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2009 BMW 5-Series Review

June 28, 2009

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing,
Edmunds

somewhat unconventional
Cars and Driver

the overall air of firm luxury remains
Kelley Blue Book

The 2009 BMW 5-Series features styling that may not appeal to everyone, but it’s still elegant.

Edmunds deems the 2009 BMW 5-Series a “wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing.” Car and Driver says, “Styling doesn't appeal to all,” and calls it “somewhat controversial.” According to Cars.com, “The 5 Series' design was a radical departure for BMW when it debuted in 2003, but its dramatically raked hood and squared off rump are more widely used by many automakers today, meaning the 5 Series now blends fairly well into the flow of traffic.”

Automedia notes the 5-Series’ “lack of fanciness extends into the interior, with down-to-business seats and familiar BMW gauges.” Motor Trend cuts down the 5-Series’ cabin, calling it “a dark and cold cockpit.” While Kelley Blue Book states "the overall air of firm luxury remains," Edmunds points out that "competitors offer more stylish and less austere environments." ConsumerGuide concludes that the 2009 BMW definitely features "elegant interior décor." Automobile Magazine says “the cabin is handsome but not as elegantly turned out as that of the new E-class.”

Conclusion

Reviewers are ambivalent about the 2009 BMW 5-Series sedan's styling, but the wagon's elongated silhouette is widely appreciated.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing,Edmundssomewhat unconventionalCars and Driverthe overall air of firm luxury remainsKelley Blue Book The 2009 BMW 5-Series features styling that may not appeal to everyone, but it’s still elegant. Edmunds deems the 2009 BMW 5-Series a “wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing.” Car and Driver says, “Styling doesn't appeal to all,” and calls it “somewhat controversial.” According to Cars.com, “The 5 Series' design was a radical departure for BMW when it debuted in 2003, but its dramatically raked hood and squared off rump are more widely used by many automakers today, meaning the 5 Series now blends fairly well into the flow of traffic.” Automedia notes the 5-Series’ “lack of fanciness extends into the interior, with down-to-business seats and familiar BMW gauges.” Motor Trend cuts down the 5-Series’ cabin, calling it “a dark and cold cockpit.” While Kelley Blue Book states "the overall air of firm luxury remains," Edmunds points out that "competitors offer more stylish and less austere environments." ConsumerGuide concludes that the 2009 BMW definitely features "elegant interior décor." Automobile Magazine says “the cabin is handsome but not as elegantly turned out as that of the new E-class.” ConclusionReviewers are ambivalent about the 2009 BMW 5-Series sedan's styling, but the wagon's elongated silhouette is widely appreciated. 2009 BMW 5-SERIES STYLING | [8 out of 10] Edmunds: “wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing,” Cars and Driver: "somewhat unconventional" Kelley Blue Book: "the overall air of firm luxury remains" The 2009 BMW 5-Series features styling that may not appeal to everyone, but it’s still ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The chief competitor to the 2009 BMW 5-Series's sedan is the Mercedes E-Class, and the Audi A6 Avant is the Sports Wagon's closest rival. The E-Class has more of an emphasis on comfort than the 5, with a roomier-feeling interior and a softer ride. The Avant only comes with the 255-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine, not the larger, 350-horsepower V-8 available on the sedan. As with the Sports Wagon, all-wheel drive is standard, though the Avant has a slightly softer ride, and its handling isn't as sharp as that of the 5-Series, nor does it offer such advanced technology features. The Cadillac STS brings plenty of high-tech options and respectable performance, but it doesn't have the prestige of the 5-Series. The Saab 9-5 SportCombi is now a quite dated design. It comes with front-wheel drive and turbocharged four-cylinder power, and its powertrains aren't as refined as those of the other rivals, but it's packaged well, with excellent seats, plenty of headroom, and more useful cargo space. There's also the Infiniti M35 and M45, which bring brisk performance and some rival high-tech features such as a lane-departure system, but their cabins aren't as quiet and refined as those of the 5-Series models.

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See the BMW 5-Series in Other Years:

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