BMW 528i M Sport: For the demanding driver

While the 520i is likely to make up the bulk of 5 Series sales this year, the 528i, kitted in M Sport trim as standard, will serve the needs of buyers with more demanding tastes.

Here, the same 2.0-litre engine from the 520i replaces the previous 3.0-litre inline-six mill, but tuned to higher outputs of 245hp and 350Nm — easily class-leading figures amongst the competition.

Certainly, its performance figures are nothing to be scoffed at, not when it demolishes the century sprint in 6.3 seconds — highly impressive when you consider that the RM200k dearer 535i does it in 6.1 seconds.

By the way, this figure also represents a 0.4-second improvement from the previous six-cylinder 528i.

The ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission is once again standard in the 528i, and it comes along with the same raft of EfficientDynamics fuel-saving goodies like the 520i.

As a result, the 528i’s fuel consumption is pretty close to its smaller sibling — 6.8 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, down from 8.0 litres per 100km of the predecessor, which was also the same figure quoted by BMW for the old 523i.

Like the 520i, our 528i test car in Spain was a Touring unit, and adding further differentiation to our local-spec 528i is that it was running on standard suspension, so our ultimate evaluation of its ride and handling attributes will have to wait until BMW Group Malaysia sends us a test car with the stiffer M Sport setup.

It would be interesting to see how much of the accomplished ride that we experienced in Spain was sacrificed in the name of handling.

What would not require a second evaluation, however, is the engine. Where the 520i Touring felt just about right in terms of power to weight, the 528i was properly quick, feeling completely effortless in overtaking and giving us almost lag free delivery of power.

We would expect then, our local-spec 528i with a lighter sedan body to be no slower and most definitely no slouch. Aside from the substantial hike in power and trim goodies of the M Sport package, the 528i’s kit count is almost on par with the 520i’s.

Items that a 520i owner would look to in the 528i with envy are restricted to transmission paddle shifts, heads-up display, and possibly the aluminum dashboard trim — items of consequence only for the most discerning of buyers. While the 520i is undoubtedly the value pick between the two new 5 Series variants, the new 528i becomes a compelling option when you consider how much cheaper it is compared to the predecessor while still being identically equipped.

The big question for the buyer becomes how the M Sport package affects its overall ride and handling quality.