2024 BMW 5-Series Touring 520d xDrive MHEV 8AT AWD (197 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In early 2024, BMW completed the range of the eighth generation of the 5 Series with the introduction of the station wagon version, traditionally named Touring by the German automaker.

BMW introduced the first generation of the 5 Series in 1972, but it wasn’t until 1992 that it started offering it as a station wagon. Customers loved it because it came with innovative ideas, such as the opening rear window for the tailgate. Moreover, those who wanted to go fast could get them with an M treatment, if not for all generations, at least for some of them. Come 2023, the German automaker introduced the eighth generation of the 5 Series, and in the same year, it announced the release of the Touring version. Still, that didn’t happen until early 2024 when BMW pulled the wraps off the new G61 5 Series.

From the front, the 5 Series Touring was available with the same options as its sedan sibling. While the base version featured shiny trims around the kidney grille, customers could have that with dark accents or completely dark and a light strip to surround it. The standard LED headlights with an option for laser ones were also included in the package. For the lower bumper, BMW offered a choice of two M packets with black accents and a more or less aggressive stance.

But the biggest surprise was seen on the car’s profile. While the previous generations of the 5 Series Touring were usually slightly longer than their sedan siblings, the 2024 version had the same length as its four-door brother. Another significant design change was for the back of the car. BMW noticed that its buyers didn’t really load their vehicles to the top, so they didn’t actually need a flat, vertical tailgate. As a result, it installed a raked-forward one, which made the car look like a shooting brake. The gasoline and diesel-powered versions of the 5 Series Touring came fitted as standard with 18-inch light alloy wheels, while the plug-in hybrid and the all-electric version sat on 19-inch ones. As an option, the automaker offered other sets of wheels up to 21 inches in size.

Inside, customers were greeted by a wide curved display mounted on top of the dashboard. There were, actually, two screens: one for the instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment system. The latter also featured touch capabilities and ran on BMW’s iDrive 8.5 OS. Like its sedan sibling, it featured eye-activated turn signals for specific markets and a plethora of safety systems. But unlike the sedan, it featured a larger trunk space. With the rear seats up, it provided up to 570 liters (20.1 cu-ft.) of space, while with the rear bench seat folded, it reached a massive 1,700 liters (60 cu-ft.). Surprisingly, these values were nearly identical to what the previous generation of the 5 Series Touring provided.

Under the hood, BMW installed a range of gasoline and turbo diesel engines featuring mild-hybrid technology. In addition, the 5 Series Touring was also available as a PHEV with rear and all-wheel drive systems. An adaptive pneumatic suspension with self-leveling was also offered.