2025 BMW 5 Series 520i

Still The Driver’s Saloon

On the top of your head: what will you buy if you have an extra PHP 5 million burning a hole in your pocket?

Some might invest it and profit from a business venture or purchase land; that's certainly sensible. Perhaps other folks may also use that money to put a downpayment on a house or set the money aside for tuition fees and the like. Some may even try out crypto.

The obvious answer for many, however, is to get a sleek premium car. While most buyers today would rather get a luxury SUV or an opulent MPV to chauffeur them around, there are those who still prefer to drive their vehicle wherever the destination might be. Granted, they have the option to hire a driver, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up sitting behind the wheel entirely.

Sedans like the BMW 5 Series have walked that fine line between being a driver’s car and serving as a personal transport vehicle. It’s now on its 8th generation (dubbed the G60) and has even gained an all-electric variant in the form of the i5. But do executive sedans still matter in the age where crossover SUVs and MPVs have become the new symbol of opulence? Does the traditional executive saloon still hold sway with buyers and enthusiasts who still want four-door luxury vehicles? And how much are they willing to pay for that kind of car?

BMW may be known for having some questionable design decisions as of late but I have to give the German automaker props for designing the latest generation 5 Series. Others may prefer the G30’s looks but personally, I much like the G60’s appearance more. The new LED headlights and daytime running lights are both eye-catching and sleek. The massive dual kidney grilles may not be everyone’s cup of tea but for the G60 5 Series, these suit the vehicle and even come with active grille shutters as standard.

The long hood and short deck design of the G60 5 Series is also something that I like. With its sloping roofline and distinct profile, the vehicle stands out immediately in a sea of crossovers. Add to that the wraparound LED taillights, stylish 19-inch alloy wheels, the ever-present Hoffmeister kink, and neat door handles, the base model 520i looks anything but.

While some might say the Mineral White color doesn’t do the vehicle justice, you have to appreciate the 520i’s new look in the metal. There were times that I just looked at the sedan and admired its lines and overall design. Still, I believe the G60 5 Series would look better in darker shades of color, but I digress.

Open the plush yet vault-like doors of the 5 Series and you’re greeted by acres of Veganza leather upholstery, a pair of high-definition displays (BMW Live Cockpit Plus), and an eye-catching LED ambient light that runs from the front doors to the center of the dashboard. Depending on the mode you choose, the LED ambient light can change into various colors to suit your mood.

Serving as the centerpiece of the 520i’s cabin is the BMW Live Cockpit Plus. With a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an even larger 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen display, both screens deliver crisp graphics and high-definition images. Despite having a touchscreen, one can go through the menus via the dials and buttons on the center console.

All of the seats are upholstered in Veganza Leather which feels supple to the touch. They also have a distinct smell that's quite pleasing to the senses. Even the steering is wrapped in the same material which feels great. But it is perhaps the 520i’s Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) deadening that really impressed me the most.

Thanks to the use of thick glass and the generous use of sound-insulating materials, the executive saloon kept outside noise very low. Only the loudest sport bikes and big rigs were able to break the serene silence inside the vehicle.

While I do like the high-tech yet minimalist interior of the all-new 5 Series, I wasn’t a big fan of how they redesigned the cabin controls. Like most cars nowadays, some of the in-car functions have been moved to the touchscreen. Yes, it saves on wiring and programming commands for interior buttons but it somehow defeats the purpose of focusing your eyes on the road. At times, you have to avert your vision to the central touchscreen to adjust the climate control or check vehicle settings.

You still have a center console to manage the iDrive system but it still takes some getting used to adjust your settings via the center dial and the capacitive buttons that need a good prod to make them work. Then there’s the touch-sensitive panel for the driver’s side controls. From setting the memory seats, the headlights, and even central locking, BMW opted to use a new touch panel that looks great but is not as intuitive as using physical buttons.

I get it that we’re now in the digital age and BMW wants to have its cars feel like you’re heading towards the future. However, I believe using capacitive buttons and putting most of the in-car functions on the touchscreen is a misstep by any automaker. It can also be quite distracting when you need to adjust something simple but you have to do several commands before you can adjust it.

At the heart of the 520i is not a six-cylinder engine. Instead, it’s powered by a 2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline-four that makes 208 PS between 4400 - 6500 rpm and 330 Nm of torque at 1500 - 4000 rpm. Power is then transferred to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission complete with paddle shifters. Given the vehicle’s immense size, I was quite apprehensive about the small engine under the hood.

