Road TestCar reviews - BMW - 5 Series - 520d TouringBMW modelsOverviewThere is very little to dislike about the dynamic BMW 520d Touring29 Jul 2011 THE thing about the latest BMW 5 Series range is the less you spend, the purer the driving (and comfort) experience seems to be, for the entry-level models lack the high-tech but low-involvement gizmos that often get in the way of tactile pleasure. Case in point is the 520d Touring – a handsome and beautifully presented wagon with the regular chassis tune and enough standard features to please any enthusiast. In fact, at less than $100,000 with a couple of desirable extras such as a sunroof and heated front seats, it even seems like a bit of a bargain, so don’t sign up for that oversized luxo SUV before checking out this not-so-little gem. Model release date: 1 January 2011 to 1 September 2013 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelTHE F11 520d Touring is the first diesel-powered 5 Series wagon sold in Australia, meaning that the previous-generation entry-level Five hauler was the E61 530i Touring. Powered by a sweet revving 190kW/300Nm 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol unit directing torque to the rear wheels via a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox, the classic BMW straight six imbued the firm riding but agile wagon with exceptional driving appeal. After the E39 Touring of the latter ‘90s/early ‘00s, however, the interior lost some of its quality sheen, although there was no arguing how spacious and practical this car was. A facelift and spec upgrade from March 2007 saw a 200kW/315Nm I6 fitted, along with revised front-end styling and improved interior trim. |
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