BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo 535i Luxury (A) Facelift Review
23 Oct 2013|22,036 views
Dubbed the Progressive Activity Series (PAS), the concept 5GT was first unveiled in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show, which served as a combination of a sport sedan, an SUV, and a Gran Turismo.
And because the 5GT was created with these said combinations, it can be quite confusing to what sort of a segment this car fits in.
The 5GT doesn't have a side profile that's as sleek as the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
While the car doesn't sit well with the public and fans, there is absolutely no doubt that its unique styling will help make it stand out in the sea of sedans that have become quite a boring sight.
Up close and Personal
The 5GT now sports a host of changes to its sheet metal to make it a little more enticing, although changes are more subtle than serious, with minimal surgical intervention here. Upfront, there's a new front bumper, a slightly revised grille, and new pair of 'eyebrows' over the headlights.
Sitting at 4,998mm long, 1,901mm wide and 1,559mm tall, the 5GT is almost as long as the 7 Series and is obviously taller. However, the coupe-like roofline isn't as sleek as the one on the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
And because the 5GT was created with these said combinations, it can be quite confusing to what sort of a segment this car fits in.
While the car doesn't sit well with the public and fans, there is absolutely no doubt that its unique styling will help make it stand out in the sea of sedans that have become quite a boring sight.
Up close and Personal
The 5GT now sports a host of changes to its sheet metal to make it a little more enticing, although changes are more subtle than serious, with minimal surgical intervention here. Upfront, there's a new front bumper, a slightly revised grille, and new pair of 'eyebrows' over the headlights.
Sitting at 4,998mm long, 1,901mm wide and 1,559mm tall, the 5GT is almost as long as the 7 Series and is obviously taller. However, the coupe-like roofline isn't as sleek as the one on the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
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The backend of the car also has some upgrades, highlighted by curvier lines and new LED taillights. Even the rear bumper has been tucked in. As a result, it appears less bulky when viewed from the back.
Weirdly, though, the boot volume has been increased to 500 litres, up from the previous 440 litres. Also generous is the ample head and legroom, which will make the three rear passengers very satisfied.
Everything else you see and feel, from the dashboard and the door panels to the lavish wood and leather-swathed seats, is a significant leap ahead in style, design and comfort.
Still, the biggest change here is the iDrive controller, which features a new touchpad surface. It's ideal for entering a navigation instruction by spelling out the desired address using finger movements. Problem is, it's probably more suited for the left-handers rather than the majority right.
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Drivetrain
Predictably, despite its heft of over two tonnes, the 5GT handles with remarkable alacrity. While the heft of the car can still be felt around bends, the 306 horses and 400Nm of twisting forces make it very forgivable.
The 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine will dish out 306 horses and 400Nm of torque from the word go
It's no doubt clumsier than the sedan sibling but it manages to hold its ground firmly as it carves corners with absolute confidence. The well-weighted and talkative steering helps a lot in this aspect, too.
Of course, with BMW's in-line gorgeous-sounding six-cylinder powering the 3.0-litre engine, the 5GT has plenty of power and responsiveness for most needs.
The cylinders are also capable of delivering a strong and continuous wave of torque, allowing the car to pull away from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
Predictably, despite its heft of over two tonnes, the 5GT handles with remarkable alacrity. While the heft of the car can still be felt around bends, the 306 horses and 400Nm of twisting forces make it very forgivable.
It's no doubt clumsier than the sedan sibling but it manages to hold its ground firmly as it carves corners with absolute confidence. The well-weighted and talkative steering helps a lot in this aspect, too.
Of course, with BMW's in-line gorgeous-sounding six-cylinder powering the 3.0-litre engine, the 5GT has plenty of power and responsiveness for most needs.
The cylinders are also capable of delivering a strong and continuous wave of torque, allowing the car to pull away from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
As with BMW's fine tradition of late, shifts from the new eight-speed automatic gearbox are imperceptible and the abundance of eight ratios delivers relaxed performance on the freeway without over drinking on the fuel.
Conclusion
The previous model was hard to recommend. Even with this facelift it's still not our top choice in the 5 Series range. But that could really be due to the lack of understanding we have for the car.
20-inch rims add aggression to the car's stance without compromising on ride comfort
It takes more than a day or two to really understand the purpose of the 5 Series GT. In fact it was only the fourth day when we started to appreciate and justify the car's existence in BMW's already competent lineup.
While it's unconventional, it shouldn't prevent the 5GT from being a car that excels in almost every area.
Conclusion
The previous model was hard to recommend. Even with this facelift it's still not our top choice in the 5 Series range. But that could really be due to the lack of understanding we have for the car.
It takes more than a day or two to really understand the purpose of the 5 Series GT. In fact it was only the fourth day when we started to appreciate and justify the car's existence in BMW's already competent lineup.
While it's unconventional, it shouldn't prevent the 5GT from being a car that excels in almost every area.
Dubbed the Progressive Activity Series (PAS), the concept 5GT was first unveiled in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show, which served as a combination of a sport sedan, an SUV, and a Gran Turismo.
And because the 5GT was created with these said combinations, it can be quite confusing to what sort of a segment this car fits in.