That all changed when I took it to the open road and was pleasantly surprised with the engine’s responsiveness. While it may not be an inline-six, the turbocharged four-cylinder had more than enough grunt to propel the executive sedan to highway speeds. Bury your foot on the accelerator and the revs climb while the engine delivers gobs of torque to the rear wheels. Paired with a slick-shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox, the 520i will impress in terms of speed, power, and overtaking.

Like most BMWs on the road today, the 520i benefits from a 48V mild-hybrid system. While it may not sound like much, the system does help in delivering extra get-up and go when needed while also reducing fuel consumption. Not only does it come with the usual automatic start/stop system when idling, but the mild-hybrid system also comes with regenerative braking which not only tops up the battery while on the go but also automatically slows down the vehicle without using the brakes.

This is particularly useful when going down steep hills as it can extend the life of the car’s brake pads. More importantly, regenerative braking can help you through corners without applying the brakes every so often, allowing you to (responsibly) have fun through the corners.

Granted, you do feel the weight of the vehicle despite the availability of low-end torque. But a quick switch of the transmission’s setting to Sport Mode and acceleration becomes sharper which means you’ll reach triple-digit speeds in no time. It even comes with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel which makes for a more fun-spirited driving experience behind the wheel.

Show the 520i some mountain roads and you’ll be surprised by the vehicle’s agility. Yes, it’s over 5 meters long and is as wide as a pickup but taking on corner after corner is a rewarding experience in the all-new 5 Series. It’s no sports car by any means but let’s just say the 520i did not struggle one bit through the twisties despite its size and weight. Did we mention it comes with Pirelli P Zero tires as standard? No wonder this executive sedan sticks to the pavement.

Also impressive is its steering. I may not like the two-spoke design but BMW made sure the 520i’s adaptive steering works as intended. It's light and slightly numb when driving around town or during parking but becomes heavier when you’re driving at higher speeds. I also like the fact that BMW ensures the steering wheel delivers feedback which you’d want especially when you’re driving spiritedly along the mountain passes of Tanay, Rizal.

When it comes to fuel consumption, the 520i was able to return about 9 - 10 km/L in light city driving. On the highway, however, the 520i is capable of averaging up to 17 - 18 km/L at around 90 km/h. These fuel consumption figures are impressive despite the fact the 520i has a turbocharged 2.0L under the hood although we’re guessing the mild-hybrid system and 8-speed automatic transmission help in making the executive sedan more fuel efficient.

With a price tag of PHP 4.99 million, the 2025 BMW 520i looks, feels, and sounds like a bargain for an executive sedan. Despite coming all the way from Dingolfing, Germany, it looks like BMW Philippines was able to price the 520i competitively. However, we did notice that they did have to sacrifice some features to give it a sticker price of less than PHP 5 million.

While it was nice to have a trunk that can automatically open and close by itself, I wish it had smart keyless entry. That’s because I always have to unlock and lock the vehicle via the remote key. The 520i also lacked blind spot monitoring. Yes, it has sensors all around that can detect movement from other vehicles or motorcycles in case they get too close, but having a blind spot monitoring system should have been standard from the get-go.

It has a high-definition (wide) reverse camera but lacks a 360-degree camera system which is a downer in my opinion. And in case you’re seated in the back, there is a certain lack of features to keep you entertained apart from a rear center armrest. I wish they included a folding tray or table of sorts, automatic side or rear window blinders, or a massage function for the rear seats but perhaps those are available as optional extras.

In an era where buyers nowadays are spoiled for choice in selecting a luxury vehicle, BMW has somehow found a way to stick to tradition while also embracing new changes. As mentioned earlier, the 520i can still perform on the road and can serve as your chariot should you not wish to drive it. It has plenty of features to impress most discerning customers but could use more amenities to justify its PHP 5 million price tag. Yes, it’s a Bimmer through and through but some new premium brands and models can offer more for slightly less.

Some might be tempted to just get the electric BMW i5 which is selling for PHP 5.79 million or a high-end luxury SUV, but for the traditional car buyer that wants a premium RWD saloon that they don’t mind driving by themselves, the 520i is the executive sedan, bar none.