It’s not the same old beast we used to know. The gruff and sturdy persona has become gentle and sweet. It feels as fluffy and delightful as cotton candy. I drove the 8th generation 5 Series from the BMW Driving Center in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, to Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, over a span of 65 km.

The 5 Series was born in 1972. It has evolved through eight generations over 50 years, becoming a core model that can be described as quintessentially BMW. Remarkably, the 8th generation 5 Series was unveiled in South Korea. This is significant since the heart of BMW, the 5 Series, was launched not in Germany or the United States, but in South Korea.

The massive kidney grille and the wide-eyed headlights at the front now unmistakably announce that it’s a BMW even from afar. Compared to the intense look of the previous generation, the face has softened considerably.

With dimensions of 5,060 x 1,900 x 1,515 mm, it has significantly grown in size compared to the previous model (4,965 x 1,870 x 1,480 mm). The wheelbase has also increased by 20 mm, from 2,975 mm to 2,995 mm. Even after sitting in the second row, there is enough space for more than two fists in front of the knees. Above the head, there’s enough room for a fist and a flat hand laid down. The center tunnel rises up to the wrist level.

Inside the driver’s seat, many changes have occurred compared to the previous model. All physical buttons have been eliminated. Even the hazard lights and air vent functions have been replaced with haptic buttons. A 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 14.9-inch center display have been combined into a curved display. This curved display wraps around the driver, enhancing their focus on driving.

The head-up display integrates navigation, providing directions and information about highway tollgates and speed traps. It offers smarter navigation than any smartphone app.

Below the curved display, an interaction bar stretches from the driver’s door to the passenger’s door. The interaction bar interacts with the car. When passing through tunnels, it emits a subtle color that doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view, and during mode changes or speeding, it radiates a red light, showcasing its cleverness in communicating with the passengers. Underneath the interaction bar, there is a wireless charging pad that can charge two smartphones simultaneously.

The new 5 Series has evolved beyond mere automotive capabilities into mobility. You can watch YouTube through the display, and it features a newly introduced video app that allows for streaming content. Collaborating with the air console gaming platform, you can play games on your smartphone while the vehicle is parked. During long family trips, smartphones can take a break, allowing everyone to enjoy various in-car content.

It comes with a 2.0-liter twin power turbo gasoline engine producing 258 horsepower at 4,700 rpm and a maximum torque of 40.8 kg.m from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. An additional 11 horsepower from a 48-volt mild hybrid system enhances its output.

The lock-to-lock steering response is 2.6 turns. The steering response is not heavy and feels quite light. At 100 km/h, road noise and vibrations remain subdued and smooth, presenting a driving feel that is as sweet as cotton candy, demonstrating that “silky driving” is indeed a reality with the 5 Series.

I switched from the individual mode to the sports driving mode. The once bouncy steering becomes a bit heavier, and the engine’s sound, which was like a baby’s breath, awakens and begins to cry. Even at higher speeds, the road noise and vibrations remain asleep, while wind noise tickles the ears. It feels like listening to jazz music alone in the living room on a stormy day.

BMW’s driving assistance system is intelligent. The adaptive cruise control adjusts its speed according to the flow of traffic, graciously letting pushy drivers cut in ahead. The lane-keeping assist system is applied, and when making sharp turns, it intervenes to guide the car back to the center of the lane in case of a mistake.

The new 5 Series approaches us like a suave and charming male lead from a drama. Its appearance is beyond expectations, and this time, the 5 Series is sure to play its role as BMW’s trusted companion to perfection.

The test vehicle is the BMW 530i xDrive, with a price of 84.2 million won.

Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr