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BMW 535i saloon SE: One Minute Test Drive Review
Date: 11 June 2010 | Author:
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What's new: BMW's latest-generation 5-series executive saloon is now on sale, and having sampled the 530d already we thought we'd see what the current range-topping petrol version has to offer.
Excellent: The 306hp 3.0-litre engine is a beauty, while the sporty looks really take the car into mini-7-series territory. It's certainly more impressive, imposing and classy than it looks in the pictures.
Good: CO2 of 195g/km doesn't sound great, but it's lower than Merc E-class and Audi A6 rivals. Plus 33.6mpg isn't obscene for a powerful petrol car.
Average: Boot space is less than its two German rivals, but still enough for most needs. Driving smoothly at low speed with the optional Adaptive Drive system in any of the three settings isn't too easy.
Poor: The 535i is pricier than either of its rivals. It never used to be the case that a Mercedes would be cheaper than the rival BMW, even if it is close.
Verdict: Supremely impressive, and more powerful, better to drive and more efficient than its rivals - as much as a large petrol-engined saloon can be.
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VerdictImpressive – more powerful, better to drive and more efficient than rivals. |
8/10 |
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