Customers given financial incentive to stick with fossil fuel-powered version The BMW 520i petrol saloon is a joy to drive on the open road and also has little bother on rural stretches A sweet petrol engine remains one of the great driving pleasures. It probably borders on heresy to make such a claim at a time when the powers that be want our roads cleared of cars propelled by fossil fuels. But after driving the BMW 520i M Sport Pro saloon for the first time with a two-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, it is a statement of fact.
There is more to the car than just an engine, of course, but this 208 horsepower powerplant with hybrid technology certainly contributed to the overall enjoyment of several drives. It didn’t do badly on fuel either (a claimed 5.7 litres to 6.
4 litres per 100km, depending on model). The main focus of the new 5 Series is the electric i5 range. I have recently driven the Touring (estate) version and I think it looks better than the saloon.
Not that the four-door booted version is bland, but this is more an evolution on the previous model. However, it is now substantially larger, roomier and with M Sport suspension, it carries a great emphasis on rock-solid, sporty handling. The car may be bigger, but so is the price tag.
Therein lies a dilemma for some. With black Veganza upholstery, my test car had a start-out €74,052 price. Mineral-white metal adds €1,259.
60 and there were a lot of options and packs that drove the total cost to €83,527. The 5 Series range starts from around €70,000 for the 520i petrol, with the i5 saloon kicking off from around €90,110. That means paying a premium of €20,000 for the electric.
As I note quite frequently here, the prices of many cars have surged in the past couple of years. Regardless of its cachet, the 5 Series at that price demands real loyalty from a current owner, though there is the compensation of decent levels for a good trade-in. The electric i5 demands even more loyalty with its €90,000 starting price.
That means some people have a choice to make about paying the additional €20,000 or sticking with the conventionally powered petrol. Others don’t have that option and will have to stay with the latter – for the time being at least. It will be informative to see over the next couple of years how the electric version does on the second-hand market as opposed to the fossil-fuel version.
Will the current €20,000 difference in price hold, or narrow or increase? We live in fascinating times. Even putting myself on the imaginary financial spot makes for real difficult decision-making. After driving the 520i, there is no doubt an attraction with its ability to provide a sweetly sporty set-up.
But the electric i5 is a good match too. A tough call. I wouldn’t normally mention wheels but there are some wonderful examples out there and the 20-inch M Star Spoke BiColour jet black alloy on the test car is one of them.
It’s wonderful how they show a car at its best. Among an extensive range of spec and tech is an interior camera, Parking Assistant Pro, live Cockpit Pro with head-up display. A technology pack (€4,618) is included in the overall price, as is a comfort pack, electric bootlid, travel and comfort system.
There is an M Sport package: brakes with red calipers. The Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system was exceptional. The mild hybrid technology boosted the engine at different junctures and helped at start-up.
There were gearshift paddles on the steering column, something I always regard as an added bonus because you can take control of what gears you want to drive in. There is a boost paddle near the other too. As I found to my delight, it can add a whoosh for a powerful few seconds.
The car is typically set up for 5 Series driving, taut and forgiving on bends, a silent traveller on the open road and quite good over pock-marked stretches of forgotten Ireland thanks to the M suspension. It’s still the petrol saloon to beat in a hugely competitive market. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.
