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- Style-level Rating
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 8.1
/ 10
Overall Ratings
- The smooth melding of luxury and performance expected from a BMW.
9.0 / 10
Dynamics
9.0 / 10 Engine Performance- It may not be class leading in terms of horsepower, but BMW's 3.0-liter straight six is still one of the smoothest, most satisfying engines on the road today.
8.0 / 10 Transmission Performance- Solid shifts in Sport mode. Standard program delivers smooth, easily predictable downshifts.
9.0 / 10 Brake Performance- Great pedal feel and consistent over repeated stops.
10.0 / 10
Steering Perfomance- Still the standard for cars in this class, the 5-Series delivers excellent road feel without feeling overly heavy.
9.0 / 10 Handling- A sharp, solid handling sedan, although the all-wheel-drive system doesn't add much in the way of performance.
9.0 / 10 Fun-to-Drive- Combination of steering feel, suspension precision and smooth engine makes this sedan a joy to drive fast.
8.0 / 10 Comfort
8.0 / 10 Ride Comfort- Firmer than most sedans in this class, the 530xi trades some comfort for improved driving dynamics.
8.0 / 10 Wind Noise- A very quiet car at speed, especially with all season tires.
8.0 / 10 Road Noise- Slightly more road noise than some competitors but never to the point of annoyance.
8.0 / 10 Front Seat Comfort/Space/Access- Excellent seats with firm bolstering and a good shape.
8.0 / 10 Rear Seat Comfort/Space/Access- Good passenger room with seats that are well shaped and supportive.
8.0 / 10 Driving Position- Feels good right from the start. Good range of adjustments allows you to make it nearly perfect for any driver.
7.5 / 10
Function
9.0 / 10 Headlight Illumination- Good spread of light from the xenon headlamps with minimal dark spots.
9.0 / 10 Visibility- Excellent seating position and unobstructed sight lines provide good visibility in all directions.
9.0 / 10 Instrument Panel Layout- BMW continues to use clearly marked analong dials which provide all a driver needs to know at a glance.
7.0 / 10
Climate Control System Layout- Some functions are controlled by dash mounted knobs while others are buried in the iDrive control screen. The system is more complicated than it needs to be but the time spent fussing with it is minimal.
7.0 / 10 Audio System Layout- Like the climate functions, the audio controls are divided between the dash controls and iDrive menus which makes for cumbersome functionality.
7.0 / 10 Secondary Control Layout- Decent steering wheel controls and well placed auxiliary switches.
7.0 / 10 Interior Storage- The usual cubbies, map pockets and glove box.
7.0 / 10 Standard Cargo/Trunk Space- Average trunk space with a relatively low liftover.
7.0 / 10 Maximum Cargo Space (ease & amount)- Ski pass through provides some functionality, but there's no option for a fold down rear seat.
6.0 / 10
Cupholders- Flimsy flip out cupholder doesn't inspire confidence that it will safely hold a hot cup of coffee.
8.2 / 10 Design/Build Quality
8.0 / 10 Exterior Design- Fans of BMW's recent design direction will find that the 5-Series offers a good mix of traditional shapes with unique detailing.
7.0 / 10 Interior Design- Uncluttered but a bit bland without many optional features.
8.0 / 10 Interior Materials- Good quality materials are used throughout the cabin resulting in a luxurious feel.
8.0 / 10 Interior Control Tactile Feel- All controls have the kind of high quality feel expected in a luxury sedan in this price range.
9.0 / 10 Squeaks & Rattles- A generally rattle free environment.
9.0 / 10 Panel Fitment & Gaps- Some of the best build quality available in a luxury sedan with no visible signs of misalignment between any of the panels.
Consumer Ratings are also available for this style.
See the 2006 BMW 5 Series Consumer Ratings |
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