Why it won

The BMW 5 Series is a brilliant saloon, and one model stands out as the pick of the bunch – the 520d EfficientDynamics (ED). If you want a cost effective and luxurious saloon that's also good to drive, look no further.

What makes the 520d ED so good? Well for a car that delivers limousine luxury, emissions of 119g/km are seriously impressive. Factor in its competitive prices, and the 5 Series is a seriously attractive company car choice. Compromises are few and far between, as you still get lively and incisive rear-wheel drive handling, and decent pace. Extra-long gearing does blunt acceleration compared to the standard 520d, but claimed fuel economy of 62.8mpg makes this a worthwhile sacrifice.

There's more to the BMW 5 Series than an ultra-efficient engine range, though. The line-up includes a host of smooth revving petrol units and the beautifully finished cabin gives the car a really luxurious feel inside. Standard equipment is generous, but there's still a lengthy options list.

We’d stick to SE trim, as the racy styling additions and firmer suspension set-up of M Sport models isn’t really worth the extra money; the 5 Series is so good in standard trim that you’re better off spending your hard-earned cash on a few choice extras.