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WhatCar? 520d SE Touring
06.08.2007 |
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WHAT ARE THEY LIKE TO DRIVE?
THESE ARE BIG cars that may be called upon to carry
anything from the family dog to furniture, so they need
engines with plenty of guts.
The Volvo is the most powerful, serving up 21bhp more than the BMW and 44bhp more than the Audi, but our test figures suggest that there’s little to separate the V70 and 5 Series in real-world performance. Both provide strong overtaking urge, although the Volvo responds more eagerly at medium revs because it has 295lb ft of pulling muscle to the BMW’s 251lb ft.
The Audi, by contrast, feels distinctly flat. Its 236lb ft of pull arrives with a sudden surge in the mid-range, but even when you keep the revs up the A6 takes longest to build speed.
Refinement is equally disappointing, because the Audi’s engine rattles around town and sounds coarse under acceleration. The Volvo’s, meanwhile, is only fractionally quieter, and you have to put up with a lot of suspension noise.
Still, all three cars do a fine job of minimising wind and road noise, even if the 5 Series has the edge. Its engine is due to be replaced in September, but is still the sweetest here.
The BMW is also the most enjoyable to drive, combining tight body control, pin-sharp steering and outstanding grip. In fact, its poise is so impressive that you often forget you’re behind the wheel of such a big car.
Not that the 5 Series is without faults. All Touring models come with self-levelling rear suspension to counteract the effect of heavy loads, and this can make the ride fidgety on patchy surfaces. Small steering adjustments are often needed on the motorway, too.
This isn’t an issue in the V70, because there’s more slack around the dead-ahead position. However, you get little feedback through the wheel, so it can be hard to place the car accurately on minor roads. The V70 feels floaty over dips and crests, yet abrupt bumps can send shudders through the cabin.
The Audi can’t match the agility of the BMW, but it grips well and there’s little body roll. The steering could do with more weight at higher speeds, but this makes town manoeuvres effortless, while its ride is the most settled here.
WHAT ARE THEY LIKE INSIDE?
SPEND AROUND £30K on an estate and you expect lots of space for carrying people and their stuff, plus premium cabin quality.
The Audi gets off to a great start. Close the door – thwump – and you’ll think the A6 is built to outlast you. Everything from the lower-dash plastics to the steering column stalks radiate quality. Add the simple, clear controls and the Audi’s cabin is a pleasure to spend time in. Not even the splashes of silver trim can stop it all being a bit soulless, though.
That’s not something you could say about the BMW’s interior. True, the high-sided dashboard and the riot of sharp angles aren’t to all tastes, but the quality of the materials is a match for the Audi’s. The major controls are easy to use, even if the iDrive multi-function controller isn’t as intuitive as Audi’s MMI version.
The Volvo sticks to a traditional – and very logical – layout, although the cabin is not as classy as the Audi’s or BMW’s.
You might not be totally comfortable with the Volvo’s driving position, though. There’s plenty of adjustment to the seat and steering wheel, but the seat base doesn’t go down far enough for taller drivers. The Audi and BMW offer greater adjustment, plus more space up front.
What about your rear-seat passengers? Two adults will be comfortable in all three cars, although they’ll have most space in the BMW. The Volvo has least rear headroom, but counters with particularly comfortable rear seats. It also has the option of in-built child seat boosters that can be set at two heights.
Being estates, a big, practical boot is vital, and here they’re all closely matched. The Audi has the longest boot (which it needs because its rakish tailgate eats into the load area), the Volvo the biggest and the BMW the lowest loading height. The BMW also offers a separately opening tailgate glass and a two-layer under-floor storage area (the others make do with a single layer).
If you need to move bigger objects, the Audi offers the most space with the rear seats folded. Still, the Volvo’s rear seats fold totally flat, unlike those of the others.
WILL THEY BREAK THE BANK?
LETS GET TO the nitty gritty. If you’re planning to run one of these as a company car, the A6 imposes the lowest tax bills. A higher-rate payer will have to pay the Treasury £236 a month, while the 5 Series comes in at £272 and the V70, £301.
Over a year, this adds up to a whopping £780 difference between the A6 and V70, but don’t be surprised if the Volvo is your fleet manager’s favourite.
What about other bills? Well the A6 should cost you 57.4 pence per mile – 1.5p less than the
5 Series. The V70, on the other hand, will cost 76.2p. It is the most powerful car here, but a near-20p difference is still hard to justify.
The Audi is making a strong financial case for itself so far, then, and private buyers will also be tempted because of its comparatively low list price. Things aren’t as clear-cut as they first appear, though.
Our Real Cost service, which factors in everything from discounts to running costs to depreciation, shows that there’s almost nothing between the A6 and 5 Series over a typical ownership period – thanks to the BMW’s strong residuals and low servicing bills.
A Real Cost figure for the V70 isn’t available yet, but it’s a safe bet it will be a more expensive ownership prospect than its German counterparts, due to high servicing bills and relatively poor fuel economy. It should have the strongest retained values, though.
Whichever car you choose, standard equipment includes alloy wheels, cruise control, climate control and stability control. The Audi misses out on an MP3-player connection and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, though, while only the 5 Series comes with parking sensors.
Satellite-navigation will be a popular option, and it’ll cost you a whopping £1850 to have it specified on the V70. That’s £600 more than either the A6 or 5 Series. Leather upholstery will also be a common addition, and this bumps up the Volvo’s price by £1200. Audi charges £1250 and BMW asks £1315.
WHATCAR? VERDICT
CHOOSING BETWEEN THE A6 Avant and 5 Series Touring is tougher than ever at this end of the market, but for us, the BMW just edges it.
It’s more than roomy enough to carry four adults and their holiday luggage, yet you never feel like you’re driving such a big car thanks to the composed handling and responsive steering.
The 5 Series also leaves you feeling fresh at the end of a long journey because it’s impressively refined and, while the ride can be fidgety over patchy surfaces, it’s smooth on the motorway.
Still, as good as the BMW is, you wouldn’t be making a mistake by opting for the Audi. It’s beautifully made, has a huge boot and strikes a fine balance between comfort and control.
The A6 also attracts the lowest company car tax bills of our trio. However, the engine lets the side down because it struggles to cope with the car’s bulk and sounds coarse. As a result, the Audi has to settle for second place.
The V70 isn’t without its strengths, most notably performance and practicality. Unfortunately the boomy engine, clattery ride and numb steering make it hard work on a long drive. The Volvo is also the most expensive car to run, so it can only finish third.
1st - BMW 5 Series Touring
FOR Refined cruiser; sharp drive; ample space; quality cabin; affordable costs
AGAINST Ride can be fidgety; iDrive is overly complex; short on cabin storage
VERDICT As much space as you’re likely to need, plus it’s the quietest car here and the best to drive. Makes sense as both a company and private buy.
2nd - Audi A6 Avant
FOR Lowest tax bills; plush interior; biggest boot; good ride and handling
AGAINST Rough engine; least kit; raked rear screen makes boot less usable
VERDICT Only the engine lets it down
3rd - Volvo V70
FOR Strongest engine; well shaped boot; simple dash; comfortable seats
AGAINST Worst ride; numb steering; noisy suspension; expensive to run
VERDICT; Weak in too many areas