BMW 5 Series Price – Images, Colours & Reviews

You have to give it to BMW for making a diesel engine so refined you’d have to double-check that it’s not a hybrid or an electric. This 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel does duty in many 20d marked vehicles in the BMW line-up. Power outputs for the 520d we have here are 188bhp at 4,000rpm and a twisting force of 400Nm that is accessible from 1,750rpm. With this update, the turbodiesel has also gained a mild-hybrid system which is one of the many other fuel-saving measures BMW employs of late.

Offering a boost of 8kW/10bhp, the 48V mild-hybrid claims to improve power delivery as well as efficiency at cruising speeds. It also regenerates some energy when braking. But we found it to work inconspicuously without making its presence known in day-to-day driving. 

Getting back to the engine – the four-banger diesel is refined yet it’s no slouch. It might not be as punchy as the 530d, but it has enough torque supply right from the word go and there’s never a feeling of lack of power when pushing through urban commutes or stretching some legs out on the highway. While the motor happily potters around between 1,500-2,000rpm effortlessly, smash the throttle hard and it caters a strong pull all the way to the red-line. It won’t pin the passengers in their seats, but it’s enough to keep the driver entertained. 

Past the 3,000rpm mark is when the motor starts to get vocal but never does it feel vibey or unrefined. Its linear performance makes this diesel deceptively quick. In our test figures, the 0-60kmph came up in 3.46 seconds and 0-100kmph took a brisk 7.54 seconds. Even roll-on acceleration was impressive as the 520d took 4.94 seconds to accelerate from 20kmph to 80kmph in third gear, and 6.05 seconds for 40-100kmph in fourth gear.

Working in tandem with the well-engineered motor is an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a torque converter that remains seamless when driving sedately but can make its gearshifts known when pushed hard – especially when in kick-down for some quick overtakes. Otherwise, the eight-speed Steptronic hits all the right notes all the time. And there’re paddle-shifters provided behind the wheel too, for when you decide to play around with gearshifts.

Needless to say, the 520d, too, gets driving modes namely Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Individual. Switching the buttons sequentially from Eco Pro to Sport – the throttle response, damper setting, and steering feel get sharper and more responsive. And in Individual, the settings are claimed to adapt on their own depending on the driving situation, but this is another thing we’ll have to take BMW’s word for it as it didn’t seem to make any noticeable difference.