want after paying upwards of Rs 70 lakh.

BMW 5 Series LWB rear seat space and comfort

Access to the rear section of the cabin is via the large rear doors, and once inside, you’ll be amazed by the space on offer. It’s way roomier than the last-gen 5 Series and the distance to the front seats means you can really stretch out and sit here.

The rear seat is a highlight in its own right. It’s really well padded, generous in size and offers great back, shoulder and thigh support. The 31-degree backrest angle is also nice and relaxed, but you don't get the option to adjust the recline angle. This is something you’d miss, particularly with the knowledge that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the older BMW 6 Series GT have that option.

In fact, when you start comparing the features that you get in the E-Class and the 6 GT, you’ll find the 5 Series LWB a bit lacking. Sunshades for the rear windows and windscreen are shocking omissions, you can’t adjust the front passenger seat from the back, and there’s no rear seat entertainment package either. BMW will sell you detachable sunshades and there’s an accessories package to attach your iPad to the front headrests. But these are things that should have been standard.

The 5 Series does pack in neck pillows, 4-zone climate control and a panoramic glass roof (it doesn’t open) that enhance the experience at the rear. There’s a wireless charging pad and cupholders in the sizeable centre armrest. The armrest can be tucked back to accommodate a third passenger, but as is true of all chauffeur-driven-oriented sedans, the middle occupant gets a raw deal thanks to a firm seat and a high centre tunnel.

All said, while the 5 Series LWB offers a great rear-seat experience, a Mercedes E-Class feels better still with a greater sense of occasion. The BMW’s rising window line and large front seats that limit frontal visibility from the back also rob the interior of some airiness.

BMW 5 Series LWB: Interior and quality

Up front, the cabin is unmistakably new-age BMW with the dashboard headlined by a curved display that’s one part 14.9-inch touchscreen and one part 12.3-inch digital dials. But if you actually look and compare, the new 5 has much more in common with the 7 Series than it has with lesser BMWs, and that's a very good thing.

There’s a crystal effect for the iDrive controller and mode selector at the centre console, and the bejeweled look extends to the dashboard with what BMW calls the ‘Interaction Bar’. This crystal-look backlit bar lights up with the ambient lighting and lends the cabin proper wow factor. Air-con vents hidden from view (they are tucked behind the Interaction Bar) are another link to the 7. There’s Titanium Bronze detailing inside as well, along with lightning-like streaks on the wood. In terms of quality, this is a properly high-end interior. Everything looks and feels expensive and a cool fact is that this is a 100 percent vegan interior. The manmade perforated upholstery looks really premium and those sat up front will be well catered to on their large seats. Larger-framed individuals might find side bolstering a touch obtrusive, though. Also, wish the steering rim wasn’t so thick. It’s a complaint we’ve had with other M Sport trim BMWs too.

BMW 5 Series LWB: Features and safety

BMW hasn’t stinted in features of interest to front seat passengers. The steering gets powered adjust, the front seats are powered and get memory settings, and there’s even front seat ventilation for the first time. A wireless phone charger, head-up display, digital dials with crisp graphics and 655W Bowers & Wilkins sound system are other features of note.

The 14.9-inch touchscreen is a slick affair and offers handy tabs at the side that serve as shortcuts for commonly used functions. It's when you need to go deeper into the menus that you’ll get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and icons. Among the said icons is one for ‘Interior Camera’. A camera at the roof can shoot stills or video to, as BMW puts it ‘record your special moments’. It’s an unusual feature but I guess it’s in keeping with our social media obsessed times. You could also use it to remotely monitor your car via mobile app, maybe to check if you’ve left something behind. The crisp 360° display cameras are the ones that we made more use of.

Of the other things, there’s a powered boot opening and closing function. Luggage capacity (listed at 500 litres) is decent but you'll have to plan how you position your suitcases as the floor is quite high. Residing under the boot floor is a space saver spare tyre.

In terms of safety kit, the 5 Series packs in plenty. There’s 7 airbags including one between the driver and passenger and all manners of electronic safety aids. There’s level 1 ADAS as well with auto emergency braking and lane keep assist. There’s no adaptive cruise control but this is a feature that could come later. 

BMW 5 Series LWB performance

On to the business end of the new 5 Series. The 520d diesel goes on sale shortly and the controversial new M5 will also come to India over the next year. Featured here is the 530 Li, which comes powered by BMW's familiar 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 258hp and 400Nm. There’s also a helping hand in the form of a 48V mild-hybrid system that chips in with up to 11hp and 25Nm under hard acceleration, and helps recuperate energy that would otherwise have been lost when you're slowing down. Make no mistake, though. It's a mild-hybrid system only and there's no EV-only mode.

Not that you'll really crave the peace of an electric motor because the 530Li’s engine runs nice and quiet when you're ambling around town or on a gentle cruise. When you want more from the engine, it does feel alert and responsive, and works really well with that 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox to give you that hurried experience. BMW claims a 0-100kph time of 6.5 seconds, which is really brisk for a car so large. Launch control is included and Sport mode also gives you direct access to the best the powertrain has to offer.

BMW 5 Series LWB ride and handling

Sedans with long wheelbases don't get along well with speedbreakers, but to the 5 LWB’s credit, it scored surprisingly well on this front. We did have to exercise caution over the largest of the bumps, but the 5 cleared average humps without scraping its belly, even with four occupants onboard. Worth noting is that the 5 rides on steel springs and doesn’t get the option to adjust ride height like air-sprung versions of the E-Class and 6 GT.

Ride comfort is remarkable. The 5 Series soaks up the worst of our roads with ease and you know what’s to credit here, right? What those 225/55 R18 tyres relinquish in look, they make up in the ride comfort they enable. Those thick sidewalls can take some beating. At higher speeds, the 5 Series feels softer than 5’s of old, but it still feels well tied down.

Thing is, while the 5 Series LWB is great as a luxury car, some of that BMW-ness has been lost in translation. And this feeling is most pronounced over the curves. Rear-wheel drive and an ideal 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution are ingredients of interest, but there’s no getting around the fact that the 5 LWB is a big and heavy car. It is smooth at the steering and changes direction nicely enough, but just doesn't feel athletic as older 5 Series’ did. And this is something that might not do it for traditional BMW fans. Notably, there's no adaptive damping this time around, which was a feature that helped make the old 5 feel multifaceted. The latest 5 feels soft and it's clear that BMW's focus was to make the comfiest sedan not the sportiest one.

BMW 5 Series LWB price and verdict

The BMW 5 Series LWB has been launched at Rs 72.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India), which is a substantial Rs 7 lakh more than the last-gen 5 Series. Then again, the latest 5 is also a lot more car.

Big on space and properly plush, the 5 Series LWB is sure to resonate with luxury sedan buyers to whom comfort is the supreme requirement. However, some features are missed, and overall, the back seat experience is down on the Mercedes E-Class.

Also, as mentioned, the focus on comfort has made the 5 a great luxury car at the cost of it being a great driver’s car, which will pinch hardcore BMW fans. Whether the latest 5 has taken a step in the right direction or not, depends on which seat you occupy – the boss seat or the driver’s one.  

Also see:

New BMW 5 Series LWB: Your questions answered

BMW 5 Series vs Mercedes E-Class: LWB dimensions comparison