IZZY TECK
BMW launched the sixth generation 5-Series in 2010 and last year the company gave the vehicle a mid-life facelift. The changes to the car aren’t a world apart as the facelifted F10 version gets subtle changes all around along with the addition of new features. The BMW 5-Series is a hot favourite of enthusiasts the world over but in 520d avatar, it’s trying to woo those who want a practical yet luxurious vehicle. Our test car came with the Modern Line trim, which focusses on luxury over sportiness. The BMW 520d is also the most popular variant of the 5-Series lineup in India and we got behind the wheel to gauge what’s new.
BMW has always taken it easy when it comes to exterior changes on their facelift models and the 5-Series isn’t any different. The 2014 BMW 520d gets very minor cosmetic tweaks including new front and rear bumpers which now get metallic accents, new slimmer headlights with a re-shaped LED layout, silver finish on the front grille of this trim (the M Sport gets black finish on the grille) and 18-inch alloy wheels (Turbine design), instead of 17-inchers found on the pre-facelift 520d. The overall result is the 5-Series now looks a bit fresh but nothing in the design strikes you immediately.
At the rear, seating comfort continues to be excellent with ample cushioning all around. There is space for two at the rear as the transmission hump prevents a third passenger from squeezing into the rear bench. The big update to the 5-Series is the new instrument cluster, which isn’t a conventional unit. Instead, it uses an LCD screen and can change the display based on the driving mode. There are three modes on offer – Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport, the complete console changing colours and layout in each of these modes. BMW hasn’t skipped on equipment on this base 5-Series variant, it still comes with 8 airbags, sunroof, leather seats, steering mounted paddles, dual-zone climate control, electric steering and seat adjust (the latter with memory function).