2021 BMW 520i Sport Review | Philkotse Philippines

In a sea full of SUVs, sedans remain to have a place in the local market especially when you look into premium car brands. The ride comfort, the driving characteristics, and the executive feel a sedan can give are arguably better than the ever-popular seven-seater midsize SUVs.   

The 5 Series is one of the staple cars of BMW Philippines’ model lineup. It’s a midsize sedan that sits between the 3 and the 7 Series, which I consider as the most ideal BMW for Metro Manila’s landscape. Why so? It’s not as compact as the 3, and it’s not as large as the 7. 

With that, I took a BMW 5 Series for a drive in its sole trim, and saw what it can offer. Here’s our 2021 BMW 520i Sport review.

The exterior of the 520i Sport is simple yet exudes a premium appeal, which is typical for German cars. It’s not as flashy as compared to its segment rivals such as the Lexus ES. The BMW 520i Sport has a confident stance despite the toned-down exterior styling, which I find more executive-looking than its Lexus counterpart.

The BMW 520i Sport has a commanding front end

The front end is highlighted by the car brand’s kidney grille that occupies almost the whole fascia of the car. But, it doesn’t look bad, and it’s more appealing than the revamped BMW “lung” grille. The LED headlights give the right amount of aggressiveness to the 520i Sport’s front while the LED daytime running lights add more character to the overall styling. It also has an imposing look thanks to the large bumper that’s integrated with LED fog lamps.        

The side is characterized by a straight line

The 520i Sport’s side profile comes with a straight character line that gives texture and enough style points. The side has the typical design that you’ll see on German cars, which features a simple and confident-looking beltline. The vehicle also has a set of 19-inch alloy wheels that stands out when the 520i Sport is viewed from the side. In case you’re wondering, the BMW 5 Series’ dimensions are as follows: it measures 4,936mm long, 1,868mm wide, and 1,479mm tall.

It comes with a large set of taillights

The rear has LED taillights that emphasize the 520i Sport’s width. The taillights also give the vehicle an assertive demeanor when viewed from the back. The large bumper, on the other hand, further shows the vehicle’s thickness. Overall, the BMW 520i Sport’s exterior is simply confident and continues to be one of the notable cars that have an executive appeal.

Inside, the 520i Sport has a dark interior theme with silver and piano black accents. As expected the interior is going for a luxury appeal, which holds true when you look into the materials used inside the car. 

The BMW 520i Sport has a driver-oriented dashboard layout

The leather seats have great cushion and side support. I specifically like the comfort that the driver’s seat offers, which comes in handy when you’re driving around the city. It also keeps you in place when you decide to take the 520i Sport on winding roads. This gives me the impression that the 520i Sport is a vehicle that’s fun to drive whenever you want to take a break from being a backseat passenger.  

The dashboard comes with a driver-oriented layout that features straightforward buttons. You wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the arrangement of vehicle functions or buttons even though it’s your first time to hop in a BMW. 

While the layout is good, I am not a fan of the piano black accent that dominates the dashboard since this design is already seen in mainstream cars. I prefer to have it in a dark wood trim, which would give a more premium feel. 

The interior is accented by piano black trims

The operation of the electronic gear shifter might confuse you but it doesn’t require a ton of learning curve. I’m sure that you’ll get the hang of it right away. Same with the BMW iDrive knob, which controls the interface of the infotainment touchscreen. It’s easy to use especially when you spent enough time toggling Mazda’s rotary control knob, which essentially has a similar function.

Rear passengers are treated with a generous legroom

The rear seats can accommodate up to three individuals. It has a generous leg- and head-room, which contributes to the overall ride comfort that this car offers. Rear passengers also get to enjoy a mesh sunshade, which they could pull up near the windows in case they prefer to use it. The 520i Sport also has an electric roller sunblind for the rear window. And oh, passengers at the back also get rear aircon vents. 

It has a lot of cargo space

The trunk has an automatic open and close function, which is like how a power tailgate feature works. In terms of cargo space, the 520i Sport has lots of it. You can fit up to two golf bags at the trunk with more room to spare.

The 520i Sport has an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, which is nice since it lessens the clutter on the interior by eliminating the need for a charger cable to seamlessly connect it to the system. But, I do wish that the 520i Sport comes with wireless charging as well. 

BMW 520i Sport's infotainment touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay

The infotainment system also serves as the rear camera when you put the gear in reverse. The camera comes with dynamic guidelines to further help you measure the distance behind when you’re reversing the car. It also has sensors that give warning sounds in case you’re getting closer to an obstruction or barrier.

The rear camera comes with dynamic guidelines

It also has a 5.7-inch instrument cluster that has a crisp display. The aircon comes with a dual automatic function, and the driver and passenger can each select their preferred fan speed. To add, the 520i Sport has an auto start-stop feature and cruise control.  

Other safety features include the following: front dual airbags, head airbags, side airbags, anti-lock braking system, stability control, run-flat tires with indicator, ISOFIX, among others.

Powered by a 2.0-liter gasoline engine

The 520i Sport is equipped with a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo gasoline engine that delivers 184 hp and 290 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and it features three drive modes: Sport, Comfort, and Eco Pro. 

I used the Comfort mode mostly during the duration of the test drive. With the said mode engaged, the 2.0-liter gasoline engine delivers good power. Acceleration and throttle response is also notable, and I didn’t feel that the car was lacking power even in Comfort drive mode. The 520i Sport gets peppy when you use the Sport mode. The throttle response is more on-point, while the engine revs stay at higher RPMs.  

It sure has a notable ride comfort

It can also reach highway speeds without a problem, and it has a stable ride when driving on the expressway. This combo gives you confidence whenever you need to overtake slower vehicles. Another thing that you’ll appreciate is the steering feel of the 520i Sport. It’s not too light, and the feedback it gives you makes you feel that you’re in total control of the vehicle.

Look at that distinctive character line

The best thing I noticed at the 520i Sport is its ride comfort. The suspension does a great job in absorbing impacts, translating to a smooth and pleasant drive. This car can definitely take on the dilapidated roads of EDSA, which you’ll appreciate especially when you’re considering the 520i Sport, a daily driver. 

In terms of fuel economy, I was able to get 8.4 km/l while driving around the city at an average speed of 20 km/h. On the other hand, I got 19 km/l while driving on the expressway at an average speed of 90 km/h. Take note, there were two people on board along with light cargo during the said fuel eco test. 

2021 BMW 520i Sport

The BMW 520i Sport is a vehicle that offers the right balance of driver and passenger comfort along with good power delivery. As a midsize luxury sedan, the 520i Sport is a vehicle that can give you a pleasant time behind the wheel. This car is also perfect for individuals who prefer to be chauffeured around rather than taking the driving duties. You get all those perks at a retail price of Php 4,290,000, a fair price considering the comfort, power, and luxury that this Bimmer brings to the table.