BMW 5 series review - backseat edition

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 05/23/2020 at 10:45 • Filed to: None

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Pros: finally a Lyft with enough backseat headroom for a 6' dude.

Individual air vents for each backseat passenger is nice?

Steering wheel is attractive.

Center console/center stack area has a nice, coherent design.

Cons:

F eels bunker-like. The door sills are waaaaaay to high up, leaving small slots for windows. It’s not as bad as many other modern vehicles, but it’s still noticeably unpleasant.

Materials feel surprisingly cheap. Bit underwhelming for a car that most frequently sells for $60k+. Soft touch plastic is still quite plasticky, and more abundant than it should be. Leather feels no better than what you’d find in a budget *insert $25k car here*.

Sound deadening isn’t very good. Again, $60k bmw.

Verdict:

Nothing about this car screams luxury, or even premium . Not even a whisper. I wonder how Mercedes' big sedans match up..? 

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 10:49

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I got in the back seat of my V60 for the first time the other day. At 6'4" I don’t fit. But I did notice for the first time that there are individual vents in the B pillars for the poor bastards that do have to scrunch up to ride back there. So that’s nice!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 10:52

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The back seat of my 2013 outback is surprisingly nice. Upgrade to the limited and it’s all leather with your own HVAC and usb ports. I’m also 6' 4" tall and have all the room in the world. 

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 10:59

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Not to be “that guy”, but I’ve never seen how any of the BMW sedans would remotely be considered “luxury” in terms of what you touch-see in a 5 or 3 series.  An A6 or E-Class by comparison?  “that’s what luxury feels like at that price point”.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 11:00

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They’ve definitely taken a slow downward trajectory  since the Reitzle years. I’ve been in a few newer BMWs and they just don’t feel as “special” as my E39.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Sovande 05/23/2020 at 11:11

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I’m 6-2 and fit in my V60 just barely. Actually it’s quite comfortable, I sometimes sit back there on long drives to entertain my toddler son.

And yes Subarus have excellent back seats. 

Sovande > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 05/23/2020 at 11:21

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I have had the car for a year and a half or so and never tried it out. If I was driving I could not sit behind me, that’s for certain.

The back seats are folded down about 95% of the time anyway. I treat it like a four door two seater. 

glemon > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 11:30

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I usually pop myself into the back seat of any car I am seriously considering buying. Relatively average 6'0" me fitting is not make or break, but it is a factor in the decision. I test drove a Veloster N and was surprised I kind of fit. On the other hand, I can’t sit comfortably behind myself at all  in my relatively upright and sedan like IS300.  

wafflesnfalafel > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 12:36

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I nteresting - that was a recent model?  

wafflesnfalafel > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/23/2020 at 12:40

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right - I have buddy with a 2015 outback with the leather and those are some really nice seats, front and back, and tons of rear seat room. The interior isn’t “fancy/luxury” but it is nicely styled and the ergo and touch is nice. It kind of reminds me of late 90's BMW interiors - simple and teutonic but nice.  I honestly like it better than the brand new ones.

AestheticsInMotion > wafflesnfalafel 05/23/2020 at 12:56

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Yeah, either current Gen or maybe last Gen. I stopped being able to distinguish 5 series’ after the E39. I  know the car requirements are pretty strict in this area, especially for the luxury segment (which I didn’t pay for, random upgrade).

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 13:10

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These are typical fleet cars in Europe. The luxury expectation is a weird American thing. You have to load them up to get a real lux feel. It also might sticker at 60K, but leases at 550/month, which is the vast majority of sales. Y ou get what you pay for.

I wonder if this was a retired rental now doing lyft/uber duty.

Chariotoflove > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 21:41

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I’ve always felt the same about the BMW interiors in the 3 and 5.  I  never have understood how people focus on materials quality and at the same time talk about BMW as the standard to beat.

AestheticsInMotion > Chariotoflove 05/23/2020 at 21:57

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Quite the let down. I'm very curious how the Japanese and Korean competition feel by comparison. 

AestheticsInMotion > fintail 05/23/2020 at 21:58

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I really just need to go to an auto show one of these days so I can hang out in all manor of premium cars. The longer I spend in janky sportscars, loud trucks, and old bikes, the more I realize I'm going to want something nice and comfortable at some point... 

AestheticsInMotion > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/23/2020 at 21:59

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Still near the top of my “I shouldn’t buy but I reaaaaaally want to” list.

Maybe in a few years... 

AestheticsInMotion > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 05/23/2020 at 22:01

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It was one thing when BMW was the clear leader in performance, but yeah... Seems like a strange choice. I can't imagine buying one of these when a base M2 could be had for that money

AestheticsInMotion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/23/2020 at 22:01

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How's the front seat? I never could go more than thirty minutes driving mine without discomfort 

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 05/23/2020 at 22:02

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I used to run to the back seats of my V70 whenever somebody called me. Such a comfortable place to spend any length of time 

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 22:29

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You’ll probably not be impressed by “luxury” until you sit in an S-class or equivalent. The mid lux cars are nice, but are also pretty mainstream.

That being said, my E wagon is an extremely relaxing and serene drive, and the build/materials are fine - and it’s even a Tex car.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 22:36

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It’s fine no issues. The newer version like mine is way bigger on the inside than the one you had.

AestheticsInMotion > fintail 05/23/2020 at 22:36

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That’s a bit disappointing. I wonder how Volvo’s top-end offerings come across in person. If I’m being honest, Toyota’s wool upholstery offering in the jdm Century is what really tickles my fancy.

I came out of work today and saw one of our drivers hop into a V 12-badged Benz. Looked fairly modern, and quite sleek. Sedan with coupe-like body lines? What was I looking at? W ould have loved to pick his brain if it wasn’t for the Lyft guy waiting on me...

AestheticsInMotion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/23/2020 at 22:38

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Huh. Guess the newest Subaru I’ve been in is that 2017 (2016?) impreza sedan I got as a loaner...

Honestly if I was gifted new car money, there’s a non-zero chance I’d walk into a Subaru dealership and leave with one of those new Onyx trim Outbacks.

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 23:04

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I doubt an S90 will be appreciably nicer than an E with leather, especially Designo package. It will still be nice though. Back in the day, you could spec a similar wool in S-class, but I think it was discontinued by 1995. You know, the V12 Century will be eligible for import soon.

The only V12 MB sedans are S-class, which aren’t coupe-like. The CLS is the pioneer of the modern 4-door coupe movement, but it has never existed with a V12.  I hope it wasn’t a rebadged CLS.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 05/23/2020 at 23:11

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The outback and Impreza have drastically different interiors and seats. And the new new outback’s are even more different.

Chariotoflove > AestheticsInMotion 05/24/2020 at 00:12

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I can tell you mine feels positively posh, but it is a different class of car.