The previous generation 5 series received a lot of flak for its controversial styling, especially its ‘Bangle butt’ at the rear, and ‘Dame Edna’ headlights at the front. The new car sports a clean and much more sober look that’s likely to appeal to a far greater audience. The front-end, with its wide kidney grill and sharp creases on the bonnet, gives the car a sleek, yet muscular look. The optional 20-inch wheels on our test car fill the wheel-wells nicely, and give the car a sporty appearance. In my opinion, the sixth edition of the BMW 5 series – with its clean lines and aggressive stance – could very well be the best looking version of the car we’ve yet seen.

Off late the majority of cars that I’ve tested have been automatics. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that our 535 test car had a 6-speed manual transmission. The entire range in India comes with BMW’s new 8-speed automatic. The top diesel and petrol models – i.e. the 530d and 535i – also provide steering mounted paddles for manual control. But give me a proper manual gearbox any day. However, when I drove the 535 for the first few kilometers, I felt almost underwhelmed. The car was smooth, but the throttle felt sluggish, and it didn’t seem like the engine was putting out the promised 300bhp. The steering was light, and didn’t have much feel, and it seemed to me that BMW might have lost its mojo because the 535 certainly didn’t feel like the ‘ultimate driving machine.’

Fortunately, I soon discovered the adaptive drive switch on the center console that lets the driver alter the engine and chassis setting of the car, which completely transforms the 535 and gives it the dynamics that BMW is known for. The BMW Adaptive Drive system is a triple-treat of Driving Dynamics Control (modulating suspension damping, steering assist, throttle response, and shift points for the optional eight-speed ZF automatic), faster-acting Dynamic Damping Control (lowering ride height by 0.4 inch) and Active Roll Stabilization (BMW’s active body control, which works through hydraulically actuated anti-roll bars).

Put the car in sports mode, and the engine comes alive – you can hear the revs rise in the cabin, and feel the extra power with every tap of the throttle. The chassis is firmer, but still fairly compliant. Go into sports-plus mode, and the chassis feels significantly firmer and the traction control is dialed back sufficiently, which gives you plenty of opportunity to get the rear tires spinning.

What the adaptive-drive suspension does is provide the BMW with different personalities that can be chosen based on traffic conditions or the drivers’ mood. If your 5 series is going to be driven by a chauffeur, you may not need the sport package, of which the adaptive drive system is a subset – but then you might as well just get a less lethal 5 series. However, if you do want to drive yourself, the 535i with adaptive-drive control is an extremely enticing option.

The 535 has an all-new 3-liter, turbocharged engine (known as the N55) that puts out 306 horsepower, and 400Nm of torque. The N55 shares its all-aluminum block, direct injection system, and 10.2:1 compression ratio with the older N54 engine. It differs from the old one in two ways – 1) it has a single, twin-scroll turbocharger (which BMW calls ‘Twin Power’), instead of two smaller turbochargers, and 2) it uses Valvetronic, whereby an electric motor built into the cylinder head continuously varies the amount of valve lift. According to BMW, the addition of Valvetronic reduces fuel consumption by 8%. It also quickens response time when you’re cruising along at low load and have a sudden, urgent need to be at wide-open throttle. Another benefit is that peak torque comes in at 1,200rpm now, instead of 1,400 with the N54 engine. In terms of weight, the new engine is about 2 kilos lighter than the older unit.

On the road, the new power-plant didn’t seem as free revving as the earlier one – the reason could be that the test car only had 2,500 kilometers on it, and the engine wasn’t completely run in. In my mixed driving cycle, which included both highway and city driving, the 535 gave a respectable 8km/l. In addition, the 535 has good brakes that provide ample stopping power without any signs of fade. However, steering feel isn’t as good as we’ve come to expect from BMW. It feels light at low speeds, and doesn’t provide much feedback. I suspect it’s due to the new electronic power system that BMW’s introduced on the 5 series.

Verdict

In conclusion, the 535 is a complete package. It looks good from the outside, and has a luxurious cabin with impeccable fit-and-finish. It provides a plush ride if you’re chauffeured. However, with a press of a button that controls the adaptive-drive system, it can instantly transform itself into a true driver’s car.

The new 5 series shares the architecture of the 7 series, and reportedly also up to 70% of its components. And that means it’s very much a mini 7 series when you’re in the back seat, as well as a real sports sedan when you’re in the driver’s chair. The new 5, with the mighty 535i at the helm, will certainly help BMW fight the good fight to stay in the lead in the battle of the German luxury triumvirate.