Probably tired of being criticised for a series of "Bangle bungles", BMW has penned more safe and conventional looks for the new 5 Series than its predecessor and it's the least controversial shape to exit Bavaria's factory for some time.
The sixth-generation Five (internally dubbed the F10) lacks the styling charisma of rivals such as the Jaguar XF but will most likely give the BMW faithful the eye candy they seek. With its blend of elegant proportions and muscular wheel-arches it comes across as a bouncer in a business suit and its daytime running lights add to the road presence.
The interior too lacks the glamour of a Jaguar but is smart, solid and businesslike in that long-held BMW tradition.
Until the M5 comes along sometime in 2011 the fastest Five is the 550i with its 4.4-litre V8 turbo pushing 300kW and 600Nm. Next down in the range is the 535i which wields 225kW and 400Nm and is the subject of this review.
The celebrated three-litre straight-six turbo finds a good home in Bavaria's mid-sized sedan and even the Five's 1.8-ton kerb mass fails to suck the life out of this lively engine. The punch it delivers is responsive and robust - as evidenced by the high-altitude 0-100 figure of 6.2sec recorded by our Vbox testing equipment.
The excellent eight-speed (previously six) Steptronic transmission ensures there are no significant power pauses. Boot the throttle and the grunt's always right there, as long as the transmission's in Sport mode.
Fuel consumption averaged 13.1 litres per 100km, not bad but a lot higher than the claimed 8.4.
The new Five's grown in size and has the longest wheelbase in the segment but, even though BMW claims a 13mm improvement in rear knee room, space in the back seat is a trifle disappointing. It's not exactly cramped, but not as roomy as you'd expect from a nearly five-metre-long sedan.
If the previous E60 Five Series was positioned exactly midway between the Three and the Seven, the new Five moves a little closer to the big limousine in character.
While not as whisper quiet as the Seven with its double-paned glass, the Five gets close with its ever more refined and velvet-coated feel.
It also inherits many of the Seven's high-tech toys, including active suspension and four-wheel steering.
With the optional Dynamic Drive Control, at the press of a button you can change the car's character from Driving Miss Daisy to Speed Demon. The sensitivity of throttle, steering, gearshift, suspension, and traction control all morph themselves through a choice of four different settings.
Compared with the former Five, body stiffness is up by 55 percent which not only makes the car feel granite solid but ensures driving agility.
COMFORT AND EGO-MASSAGING FACTORS
The Five isn't quite hardwired into an enthusiast driver's DNA like smaller and lighter BMWs, because of its mass and super-refinement, but the big sedan handles corners with the German brand's typical surefooted flair and, though the steering's changed from a hydraulic to an electric system it thankfully still provides that "real" and visceral feel which has spawned so many BMW driving fans. It's also speed dependent and becomes heavier at higher velocities.
At R646 000 the 535i Steptronic comes with an appropriately well-stocked list of comfort and ego-massaging features and, if your wallet's deep you can go ballistic with extras.
One new option on the 5 Series is Active Cruise Control which automatically keeps a safe following distance and works even when traffic ahead comes to a complete halt - all the driver has to do is steer.
A lane departure warning system alerts you when you cross a line without indicating (which BMW drivers would never do).
PARKING FOR DUMMIES
Night Vision with pedestrian recognition is another extra-cost item inherited from the 7 Series toybox, and is particularly effective on the optional 260mm display (a 180mm version is standard). Satnav also looks terrific on this mega-sized monitor.
An optional "parking-for-dummies" feature projects an overhead view of the car and surrounding objects onto the monitor. Or go one better and choose the Parking Assistant, which literally parallel parks the car itself and operates the steering automatically - all you have to do is apply throttle and brake.
A pity that one convenience I really liked in the Seven hasn't filtered down into the Five; namely special hinges which allow opened doors to be stopped in any position rather than springing into preset notches (leading to the inevitable bashed door edges).
Also, I found the climate controls a little over-complicated and the car could take lessons in simplicity and user-friendliness from the 3 Series.
VERDICT
The more plush, refined and gadget-stuffed new Five has edged closer to becoming a full-blown limousine and, apart from its average rear legroom, feels more like a shortened Seven than a stretched 3 Series.