[Auto] BMW 5 Series vs Audi A6 vs Volvo S90

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Even on larger 20-inch alloy wheels, over most road surfaces other than severe bumps, the 530e is fairly fluid for a PHEV. Often the extra weight of the battery means the suspension has to work harder to control the body and it can affect the wheels’ reactions to imperfections, too, but the BMW manages to (mostly) shrug this off. The A6 is a little smoother on its smaller wheels, but the 530e comfortably has the measure of the S90. You don’t need a stopwatch to tell that it’s slower than its rivals, though. But if you do use one you’ll find that, despite a lower kerbweight, the lack of power means that the 530e takes 5.9 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph; that’s 0.4 seconds slower than the A6 and 0.8 seconds behind the Volvo. However, hybrids like these deliver a strong and quick hit of torque from their electric motors when you tap the throttle, so the BMW still feels more than quick enough. It’s very quiet in EV mode, and when the petrol engine kicks in, it only sounds coarse at higher revs. It’s also much less droney than the Volvo, even if it isn’t as quiet as the Audi. Practicality The battery has to go somewhere. In the 5 Series it’s underneath the back seats and the boot, and this compromises luggage space. So the boot capacity drops from 530 litres in a 520i to 410 litres in this 530e. This is still more than on offer in the A6 TFSI e, however. Inside the 530e there’s masses of space, though, with no compromise compared with ICE versions. It’s the roomiest of the three models, with excellent head and legroom. The A6 runs it very close, while the Volvo feels just a little smaller. Visibility in the BMW is good, and with all-round parking sensors plus a standard reversing camera in M Sport trim, there’s a bit of help to manoeuvre this near-five-metre-long car if you need it. Ownership Features like the sensors and camera help the BMW’s ownership proposition, but it does lack a little safety kit. Advertisement Autonomous braking is included, but if you want more tech you’ll have to go for the pricey £4,995 Technology Plus Pack, which also includes the Driving Assistance Professional kit. This brings adaptive cruise with active lane guidance, front and rear cross-traffic alert, collision warning, lane- departure warning with lane-keep assist, AEB for when you’re reversing, and evasive steering assist. Like all three cars in this test, the 5 Series inherits the five-star Euro NCAP safety rating its predecessor was given back in 2017. Yet owners didn’t rate the German brand’s cars all that highly in our Driver Power 2020 owner satisfaction survey, with BMW finishing 27th out of 30 manufacturers. Running costs It may be partly due to its lower power output and partly down to its lower weight, but the BMW achieved the highest fuel economy, at 33.7mpg. As we’ve mentioned, this is without a full battery charge, which will cost around £1.96 on a home electricity tariff. Of course, if you do lots of short journeys and plug in frequently, you might not use any petrol for months. However, these cars are aimed at business users, so company car tax might be more important. The BMW is the cheapest (all three fall into the same 10 per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax band), so it’ll be a cost-effective company car. The 530e will cost a higher-rate taxpayer £2,139 a year, with the Audi coming in at £2,109 and the Volvo £2,210 a year. Although cheaper, a petrol-powered exec saloon will cost more than £5,300 a year by comparison, showing how much you could save if you’re a business user. Testers’ notes “As part of the facelift, BMW has added another plug-in powertrain to the 5 Series range, the six-cylinder 45e xDrive unit from the X5 SUV and 7 Series saloon. It’s smoother and more powerful, but pricier, too.”