BMW 520d Touring driven: Should BMW bring diesel back to the UK?
Car changing is a big deal
You can no longer buy a diesel BMW 5 Series in the UK – but you can in other countries, and content editor David Diez from Carwow’s Spanish office has been driving it. Should diesel make a comeback?
Diesel is falling out of fashion at the moment, with sales dropping 24% across Europe in 2025, and estate cars are losing market share to SUVs at a pretty rapid rate as well. So guess what I’ve been driving this week? A diesel estate car.
After spending over 900 miles with the new BMW 520d Touring, I’m certain of two things: diesel still makes a great deal of sense for long-distance travel, and wagons make better family cars than SUVs if you care about the sensation of driving. Here’s why I think the BMW 520d Touring is worth considering.
The 520d: efficiency over firepower
I feel bad for my colleagues in the UK, because the diesel engine in the BMW 5 Series Touring is fantastic.
It’s a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid with almost 200hp, and, while it’s not as fast as a sports car, it still offers plenty of grunt and great fuel economy. I averaged around 50mpg in normal driving conditions, and even during a spirited blast on a country road the 520d didn’t drop below 40mpg.
In the UK you have a choice of plug-in hybrid or petrol engines in the 5 Series Touring. The PHEV has a claimed efficiency figure of more than 400mpg, but this is a pipe dream in reality – especially on the motorway where you’re not making use of the electric range. Mat Watson got 37mpg from a BMW 530e during his testing.
The 520i will do up to 46mpg according to BMW, and Mat did manage to hit that figure on a long run. But that’s still less than what I’ve averaged from the 520d in mixed driving conditions.
So the diesel engine certainly still makes sense if you’re a long-distance driver, and it’s a shame that UK buyers can’t enjoy it anymore.
Behind the wheel: what’s the BMW 520d Touring like to drive?
Just like every other version of the BMW 5 Series, the 520d is fantastic to drive. If you’re looking for an estate car which is fun to drive, this is it.
The steering is really sharp and precise, and you hardly get any body roll through the corners. It’s a really agile car considering it weighs over 1,800kg.
But this sporty handling doesn’t affect the comfort. Sure, a Mercedes E-Class Estate is a bit softer over bumps, but the 5 Series is still really smooth over broken surfaces. It’s a fantastic motorway cruiser as well, with minimal wind or road noise entering the cabin.
Interior and practicality
The BMW 5 Series Touring has a striking interior. The panoramic roof and ambient lighting create a great atmosphere, and the “Interaction Bar”, that backlit crystal strip across the dash, adds a lot of personality.
A nice detail: when you turn on the hazards, that bar and the door panels pulse red to make sure you don’t forget they’re on. The sporty seats in this particular model deserve a mention; they feel quite firm at first, but after 250-mile stints, your back will thank you. They support you well, and in Sport mode, the side bolsters automatically tighten to hold you in place through the bends.
One thing to note: while the white leather in our test car looks beautiful, it won’t be your best friend if you have small children, though it is easy enough to clean.
In terms of finish, the car is very well-made in all the usual touchpoints. Everything feels solid and premium. However, the lower parts of the doors use harder plastics that contrast with the rest of the cabin. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you do notice it.
There’s loads of space in the back as well, and I had no problem loading my bulky rear-facing child seat into the car thanks to the wide door openings and easy-access ISOFIX points. The boot offers 570 litres of space and a wide, practical opening. It’s a good size, but models like the Skoda Superb or Octavia Estate, which are shorter, actually offer similar or even larger boot volumes.
My final verdict on the BMW 520d Touring
After living with it for a few days, the question is: would I buy it? Would I buy it? Absolutely yes – it’s perfect for my daily driving, which involves lots of motorways and long distance commutes.. The soundproofing is excellent, the fuel consumption is very low, and the suspension offers a sense of security and precision that sets it apart from most alternatives and SUVs.
But in the UK, a plug-in hybrid makes more sense for company car drivers, and the cheaper 520i is very nearly as good as this diesel for most purposes. And the 5 Series Touring as a whole is still so good that, with or without a diesel engine, it should definitely be on your shortlist.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.