BMW 5 SERIES LCI

We see if the 2021 BMW 5 Series continues with its recipe of comfort and engagement in equal measure with this mid-life facelift

- TUHIN GUHA

With the 3 Series Gran Limousine and the 6 Series GT covering off either end, BMW India has made sure that the BMW 5 Series can continue to do what it is best known for: being a luxury sedan that does driver involvement as well as it does luxury. But having been around since 2017, it was due for a nip-and-tuck. Now that that has happened, we’ll try and see if the 5 Series playbook remains intact with this update.

This facelift has let BMW bring the 5 Series visually in line with the rest of the BMW sedan line-up. The Luxury Line trim we’re driving is geared more towards highlighting the 5 Series’ appeal as a consummate luxury car, a more driver-focused M Sport version is also available, and the visual changes are attuned to this. So you get a new front with the slimmer LED headlamps (LaserLights on the M Sport) and L-shaped DRLs while the grille has thankfully not become disproportionately large, with its new single-piece design. The bumpers have been simplified with a full-width air dam in this version and with the foglamps now gone, there are quite tasteful chrome elements replacing them.

It must be said that these changes are effective, even in this unassuming shade of white, and with the more organic-looking L-shaped LED tail lamps and the prominent (and functional) exhaust tips, the revised 5 Series continues to look stately, yet athletic. But with no prominent sheet metal changes like in the new E-Class LWB, the tauter look of the 3 Series hasn’t been fully recreated here. Just about 27mm has been added to the length of the 5 Series but the wheelbase remains unchanged.