2017 BMW 5-series review, test drive

Styling, comfort, tech or performance, the new 5 is all about the good stuff. We get hands-on with it.

Published on Dec 02, 2016 03:30:00 AM

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What’s it like on the inside?

The increase in external dimensions has netted the new 5-series greater interior space, notably at the rear. It feels wider in the back, the seat has been reconfigured and re-shaped to provide a more 7-series-like experience and it feels like there’s a lot more legroom too. In fact, over the course of a couple of hours sat in the rear, I often questioned the need for a bigger, more expensive 7-series. This is because the seat base is nice and long, the big backrest is perfectly angled and the seats, with its thick saddle-leather-like uppers, have super side bolstering too. It’s clear BMW is focusing more on the rear seat experience due to more chauffeur-driven markets like China, and this is great for markets such as ours too. There’s more shoulder room and width up front, as well as a greater feeling of space, and with the compact dash design, the cabin feels airier too.

The design of the dash again is evolutionary. More compact and sporty in its outlook, it looks and feels as plush as that of the 7-series. Still, I love how BMW designers have used angular chrome brackets and wood together; I like how well the various elements of the dash gel together seamlessly and the huge step up in quality is rather evident too. There are just no ordinary-looking or poorly finished bits here. Also carried over from the 7-series is an updated version of the very usable gesture control. The individual ‘Sport’ and ‘Comfort’ buttons are carried over from the 7 too (I liked the earlier rocker switch more; you didn’t have to look down to use it), and the tiny air con and seat ventilation ‘touch’ controls that are a bit fiddly to use have been carried over as well. The best bit of the new cabin, however, is the simply gorgeous three- spoke steering wheel, with its chromed-over spokes; it just looks and feels fantastic.