Skip advert
Advertisement

(F10) BMW 5 Series review - (2010-2016) - Prices, specs and rivals

BMW’s 5 Series: so good, it’s all the car you’d ever need

Evo rating
Price
from £31,115
  • Great engines, superb chassis, lovely interior
  • Bland exterior styling, very common now

Specs and Rivals

Rivals for the saloon and Touring are obvious, such as the Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6 and Jaguar XF. The basic cost of all four cars is within £5000 of one another, the Mercedes being the most expensive and the BMW being the cheapest. 

The Mercedes is much newer than the BMW and offers a far more refined drivetrain, that helps justify the slightly higher price. The cabin in the E-Class, which feels like a slightly scaled down S-Class, is more sophisticated than the BMW's. Overall, although the Mercedes is an enjoyable car to drive, it sacrifices dynamic thrills for overall luxury.  

Advertisement - Article continues below

> Click here to read our review of the Mercedes E-Class

The Jaguar is closest in philosophy to the BMW, however the 5 Series feels marginally lighter and wieldier – especially the more performance oriented variants. However, the BMW is due to be replaced soon, which will make things even more difficult for the Jaguar.

> Click here to read our review of the Jaguar XF

The 5 Series GT is a little trickier to classify; about its nearest competitor is the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake, a car we much prefer to the Gran Turismo.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda Superb Fast Fleet test – 16,000 miles in the GTI-powered estate
evo Fast Fleet Skoda Superb
Long term tests

Skoda Superb Fast Fleet test – 16,000 miles in the GTI-powered estate

After 11 months and over 16,000 miles, did the Superb estate prove to be the best Skoda long-termer we’ve run so far?
10 Oct 2024
Best fast family cars – the best fun everyday drivers
Best fast family cars
Best cars

Best fast family cars – the best fun everyday drivers

A family car doesn’t need to be dull – some of our favourite performance models deliver the thrills of a purpose-built sports car
10 Oct 2024
Alpine A110 R Ultime revealed – France’s answer to the Cayman GT4 RS
Alpine A110 Ultimae front
News

Alpine A110 R Ultime revealed – France’s answer to the Cayman GT4 RS

More power, more aero, more money; the limited edition A110 R Ultime makes its debut at the Paris Auto Salon.
14 Oct 2024