BMW 520d SE Touring automatic
BMW 520d SE Touring automatic
What is it?
THE ESTATE version (or Touring in BMW-speak) of the new BMW 5 Series, the fourth generation of the Touring. Tested here with the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox – a world first. Priced at £31,875.
What’s hot?
- Tax busting CO2 – 139g/km for this model, 134g/km for the manual
- Tremendous spec like the saloon: leather, two zone air con standard
- Luggage increased by 60 litres to 560 litres (1,670 with seats dropped)
- 0-60mph in 8.2 sec, gutsy engine and claimed mpg of 55.4
- Ride quality on poor surfaces much improved over previous incarnations
- Exceptionally refined M-Way cruiser
- Trick gear box perfectly suits the car’s relaxed nature
- Steering and feedback to driver is exemplary…
- …with fantastic poise and handling in the corners
- You don’t really know it’s an estate behind you
- Wheelbase increased 82mm helps rear leg space
- Best-looking Touring BMW has ever produced
- Automatically retracting rear load cover a nice touch
- Glass section of tailgate opens on its own for small items
What’s not?
- Still not as capacious as a Mercedes E-Class estate
- USB interface only standard on the six-cylinder models, which is miserly
- The option packages quickly add to the price
- Sat Nav still liable to the odd blip
- Claimed fuel economy difficult to attain on the road
What you need to Know?
| P11D Value: | 31,170 |
| Monthly Rental*: | 427 (CH)/£502 (PCH) |
| Tax Band when posted: | 19%, 20%, 21% |
| Monthly BiK: | Click link for BIK |
| Engine: | 2.0 four-cylinder turbo diesel |
| CO2 Emissions: | 139g/km |
| Power/torque: | 184hp/380Nm |
| Economy: | 53.3mpg |
Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year, 3+35 payments.
Business Car Manager Road Test Rating
Like the saloon launched earlier this year, the Touring addition to BMW’s 5-Series is a superb addition.
In fact it almost bests the saloon in the looks department, with an exceptionally integrated rear. It pips the Audi and Merc competition on every benchmark except outright luggage volume, where the Mercedes E-Class remains king.
Equipment levels are sharply up on the previous generation, but the options list is a dangerous place. Throw in business sat nav, head-up display and a few internal touches and you’ve already added thousands. It’s better than paying tax, however, and that’s where this highly tax efficient car reigns supreme.
