"With a budget of more than 400,000 yuan, should you choose a Mercedes-Benz E or a BMW 5?" most people who ask this question are not people who want to buy these two cars. After all, the personalities of Mercedes-Benz and BMW are too different, just like asking a pet expert, why do you have a cat or not a dog or why do you have a dog or not a cat, it's a personal choice.
A few days ago, I test-drove the new BMW 5 Series in Zhuhai, and I have to say that this generation of 5 Series has evolved very comprehensively.
Oil and electricity are at the same price, and the two shafts are pushed together and listed together
The all-new BMW 5 Series is available in the all-new BMW 5 Series Long Wheelbase (all-new BMW 525Li/530Li), all-new BMW 5 Series Standard Wheelbase (all-new BMW 525i), all-electric BMW i5 Long Wheelbase (all-electric BMW i5 eDrive35L) and all-electric BMW i5 (all-electric BMW i5 M60). It also offers two packages, luxury and M sport, with a total of 12 models, with a suggested retail price range of 439,900 yuan to 639,900 yuan. Such a policy gives more choices to those who like the 5 series.
Some people have said that there is nothing to show off about the oil to electricity, but I have to admit that although some of BMW's electric vehicles have been criticized for changing oil to electricity, and they have not won much in public opinion, the sales have really hit the face of many keyboard warriors. In 2023, the BMW Group delivered a total of about 824,900 BMW and MINI vehicles in the Chinese market, of which the annual delivery of BMW brand pure electric models was close to 100,000 units, especially in November and December 2023, with monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units for two consecutive months, which has also become an important fulcrum for BMW's overall sales growth.
The look is sportier and more stylish
The exterior of the new BMW 5 Series has the characteristics of the ancestral 5 Series, and of course it has the characteristics of this generation. Looking forward from the rear, the coupe rear design is more dynamic, with a length of 5,175 mm, a wheelbase of 3,105 mm, and a significantly raised front and window line.
There is also a glowing 5 on Huo's corner, which is a sense of ritual and a characteristic of this generation.
The redesigned angel eye headlights on the front face and the BMW ring grille composed of light guide fibers make it instantly more recognizable at night.
To be honest, the appearance of the 5 Series is not really stunning, but it is beautiful and harmonious, and the overall design coordination has the characteristics of the BMW family, no matter the front, side or back, you can tell at a glance that this is a BMW.
The interior has been upgraded with a luxurious texture
Many girls say that BMW's interior is too straightforward, just like the aesthetics of science and engineering men, easy to use but not fancy. If you want to have a sense of ceremony, you have to go to the 7 series. BMW is very persuasive. In this generation of 5 Series, a lot of 7 Series' ceremonial intelligent configuration is used.
Sitting in the car, it was very wow. The integrated suspended curved screen, the enveloping interactive light strip, and the bright crystal texture interior create a good atmosphere. It's not a nightclub style, but a high-quality Ambilight.
On the wrap-around interactive light band, BMW is on the technology and ruthless, this light band uses a 9-layer structure and a single light transmission film, the effect is very bright, and this thing does not have to worry about small scratches, it is covered with a special coating, there are micro marks can be self-repaired. The first time I saw this self-repairing scratch technology was on the front grille of the BMW iX.
The sunroof of the new BMW 5 Series has also been changed to a panoramic glass sunroof, and the real panoramic star rail canopy equipped on the 530Li Premium model is becoming more and more lively.
The new 5 series also has several built-in theme modes (My Modes), which can be switched through voice or large screen, each mode can provide you with emotional value, and the light and shadow effects start from the screen and then spread out through the interactive light strip to match your various moods.
Sit in the back row, let's talk about the rear seats first, the rear seats have a good wrapping feeling, although there is no retractable leg rest and back angle adjustment, but the seat cushion is lengthened and the overall ride comfort is also there. The B-pillar is also equipped with air conditioning vents, which makes the rear seat more comfortable.
Let's talk about this rear large screen,The new 5 series also has a big TV,Scientific name BMW suspended giant screen,When not in use, fold and close on the ceiling,It can be automatically put down when used。 The whole effect is very good, although it is an option, but it is better than nothing.
If you don't want to add money to choose this "big TV", you can also arrange a screen in the back row. The new 5 Series is equipped with an integrated device in the back of the front seat, with a Type-C charging port and a screen holder, which can still coax children with a PAD.
It's cool and smart to drive
In Zhuhai, I test drove the new BMW 530Li, which is the high-end version of the oil 5, and the whole driving texture is very good, although it is a car of more than 5 meters 1, but it does not have the kind of "boat feeling" that the big car gives me. The whole is very solid, especially when cornering, it is still the same line.
The parameters are not verbose, the configuration table is there, it is very smart to drive in the city, especially at low speeds, the entire steering wheel and throttle are relatively light, so that you can drive on congested roads in the city without pressure. And on the high speed, it is the sentence how deep the throttle will give you how much power, even if it reaches a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, you still have the strength to step on it, but you don't dare to step on it, we can't drive safely over the speed limit.
It must be said here that the new 5 series uses the second generation integrated braking system, which controls the braking system through electrical signals, what is the feeling when braking, it is difficult to describe, the braking stroke is not short or long, just right to keep a safe distance from danger. The system is also four times faster than conventional braking systems and can reduce braking distances by up to 20 percent.
Another point is that the voice control system of the new 5 Series can not only control general functions such as navigation, opening and closing windows, sunroof sunshades and rear large screen opening and rising, etc., but also voice control driving mode during driving.
What I want to talk about most is its autonomous driving assistance system. The car I drive is equipped with the automatic driving assistance system Pro system with a full-color head-up display system, this system is not as aggressive as the new forces, but the overall feeling is to assist you, not to compete with you for driving rights.
The all-new 5 Series features an attention monitoring system and a capacitive-sensing steering wheel designed to keep the driver engaged throughout the drive. It also has an automatic lane change function with gaze checking, which allows the vehicle to automatically overtake in the speed range of 60 to 180 km/h when the driver's gaze is confirmed, which is really advanced. Although a lot of people say it's a gimmick, when I trigger it, I feel like my eyes are being read by it, and suddenly I feel like I'm being understood, which also provides emotional value, doesn't it?
Finally, a small summary, this generation of BMW 5 Series is really good, the appearance is online, intelligent online, and luxury online. So how to choose between the BMW 5 and the Mercedes-Benz E? This is the problem of the century?