BMW 5 Series 520i M Sport Touring Review: World Tour

What we like:

Still a relatively unique appearance

Large, utilitarian boot space

Responsive brake feel

What we dislike:

Still slightly complex infotainment operation

A tad whisper quiet

Long rear overhang

Wagon registrations in Singapore have always remained low; largely due to the local populace’s obvious love for the purported versatility that SUVs offer, or the safe sedan choice that most go for. The first half of 2025 saw a mere 25 local registrations for the said body type.

On the other side of the planet however, the wagon is a ubiquitous sight on European roads - so to spot a wagon plying the local roads, often comes with a bittersweet feeling. While the 5 Series sedan type has done fairly well in terms of sales till date, the wagon type has continued to slip under the radar, only to be picked up by a certain automotive aficionado.

Also known as the Touring in BMW speak, the latest generation of the long-running 5 Series, now in its eighth model cycle and all its local rareness, is enough reason to celebrate the European-favoured body type here in Singapore with its unique styling and versatility.

Tourings from BMW have always had an air of eclecticism around them and rightly so. Utilising the chiselled proportions of the current 5 Series’ snout and deftly carrying M Sport trimming all the way to the rear, it is the embodiment of wagon design with a hint of elegance and a touch of dynamism without looking garish.

While the sense of BMW’s perceived monolithism clearly etched into sheet metal; the side effect is evident through the vehicle’s dimensions. Now spanning well over five metres of property longitudinally, its wheelbase is also the longest in its class, almost touching three metres in this new iteration. These combined, can be pretty daunting in tight urban dwellings in terms of limited parking or navigating tight corners.

These however, will not be of any objection to the individual who knows exactly what the Touring is about. It showboats a very usable 570 litres of boot capacity and with the seats tucked away, unlocks a real estate of 1,700 litres that can easily swallow up bicycles, partially assembled furniture and other envisionable paraphernalia.

The interior is decked in typical BMW excellence; checking both progressive and premium boxes with the increasingly familiar, singular 14.9” BMW Curved Display that combines both infotainment and driver display functions and the Interaction Bar for other necessary driving ancillaries.

With almost three metres of wheelbase, overall space has also been generously allotted to the rear occupants, and most definitely enough to keep the young ones from asking the perennial ‘are we there yet?’ question at bay for possibly long hours of commute.

With carmakers now delving on whether to give partial ownership back to button-based controls, BMW has managed to reduce the sub-menu shelving with its updated Operating System through the infotainment screen that focuses on driver centricity through accumulated feedback. That said, familiarity is still required to skillfully navigate the diverse offerings within the infotainment system.

Based on BMW’s existing CLAR platform, the 520i Touring is offered with the usual B48 powerplant in its inline-four, 2.0-litre turbocharged configuration that dishes out 190bhp and 310Nm of torque. Paired with a ZF-sourced 8-speed gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels, acceleration is relatively brisk for the stated 8.3 second 0-100km/h sprint, despite an additional 50kg penalty that occurs naturally with wagons.

This model being the only non-EV Touring variant available in Singapore currently, does not have the rear air-suspension setup that the older Touring models, as well as the current electrified i5 Touring variant possess - which ironically, actually feels more naturalised at shifting lateral cornering loads at moderate speeds.

Partially thanks to these sound-deadening Bridgestone Turanza rubbers worn on 20” M Sport trim wheels, a faint but polite tyre chirp helps warn of increasing understeer. The standard brakes also provide immediacy for shedding off speed, obeying every ounce of desired pressure exerted through the brake pedal with responsiveness.

It is heartening to see the wagon type still being enjoyed by a handful of individuals who know the sporty yet utilitarian offerings that it brings to the table; with the 520i Touring proving a point, that Bavaria still knows how to elegantly design a wagon. In a world filled with safe and rational choices, the rationality in choosing a wagon as a daily steed is surely steeped in greater confidence and understanding driving pleasure, even if it is an additional eleven grand more of green to shell out.

Photos by Aaron Hia

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