- 2010
2009 BMW 5-Series Wagon
BMW 5-Series Wagon - What the Auto Press Says
The 5-Series Wagon combines strong power and excellent handling with a comfy cabin and large cargo hold, but its complicated iDrive system hampers usability.
Refreshed in 2008, the BMW 535i xDrive Sports Wagon (5-Series wagon) carries into the 2009 model-year virtually unchanged. Station-wagon stigma aside, the 5-Series meshes luxury with utility to create a practical alternative to the SUV. Best of all, its powerful engine and superb handling capabilities give this family car a sporty edge. "The BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon may be the best of all possible worlds: the functional capacity of a sports utility, the comfort and luxury of one of the most highly-reated sedans in the world, all-wheel drive for safety on wet and icy roads, the handling of a sports sedan, and power from the 2008 535 twin-turbo engine, the best engine in the BMW line-up," writes Left Lane News. Still, drivers seeking easy-to-use, intuitive controls will be turned off by BMW's complicated iDrive system.
If you like the 5-Series Wagon, but economic woes have you strapped for cash, consider the BMW 3-Series Wagon. It too utilizes BMW's complicated iDrive system, but otherwise provides many of the same benefits as the 5-Series -- namely superb handling. Shoppers, however, should note that some reviewers find the 3-Series' backseat a bit cramped.
The 2009 BMW 535i xDrive Sports Wagon features a 300-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine, as well as a standard all-wheel drive system.
- "The BMW 5 Series Wagon delivers an appealing blend of practical attributes with sports-car-like performance and handling." -- Forbes
- "If you aren't overly swayed by the BMW badge, the bold styling or the renowned driving feel, you might find it harder to live with the driver's awkward cupholder, the improving but still arduous iDrive central control system or the significant price premium when compared to competitors like the Infiniti M." -- Kelley Blue Book
5-Series Wagon Performance - NA
Test drivers praise the 5-Series' combination of power and excellent handling. "The wagon excels at carrying people and cargo while being easier to maneuver and much easier to park than a minivan, sport-utility and some crossovers," writes the Chicago Tribune. BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system is standard on the 2009 5-Series wagon. Read More
5-Series Wagon Exterior - NA
Auto writers like the 5-Series wagon's exterior design. In fact, the New York Times believes the 5-Series out flairs the Mercedes E-Class wagon. Read More
5-Series Wagon Interior - NA
Though critics like the 5-Series wagon's comfortable seats and quality fit and finish, most take issue with its complicated iDrive multi-media management system. "The 5's standard iDrive electronics interface remains needlessly complicated, particularly for ordinarily simple tasks like going from one stereo mode to another, and its display screen is responsible for the unsightly hump in the center of the dashboard," writes Edmunds. Still, auto writers are pleased with the 5-Series wagon's large cargo hold. Read More
5-Series Wagon Safety - NA
Not only does the 2009 5-Series wagon perform well in federal government and insurance industry crash tests, but it come equipped with a long list of active and passive safety technology -- including BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. Read More
5-Series Wagon Reliability - NA
The '09 5-Series wagon carries a four-year/50,000 mile limited warranty. Read More