While the car doesn't sit well with the public and fans, there is absolutely no doubt that its unique styling will help make it stand out in the sea of sedans that have become quite a boring sight.
Up close and Personal
The 5GT now sports a host of changes to its sheet metal to make it a little more enticing, although changes are more subtle than serious, with minimal surgical intervention here. Upfront, there's a new front bumper, a slightly revised grille, and new pair of 'eyebrows' over the headlights.
Sitting at 4,998mm long, 1,901mm wide and 1,559mm tall, the 5GT is almost as long as the 7 Series and is obviously taller. However, the coupe-like roofline isn't as sleek as the one on the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
And because the 5GT was created with these said combinations, it can be quite confusing to what sort of a segment this car fits in.
While the car doesn't sit well with the public and fans, there is absolutely no doubt that its unique styling will help make it stand out in the sea of sedans that have become quite a boring sight.
Up close and Personal
The 5GT now sports a host of changes to its sheet metal to make it a little more enticing, although changes are more subtle than serious, with minimal surgical intervention here. Upfront, there's a new front bumper, a slightly revised grille, and new pair of 'eyebrows' over the headlights.
Sitting at 4,998mm long, 1,901mm wide and 1,559mm tall, the 5GT is almost as long as the 7 Series and is obviously taller. However, the coupe-like roofline isn't as sleek as the one on the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
The backend of the car also has some upgrades, highlighted by curvier lines and new LED taillights. Even the rear bumper has been tucked in. As a result, it appears less bulky when viewed from the back.
Weirdly, though, the boot volume has been increased to 500 litres, up from the previous 440 litres. Also generous is the ample head and legroom, which will make the three rear passengers very satisfied.
Everything else you see and feel, from the dashboard and the door panels to the lavish wood and leather-swathed seats, is a significant leap ahead in style, design and comfort.
Still, the biggest change here is the iDrive controller, which features a new touchpad surface. It's ideal for entering a navigation instruction by spelling out the desired address using finger movements. Problem is, it's probably more suited for the left-handers rather than the majority right.
Weirdly, though, the boot volume has been increased to 500 litres, up from the previous 440 litres. Also generous is the ample head and legroom, which will make the three rear passengers very satisfied.
Everything else you see and feel, from the dashboard and the door panels to the lavish wood and leather-swathed seats, is a significant leap ahead in style, design and comfort.
Still, the biggest change here is the iDrive controller, which features a new touchpad surface. It's ideal for entering a navigation instruction by spelling out the desired address using finger movements. Problem is, it's probably more suited for the left-handers rather than the majority right.
Drivetrain
Predictably, despite its heft of over two tonnes, the 5GT handles with remarkable alacrity. While the heft of the car can still be felt around bends, the 306 horses and 400Nm of twisting forces make it very forgivable.
It's no doubt clumsier than the sedan sibling but it manages to hold its ground firmly as it carves corners with absolute confidence. The well-weighted and talkative steering helps a lot in this aspect, too.
Of course, with BMW's in-line gorgeous-sounding six-cylinder powering the 3.0-litre engine, the 5GT has plenty of power and responsiveness for most needs.
The cylinders are also capable of delivering a strong and continuous wave of torque, allowing the car to pull away from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
Predictably, despite its heft of over two tonnes, the 5GT handles with remarkable alacrity. While the heft of the car can still be felt around bends, the 306 horses and 400Nm of twisting forces make it very forgivable.
It's no doubt clumsier than the sedan sibling but it manages to hold its ground firmly as it carves corners with absolute confidence. The well-weighted and talkative steering helps a lot in this aspect, too.
Of course, with BMW's in-line gorgeous-sounding six-cylinder powering the 3.0-litre engine, the 5GT has plenty of power and responsiveness for most needs.
The cylinders are also capable of delivering a strong and continuous wave of torque, allowing the car to pull away from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds.
As with BMW's fine tradition of late, shifts from the new eight-speed automatic gearbox are imperceptible and the abundance of eight ratios delivers relaxed performance on the freeway without over drinking on the fuel.
Conclusion
The previous model was hard to recommend. Even with this facelift it's still not our top choice in the 5 Series range. But that could really be due to the lack of understanding we have for the car.
It takes more than a day or two to really understand the purpose of the 5 Series GT. In fact it was only the fourth day when we started to appreciate and justify the car's existence in BMW's already competent lineup.
While it's unconventional, it shouldn't prevent the 5GT from being a car that excels in almost every area.
Conclusion
The previous model was hard to recommend. Even with this facelift it's still not our top choice in the 5 Series range. But that could really be due to the lack of understanding we have for the car.
It takes more than a day or two to really understand the purpose of the 5 Series GT. In fact it was only the fourth day when we started to appreciate and justify the car's existence in BMW's already competent lineup.
While it's unconventional, it shouldn't prevent the 5GT from being a car that excels in almost every area.
Photos by Julian Kho
Car Information
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo 535i Luxury (A)
CAT B|Petrol|12.2km/L
Horsepower
225kW (302 bhp)
Torque
400 Nm
Acceleration
6.1sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
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