Wak Oentoenk

This new level of comfort broadens the sport sedans appealbut at the same time the newly redesigned car gives up even more of its old visceral experiencewhich has been abating generation by generation.

The 5 Series sedan comes in three levels the 528i535i and 550i. (The bizarre 5 Series Gran Turismo is reviewed separately.) Though there was a time when those numbers represented engine sizesBMWs recent embrace of turbocharging has cast off any semblance of meaning. Suffice it to say the 528i has a six-cylinderthe 535i has a turbocharged six-cylinder and the 550i has a turbocharged V-8. See them compared here.

Exterior & Styling

The 2011 5 Series is further proof that BMW is pulling itself out of an awkward design era. Recentlythe only element that had seemed to tie one model to another was an ill-conceived — and poorly received — rear-end design nicknamed the "Bangle butt," after former chief designer Chris Bangle. Though the previous-generation 5 Series trunklid was better integrated than the one on the earlier 7 Seriesits too-small grille and raised-eyebrow headlights were an aesthetic failure. With a design inspired by the headlightsthe taillights looked like they were trying to escape the car altogether. Blech.

Refreshes werent enough to cure the 5s illsso 2011s complete redesign is a godsend. The grille is stronger than everthe taillights look like they want to be there and the headlights are more aggressive than fey. They arent perfectthough Theres a translucent white stripe along the top of the headlight clustersalso seen on other BMWs. It looks like something that was supposed to be removed after shipping.

The hood is sculpted in the fashion of other recent BMW redesignsincluding the Z4 and 7 Series. In lieu of faux vents on the front fenderschrome surrounds the side marker lights — relatively subtle by todays standards. The 528i has 17-inch alloy
wheelsand the 535i and 550i have 18-inchers. Larger wheels are optional.

Safety

The BMW 5 Series has earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for top scores in frontalside and rear crash tests and a roof-strength test that reflects rollover protection. The 5 Series is also among the first models tested under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations revamped New Car Assessment Programin which it earned an overall score of five starsthe highest possible composite score. Of the various separate testshoweverin the frontal crash it scored four rather than five stars for both the driver and front passenger. That wasnt enough to bring down its overall score.

There are six airbags two in fronta seat-mounted side-impact airbag for each of the front occupantsand side curtains that cover the side windows flanking the front and rear seats. Standard safety features include four-wheel antilock brakesa stability system with traction controland active head restraints for the front seats. For a full list of safety featuresclick here.