BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid 5 4dr Car Review - March 2012

The ActiveHybrid 5 has a 305 bhp engine delivering 295 lb-ft of torque at 1200-5000 rpm and reaches 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

The switch between fuel sources is so smooth that it is barely noticeable. The car has decent performance as well as high refinement levels. The suspension on the 5 Series is not as supportive as you might expect, but there is a rather expensive option to add Variable Damper Control to the four-cylinder models and Adaptive Drive to the six-cylinder models, which is worth the money for the difference it makes in the performance and handling.

The cabin is insulated from the outside noise of the engine, tyre and suspension, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds. An eight-speed automatic gearbox lets the car accelerate responsively up through the gears smoothly and quickly.

The BMW cabin is arguably one of the best available and the 5 Series is made with high-quality materials and beautifully finished. This is a complete executive saloon offering the elegance and practicality of the BMW badge on top of great performance from the engine.

The ActiveHybrid saloon comes with leather seats, metallic paint, power steering, stability control, cruise control, climate control, alloy wheels, stereo, MP3 connectivity, rear parking sensors, satellite navigation and Bluetooth as standard.

The ‘Efficient Dynamics’ technology that keeps the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions low includes an automatic stop-start system, brake energy regeneration, tyres with less rolling resistance, along with improved aerodynamics.

BMW are manufacturers that have a great track record when it comes to reliability, so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern.

Safety is top rate, too with standard equipment including a minimum of six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control inclusive of ABS, corning brake control, dynamic break control and dynamic traction control. An optional extra is the Active Security Package (with lane changes and lane departure-warning systems), with an alarm, deadlocks and locking wheelnuts as standard. The 5 Series also comes with a spring-loaded bonnet, which makes it much kinder to pedestrians in the case of a crash.

5 Series are practical cars with loads of space in the front and back. Although BMW claim it is a five-seater, the middle back seat is not ideal as it has to accommodate the large transmission tunnel which runs through the centre of the car. The boot is sizeable too, offering 520 litres of space.

The ActiveHybrid runs off unleaded petrol and electricity, capable of running off electricity alone for 2.5 miles.

The ActiveHybrid does not really prove to be a good value for money car when the diesel models are cheaper, more efficient and cleaner, not to mention faster (in the case of the 353d) and there is always the downside that it requires a few expensive extras (i.e. the suspension modifications) which, whilst beneficial to the car, come at a steep cost.

The 5 Series benefits from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, which makes it a great business car option with economic running costs and low CO2 emissions. The ActiveHybrid 5 model costs £46,860 and has a combined economy of 44.1 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 155 g/km. Resale values are fairly strong thanks to the strong reputation of the brand but the expensive extras are a real cause for concern when it comes to finances.