BMW 5 Series Touring estate - MPG, running costs & CO2

Many 5 Series Tourings sold will have the smallest petrol or diesel engine under the bonnet, showing that customers do retain an interest in economy as well as overall price and performance. As part of the model refresh in early 2021, mild-hybrid technology was added to every standard petrol and diesel engine in the 5 Series Touring line-up.

While some small fuel-efficiency gains have been made via a Start/Stop function and an active radiator grille that closes for improved aerodynamics when maximum cooling isn’t required, the biggest aid to economy is the use of aluminium and aluminium alloys in the car’s construction. This has made the latest 5 Series Touring up to 100kg lighter compared to the old one.

The introduction of the 530e plug-in hybrid is a welcome addition to the range, offering low-emission driving in a practical, family-friendly shape.

BMW 5 Series Touring MPG & CO2

The 520d is the most popular version of the 5 Series Touring. Its 187bhp four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel is quite economical, capable of up to 55.4mpg and CO2 emissions starting from 134g/km. This puts the car in an upper Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rating for company-car drivers, placing it in a similar tax bracket to its nearest direct rival, the Mercedes E-Class E 220 d Estate.

A six-cylinder 530d xDrive was previously available, and while it’s no longer offered, it suited the 5 Series perfectly. While its 47.9mpg might not look so impressive it's worth remembering this diesel estate is capable of dispatching 0-62mph in less than six seconds. Its emissions start at 153g/km, earning it a BiK rating towards the top of the bandings.

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The petrol choices aren't as economical but will suit buyers who frequently make short journeys. The entry-level 520i returns up to 42.2mpg in mixed driving with CO2 emissions of between 153g/km and 168g/km for a high BiK rate. The six-cylinder 540i xDrive emits up to 193g/km and returns up to 35.8mpg hitting the top BiK rate for company-car drivers.

The 530e plug-in hybrid has the cheapest running costs on paper. It’s officially capable of 32-35 miles when running on battery power, a range sufficient to cover most daily commutes. Claimed fuel economy for the rear-wheel-drive model is between up to 188mpg, with the four-wheel drive xDrive car capable of up to 156.9mpg but getting anywhere near these figures will depend on how often you top up the battery. It will also be a tempting proposition to company-car drivers, with its CO2 emissions of 35-45g/km placing it towards the lower end of the BiK bandings.

All models of the 5 Series Touring cost over £40,000 so are liable for the additional VED surcharge for the first five renewal years.

Insurance group

The 5 Series Touring models closely match the insurance ratings of their saloon equivalents. The 520i and 520d are the cheapest to insure, with group 32 and 34 ratings respectively for the SE models, rising to groups 33 and 35 for M Sport Edition versions. The 530d models start from group 42. The 540i starts in group 42 and the 530e starts in group 40.

Servicing

New BMWs come with a feature called Condition Based Servicing (CBS), which monitors the condition of your car and alerts you when a service is required. An icon will display on the dashboard and BMW technicians can download information stored on your car key so they can quickly see what’s been detected by the CBS system.

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BMW offers a service pack that covers the cost of service items for three years/36,000 miles called BMW Service Inclusive.

Warranty

BMW offers a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which is the same as Mercedes and similar to Audi, which limits you to 60,000 miles. It’s a reasonable warranty for one of the ‘premium’ car manufacturers, but is starting to look a little miserly next to the five and seven-year warranties offered by companies like Hyundai and Kia.