BMW is increasing the appeal of its 5-series Gran Turismo model by adding a new entry-level car. Whereas the range used to kick off with the 530d, there’s now a 520d, bringing the car in below £40,000 for the first time, especially in sub-£37k entry spec rather than the M-sport driven here. It’s got the same level of standard kit as the rest of the Gran Turismo line-up, and the 184hp powertrain is well-matched to a car that, for a BMW, offers excellent comfort and ride quality, as well as being very refined. Available in four- or five-seat configurations, the GT is still a big slab-sided car, but it’s maybe becoming less ugly with exposure since its 2009 launch. It’s still ungainly, but time is helping.
The addition of a 520d model will undoubtedly help the Gran Turismo, although the crossover-cum-hatchback-cum-MPV model is still, given the challenging styling, a little expensive compared to the more attractive and practical 5-series Touring.
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