2010 BMW 5-Series Review

What to call the new BMW 550i Gran Turismo (GT)? It's an odd automotive cocktail-- a combination fast, good handling sports sedan, hatchback station wagon and crossover vehicle with good ride height.

Styling of the $63,900 550i GT is somewhat awkward, with an offbeat rear appearance, although it has commanding road presence. The styling is caused by a sloping dual-articulated hatchback instead of a trunk.

The large hatch has a bottom section that can be opened as a regular trunk for quickly stowing luggage. Or one can swing the hatch up and far out of the way to store large objects. In either case, the cargo opening is low and wide.

Rear seatbacks have releases inside the cargo compartment. I found with my 550i GT that they fold forward electrically, but very slowly. They're thick seatbacks, but sit flat to allow a generous cargo area to become even larger.

A rear folding bulkhead and removable package shelf shelter occupants from the elements when the trunk section is opened.

There's marginal passenger storage space-just a small glovebox, center front console bin with twin openings and small pockets in all doors.

Front cupholders are rather awkwardly placed low directly in front of the center stack up against the dashboard. And the rear armrest contains thin plastic cupholders that feel flimsy-not in keeping with the 550i GT's church-quiet interior with its first-class materials and comfortable, supportive seats. This is a good long-trip vehicle-just like a  true GT car.

Pull down the rear armrest and the 550i GT become a four-passenger vehicle-but a very roomy one with limo-like rear legroom and adjustable seats. The wheelbase (distance between axles) is a full 120.7 inches, which allows plenty of passenger and cargo room and helps assure a good ride.

Standard items include the usual luxury car items, and a panoramic moonroof, power tilt--telescopic steering wheel, , an "iDrive" system that's less complicated than BMW's old iDrive and lots of safety items-including numerous air bags and powerful anti-lock brakes.

One prime safety option is Active Cruise Control with radar-based sensing that helps a driver maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead.

The optional rearview camera is helpful because thick rear roof posts and a tall trunk lid hamper visibility, despite good-sized rearview mirrors.

Strategic option packages cover everything from a power tailgate to four-zone climate control. A luxury rear seating package has a center console that replaces the middle seat and gives the interior the posh feel of an executive lounge. And there's an impressive premium sound system and rear seat entertainment system with dual screens in the backs of the front seats..
 
Power flows from a butter-smooth twin-turbocharged direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 with 400 horsepower and an impressive 450 pound-feet of torque, which comes in at low engine rpms tor neck-snapping performance. The V-8 has dual overhead camshafts and variable-valve timing. Once the 550i GT begins fast acceleration, it never seems to want to quit.

One might never guess that this large, approximately 4,800-pound vehicle is very fast.  It hits 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and can reach 100 mph in 11.6 seconds. That's really moving for such a big guy.

Here's something unusual: BMW's Efficient Dynamics system that charges the battery via regenerative braking, rather than the alternator.

The 550i GT has rear-wheel drive, but also Dynamic Stability Control and traction control. A $66,200 all-wheel-drive 550i xDrive model is offered, and a turbocharged six-cylinder version is scheduled to go on sale in late 2010.

The 550i GT's V-8 works with a smooth, responsive automatic transmission that has no less than eight forward speeds,. It always seem to be in the right gear for every driving condition. The transmission has manual shift capability.

However, the transmission shifter is needlessly awkward to use. For instance, you must push a button on the side of the shift lever to get into "Drive" and another button atop that lever to move into the "Park" position.    

Fuel economy is not a strong point: an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 21 on highways, and premium fuel is called for. Fuel tank capacity is 18.5 gallons.

This BMW is remarkably agile for such a big, heavy, fairly high vehicle. Steering is firm, but quick, and the brakes are controlled by a medium-firm pedal with a progressive action. The ride setting can be adjusted to Comfort, Normal or two versions of Sport.

Those who want sharper handling, without sacrificing ride comfort, can order the Sport Package, with such items as 19-inch wheels and sport tires.

Some folks want everything with a vehicle, but don't want to give up anything. If you're one of them, the 550i GT just might be your new ride.