BMW 5 Series Touring 2005 - Present

The Estate versions of the 5-Series BMW range are an impressive car. While they are not cheap some second hand bargains come up from time to time and they offer a lot of car for the money. The styling is a little less aggressive than the saloon model without making you feel like you should be wearing wellies.

The 5 series is a large car, but it's sleek looks manage to disguise the size and length of the 5 series. The finish of the 5-Series is really something to behold. The doors shut with the same feel of the vault of a bank and the seats are the epitome of comfort and good posture. The back seats are a little less roomy than you may hope for but not really to that much of a compromise on comfort. No you can't lay flat but the seats are comfortable enough that you can be assured that the kids will sleep on late journeys.

In addition to comfort and quality the reasons for buying a BMW are the engine and handling and the 5-Series has never really disappointed in either department. The entry level for the touring version is the 2.5 petrol engine, which offers silky smooth power throughout the rev range. Moving up the engine range there is the 258 bhp 3.0 litre which is capable of a 6.4 seconds 0-60 right up to the 4.4 litre V8, which will sprint to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Unsurprisingly the fuel figures are all pretty thirsty with mid twenties not uncommon for the petrol engines. Some diesel options will get more than 50 mpg and even the bigger models will touch 40 mpg so if running costs are in your mind they're well worth looking at.

The 5 series offers pretty much the perfect balance of weight across the chassis and it handles superbly. It's natural talents are further enhanced by an array of electronic trickery, including active steering and computer controlled anti roll bars. While behind the wheel it's easy to forget that you're in a big car as it handles so well and offers such nimble steering and handling. At the same time you can't help but feel the sheer significance of the car. You're aware that you have a great deal of power at your disposal and the ability to direct that power precisely where and how you want.

The 5-series BMW has set the bar for large executive cars for many years now and the German motor giants are not going to make it easy for anyone else to match them.

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