BMW 5 Series Sedan 520i Review: Entree level
In range topping guise, the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series are two of the most convincing executive saloons out there. Are the entry level four-cylinder variants just as good? We pit the A6 2.0 TFSI against the BMW 520i.
No other mass manufacturer does cabins better than Audi and the A6’s classy and luxurious interior ambience is another testament to that. It feels expensive, exquisite and special in here thanks to choice materials and surfaces that not only look good but also are tactile and soft to the touch. With a retractable screen for the MMI operating system and controls for the infotainment system all placed around the gear selector, the A6 features a cleaner, less fussy look for its cabin when compared to the 5 Series’ here. The wraparound dashboard is shared with the A7 Sportback, which means a nice, driver oriented cockpit feel to the pleasant driving environment. Like in the A7, dashboard and door card inlay options include brilliant looking textured wood that is fitted in the car pictured here. Audi says this new trim feature is only possible to make thanks to modern technologies.
Next to the Audi’s superb cabin, the BMW’s look unexciting and a tad predictable in comparison – it just looks and feels too similar to other BMW cabins like the 3 and 7 Series models’. It doesn’t feel anywhere as luxurious or special as the Audi’s while overall perceived quality and finishing feels inferior to the Audi’s as well. To be fair though, the F10’s cabin is a marked improvement over its E60 predecessor’s. The F10’s latest iDrive operating system and interface is also far easier to use than the version one in early E60s.
From the way the MMI screen gracefully pops up from the dash to the textured wood inlays, everything in the A6 just feels so much classier and more elegant than in the 5 Series. The more expensive 520i though, is better equipped with standard kit and convenience features than a standard spec A6 2.0 TFSI – it comes with standard sat nav, HID headlamps, BMW ConnectedDrive and so on The A6 2.0 TFSI doesn’t come without many of the luxury and convenience features that are standard on higher end models. These include the superb MMI Touch navigation system, four zone climate control, bigger wheels and so on.
Due to its longer bonnet and its engine sitting far back in the engine bay, the F10 5 Series’ interior isn’t as well packaged when compared to the A6’s. This despite the fact that the Audi having more compact exterior dimensions than the BMW. The A6 offers more leg and knee room for rear passengers but those seated in the rear will find the sizable transmission tunnel a big hindrance indeed. The A6 also has the deeper and better shaped boot area.
Equipping the A6 with a S-tronic double clutch box can certainly improve its overall driving experience but according to Audi, the S-Tronic transmission is only available with quattro and this will in turn increase costs and make the 2-litre A6 uncompetitive against its competitors, hence the decision to introduce the front-wheel drive with multitronic instead. It’s a real pity then, when you consider that the base A6 surpasses the 520i in the areas of styling, interior ambience and packaging and ride while matching the BMW when it comes to handling. The only fly in the entry-level A6’s ointment is its slow and unresponsive multitronic transmission and hence makes it a less enjoyable car to drive than the 520i for the keener driver.
Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai
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