Category: Executive 
Price Range: £27,430 to £65,330
Handling, refinement, comfort, quality.
Too much of the clever kit is confined to the options list.
Brilliant all-round package, impressively updated.
The ride is impressively pillowy, the lack of body roll making for comfortable progress on twisty roads. However, sharp bumps and potholes seem to catch the suspension out. The jarring worsens if you opt for the sports suspension, which appears to offer little benefit. Cars with Dynamic Drive active suspension fitted do keep flatter under cornering, but for most drivers most of the time the standard set-up is more than adequate in containing body roll.
Noise levels are low in saloon and Touring alike, and the cabin features supportive, comfy seats for long-distance drives. Space front and rear is fairly generous, and if there isn't quite as much as in a Mercedes E-Class, there's usefully more rear legroom than found in the previous 5-Series. The luggage areas are a decent size too, and the Touring has a handy split tailgate.
Oddments space is limited, the door bins and the centre console box being small. The basic audio system delivers excellent sound quality, but you'll pay extra for the really swanky kit.
