BMW 5 Series Touring 520d MHT SE 5dr Step Auto Review
Category: Estate car
Section: Version review

The model
Read full reviewIn the right specification, the BMW 5 Series Touring is quiet, smooth, classy, comfortable and well equipped. It’s also very practical, although it can't quite match the enormous boot that you get with a Mercedes E-Class Estate.
get the best priceThe trim
See full equipmentSE is our pick. It's well equipped with 17in alloy wheels (18in on the more powerful versions), leather seat trim, heated front seats, front lumbar adjustment, dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, cruise control, a powered tailgate and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. You also get 12.3in digital dials, a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, sat-nav, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The best bit is that you avoid the stiffer suspension that comes with M Sport trim.
The engine
See full engine specsThe 520d is punchy enough and it's our pick of the range. If you don't believe us, check out its claimed 0-62mph time of just 7.6 seconds, which is plenty for whisking you up to motorway speeds without any fuss. Performance is roughly on a par with the rival Mercedes E220d Estate's, although in terms of real-world drivability (as opposed to outright 0-62mph acceleration), the Audi A6 Avant 40 TDI has a slightly wider performance window making it fractionally more relaxing to drive. It's quieter than the 520d, too, although you won't be disappointed with the 520d's excellent mid-fifties average fuel economy and CO2 emissions, which drop it into a lower company car tax band than the Mercedes E220d.
Key information
55.4
560
litres
134
g/km
Also consider
Volvo V90
2020 - present
Rivals have bigger boots, but the V90 is still a practica...
Volvo V90 Cross Country
2020 - present
The standard V90 is more comfortable to drive but, for those w...
Audi A4 Allroad
2019 - present
The Audi A4 Allroad is no more practical than a regular Avant...
Audi A6 Allroad
2019 - present
As comfy, quiet and technologically advanced as...