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BMW 5 Series Touring 540i xDrive MHT M Sport 5dr Auto Review

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The 540i is the most powerful 5 Series Touring you can buy. It is brilliant, delivering scintillating pace that gets you to 62mph in just 5.2sec and you get four-wheel drive (xDrive) as standard. It sounds sweet and, like all 5 Series', comes with a slick eight-speed automatic. If only the fuel economy was better it would be perfect – officially it averages 35mpg but you might struggle to achieve that in the real world. 


540i xDrive MHT

Estate

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

5 SERIES

M Sport trim is extremely popular, thanks largely to its more aggressive body styling and bigger alloys. You don't get a lot of extra substance for the added cost, apart from sports front seats, bigger brakes, privacy glass and a much stiffer ride courtesy of the M Suspension.

M Sport

540i xDrive MHT M Sport 5dr Auto

540i-xdrive-mht-m-sport-5dr-auto

Alarm system (Thatcham 1) with remote control and electronic engine immobiliser

40/20/40 split folding rear seats with additional mechanism in luggage compartment

Electric front and rear windows with fingertip open/close + anti-trap facility and comfort closing function

Electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors includes integrated direction indicators and automatic parking function

Folding exterior side mirror with auto- dimming

Automatic windscreen wipers and automatic headlight

Airbags - driver/front passenger, rear and side, first and second row seats head airbags, front passenger seat airbag deactivation

M electric front sport seats includes electrical seat adjustment with memory, lumbar support and M embossing on headrests

Connected package professional - 5 Series

Comfort pack - 5 Series Touring SE/M Sport/M550i

Comfort plus pack - 5 Series Touring SE/M Sport

Leather/Artificial leather seat upholstery

BMW 5 Series Touring

In 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.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

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BMW 5 Series Touring 540i xDrive MHT M Sport 5dr Auto Review

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35.8

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