DRIVEN: FIRST Drive Of The All-New BMW 5-Series — Does THIS Have You Reaching For Your Checkbook?

At first glance the all-new BMW 5-Series has been a bit of a head scratcher. That's because while we know it's an all-new vehicle, it certainly doesn't look the part.

We were critical of BMW's all-new 7-Series and how it wasn't a design departure and we're going to still beat that drum when it comes to the 5'er. Much like we've seen with Audi, this stagnation isn't doing anyone a favor.

From what we've heard, there's still plenty of 7-Series' sitting on dealer lots largely due to its stale styling.

So, what about the all-new 5-Series? Well, a first impression has come in from abroad and we're eager to share it with you. See some of my hand selected excerpts from the first drive impression:

...Considering the updated engines, the familial restyling, and the evolved infotainment system, the 5-series might read as a conservative redesign or as little more than a mid-cycle update. But this is an all-new model, and what it lacks in new tech and splashy changes, it counteracts with more artful chassis tuning than was found in its predecessor...

...The steering weight remains a touch light on-center, and the feedback is just as muted as we’ve—sadly—come to expect. At low speeds, the initial turn-in momentarily makes the car feel like a shopping cart with swiveling casters at the rear. It’s a bit nonlinear and disorienting...

...Without compromising comfort or luxury, the newest 5-series pulls the middle-child BMW back toward that athletic virtue that once made BMW unique. It’s not a wholesale reawakening for the brand, but it’s enough to stoke our nostalgia.

Taking into consideration that there's a bit of softness with the initial review — we know our friends want their next trip — we're curious whether or not this feedback has you wanting an all-new 5-Series OR if you'll start to consider other makes and models.

To us it seems pretty clear that BMW's made some improvement over the last-gen 5 but that's not saying much considering it wasn't a vehicle developed true to the BMW we know and have loved for all these years.

What say YOU, Spies? Does this FIRST impression have you reaching for your checkbook and calling your local BMW dealer or is this convincing you to seek something else?

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llaroo - 11/30/2016 12:01:56 AM

+7 Boost

some cars just suck in white, like this one.

MDarringer - 11/30/2016 8:14:54 AM

+5 Boost

I can't get past the dated styling.

nguyenvuminh - 11/30/2016 9:12:26 AM

+5 Boost

I would think car designers are people that really want to show their creativity and as such, those at BMW doing the 5 & 7 must be the most frustrated bunch over the last decade. Then there are those few that know they've ran out of creative juice and they must be the most happy bunch as they can just kick back, do nothing and let the old design marches on for the last decade while getting their salary direct deposited every month.

SSP350 - 11/30/2016 9:37:54 AM

+6 Boost

Wait, is that a 7 series? <sarcasm>

PUGPROUD - 11/30/2016 10:42:33 AM

+3 Boost

Until BMW breaks its styling mode and moves on there will not be one in my garage no matter how good the performance. At best they are like an extremely older unattractive woman whose ok in the sack. Not my first choice...just saying.

focal - 11/30/2016 11:16:17 AM

+5 Boost

Chris Bangle was hated so much for the changes (which in the end worked over time) that the replacements are too conservative now.

TauronB2G - 11/30/2016 12:05:33 PM

+4 Boost

The new car is not different enough from the current car to warrant writing a check.

countguy - 11/30/2016 12:37:01 PM

+5 Boost

Looks boring.

cidflekken - 11/30/2016 1:12:27 PM

+3 Boost

Mercedes gets it. Audi gets it, mostly. Genesis is getting it. Stepping into a premium car should FEEL like you've arrived. Sitting in any seat in a premium car should make one FEEL like it's something special. Sorry, but BMW's are grossly failing in this category. Lexus is also failing in this category. I was in a Genesis G90 recently, then subsequently in a new 7Series and LS. The Genesis FELT like it cost twice as much as either, but still not quite as nice as the A8 or S-Class.

MDarringer - 11/30/2016 9:47:58 PM

-1 Boost

Audi get's it?? Have you seen the Camrys they crank out?

dotuno - 11/30/2016 5:36:30 PM

+2 Boost

@BobM Thank you! That's exactly what I've been saying about BMW exterior design of late: some weirdly-placed creases (most especially the inverted "L" crease you referenced), which make it look as though the car had been in an accident.

IMO, nobody gets it like Mercedes does right now - well-defined curves, tightened with minimal creases. Hope they never stray again.

Agent00R - 11/30/2016 11:12:54 PM

+2 Boost

As we've been saying: Mercedes is CRUSHING it right now.

Audi's exteriors are lacking but boy, oh boy, are their interiors SUHWEET!

GermanNut - 11/30/2016 9:30:07 PM

+3 Boost

The new 5-Series will end up just like the new 7-Series, which is to say it will be dead on arrival.

Luxury buyers want something that looks exciting AND is luxurious.

The new BMW 5-Series, just like the new BMW 7-Series - is neither.

BMW has failed to provide any significant visual differentiation between the current 5-Series and the new 5-Series. As if that wasn't bad enough, the interior lacks the quality buyers have come to expect given the price of the 5-Series.

To top it off, this new 5-Series is not the Ultimate Driving Machine but buyers have known that for several generations of BMWs already.

When you fail to interest buyers visually, sell something that offers a cheaper interior than the competition despite the same or higher price and fail to live up to your sport-first company hallmark, your sales will suffer. BMW will learn this expensive lesson very soon.

The current 5-Series U.S. sales are down dramatically and this new model will not change that.

GermanNut - 12/1/2016 11:34:48 AM

+2 Boost

"Without compromising comfort or luxury, the newest 5-series pulls the middle-child BMW back toward that athletic virtue that once made BMW unique. It’s not a wholesale reawakening for the brand, but it’s enough to stoke our nostalgia."

If a BMW 540i M-Sport, which is the highest-spec non-true M (as in M5) that someone can buy, doesn't reawaken the brand then BMW has an even bigger problem. Given that the 540i will be less popular than the cheaper 535i and that the M-Sport 5-Series makes up a very small percentage of total 5-Series sales, BMW's regular non-M Sport 535i will likely be a dud driving wise. It will also be BMW's most popular 5-Series variant.

This is new 5-Series will be a sales disaster.

BMW already lost the U.S. and global sales title in 2016 to Mercedes-Benz and with these new models that offer nothing compelling, it looks likely that BMW will fall to third place globally behind Audi within the next 3 to 4 years.