Interior and Tech
A spacious car, the Five is essentially a shrunken 7 Series, although its rear-drive transmission tunnel does make the centre rear chair a less comfortable place to be. Nevertheless, four adults should fit in comfort in any 5 Series, while the GT is best specified with the two individual, adjustable seats in the back, rather than the ‘4+1’ arrangement otherwise offered. The quality, fit and aesthetics of all Fives’ interiors are first rate, while iDrive is the best infotainment control there is in the automotive world – at any price point.
The boot space on all models is acceptable but not class-leading. The saloon offers 520 litres (except for the hybrid, at 375 litres), while the Touring’s cargo area is 560 litres seats up and 1670 with them folded; think of it as more of a lifestyle estate. The GT offers 500 litres.
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All Fives enjoy 'EfficientDynamics' fuel-saving technology, a wealth of standard-fit and optional electronic driver aids and the sort of high-tech cost options that wouldn’t disgrace a Bentley. One slight complaint often mentioned for the cabin is offset pedals, particularly in the manual, although we’ve never had a problem with the Five’s driving position.
