The All-New BMW 5 Series G61 Touring: A Refreshed Take on a Timeless Classic

From a design perspective, there are a few modern BMWs that I didn't particularly care for, such as the two-series Grand Coupe and the BMW XM. However, with the sedan, I thought it was a bit of a mishmash of all the BMW's modern styling cues. The front end, in particular, reminded me of the two-series Grand Coupe – not something I'm a huge fan of. But, with this latest generation, the designers have managed to address some of those design concerns. The rear of the car has been subtly revised, and it now angles down instead of hunching forward, creating a more streamlined look.

Another aspect that caught my attention is the way BMW has spec'd out this car. It's equipped with a M60 package, which includes features like a little M-performance steering wheel poking through the front windshield, typical M mirror caps, and an aggressive front-end design. All of these touches come together to create a really striking-looking car – pretty impressive, if I'm being honest. And, when viewed from the rear, it's a different beast altogether. The broadening of the rear end gives the car a more dynamic appearance.

One aspect that really stood out to me is the rear light unit. It reminds me a lot of the current G21 3-Series Touring, which I think is one of the best-looking BMWs on the market right now. The design is distinctly different from the sedan, and it's clear that BMW has been working hard to create something unique. What's also handy is the abundance of space in the rear – perfect for those who need a bit more room. As someone who owns a G21 M340i, I can attest to the practicality of having a Touring. It's great to have a separate opening rear window, which allows you to pop open and grab something without everything falling out or getting lost.

However, one aspect that did disappoint me is the loss of a feature that I think is an important part of BMW Touring heritage: separately opening rear windows. In all previous generations, including the G31 LCI, every Touring came equipped with this handy feature. You could pop open the window and grab something without worrying about it falling out or getting lost. Unfortunately, BMW has decided to remove this feature in favor of weight reduction – a decision that I think is misguided. Not only does it lack a practical touch, but it also feels like a step backwards for a car that's otherwise so well-specc'd.

As we move into the future, there are some exciting developments on the horizon. The G61 Touring will be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, including the B58 30d and the M550e. This is something that I think BMW has finally got right – offering customers a wide range of engine options in different forms. Gone are the days of limited choices; now, you can get an M5 as a Touring, or the 530 as a Touring – it's exciting to see where this takes us.

When it comes to interior design, there have been some notable changes. One thing that I'm still getting used to is not having the old Comfort Seats from a 7-Series in our G61 Touring. However, I do think that BMW has made strides in terms of overall design cohesion. The interior is now more streamlined and refined, with a focus on creating a cohesive look across the board.

One feature that did stand out to me was the little privacy shade above the rear seat. It's a small touch, but one that I think will be a game-changer for those who own the car. As someone who owns a G21 M340i and has two dogs and two kids, this feature is already proving itself to be invaluable. No more Hello Kitty sun visors; just a practical and useful solution for parents everywhere.

Overall, my first impressions of the all-new BMW 5 Series G61 Touring are overwhelmingly positive. With its refreshed design, impressive specs, and abundance of space, it's shaping up to be one of the best Tourings on the market right now. Whether or not it lives up to the standards set by the G31 LCI will depend on how things unfold, but for now, I'm excited to see where this car takes us.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwhat's up ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the all new BMW 5 series touring now of course the new 5 series The G60 generation I'm not sure how it has been received up until now I think it's uh been a bit of a letdown to be honest we've driven the 520 and the I5 M60 this is a touring and it's different in many ways way it's different it's it's it's more different than with a G30 and a g31 the predecessor of the G60 and this g61 touring the difference is bigger between the two now normally you had the sedan version which was you know a true BMW product very European based European focused and I think that changed with the G60 I think the G60 has been developed for different markets other than Europe and that might have something to do with the amount of touring we buy and love in Europe um so I had little hope that BMW decided to really take them apart and focus the touring for the European market and the San for the other you know Asian American markets I think that's the case I mean if you look at this profile it's a totally different car if you ask me I mean that hip line going all the way to the rear light unit I quite like it actually I think I've regain my hope in this new BMW 5 series generation because of the touring now let me walk you through it let's see what's changed what kind of engines we are going to get what's missing maybe in comparison to the g31 and just let's see how we like it so from a design perspective there have been a few modern BMWs I didn't really care about like the two series Grand coupe the BMW XM and some others but uh with the sedan I thought it was sort of a mixture of all the BMW modern BMWs I didn't like so especially the front for me was so two series Grand Coupe I I really didn't like that but with this hip line you don't have to droy front anymore because the rear sort of has been risen so it's like angling down instead of having a bit of a hunchback and you know leaning forward what also helps is that they spec this car really really well it's a fire rep metallic without privacy glass and it's an M60 now you have that Little M performance steering wheel poking through the front windshield those typical M mirror caps and it's a little more aggressive styling wise in the front because of the M60 pack um and in total I think it's a really really striking looking thing pretty impressive and looking at it from the rear it is a different different car broadening the car instead of you know going down a bit with the sedan has such a weird line going back but what I also really like is the rear light unit this really reminds me of the g21 current three series touring which I think uh is the best looking BMW nowadays it really is something completely different compared to the sedan um what's also really handy is that you have loads of space in the rear now you know I own a g21 m340i uh because I also own two dogs and two kids and for me having a touring is is super super handy you know you just throw them in close it up everyone's comfortable and it is just such a practical experience and for me that is Pinnacle BMW I do hate the fact that they have lost a little bit of the BMW touring pedigree a separately opening rear window um so you always have like a button underneath here the g21 has it the g31 has it every touring has it and you can just pop open the rear window and you know just grab something without everything falling out or just push something in you know give your dogs a treat without them running loose stuff like that and I think it's part of the pedigree of a BMW Touring that feature they've ditched it which I think is a true shame and you know why because of weight reduction they wanted the I5 touring to be as light as possible so yes they have succeeded at that saving like 200 g of weight of two hinches and a hatch why yeah I think that's honestly a shame this is the biggest fattest most powerful I5 you can get the M60 but I don't feel like the floor is higher than it normally is so I think they've done a great job with that and I do hope that it won't change with the plug-in hybrid that's coming the 550e you can also get a 53 30 but the one to have is Al is that b58 plug-in hybrid 550 that is going to be quite an interesting car I think for many markets with the last generation the g31 LCI we could not get a 545e touring they just wouldn't make that car you could only get the four-cylinder hybrid the 530 as a touring so with this generation they're going to do any engine in any shape so you can get an M5 as a touring you can get the 550 as a touring and I really really like that and I feel like tours are really starting to come alive again I mean come on guys let's stop doing stupid Crossovers and SUVs touring they are much more economical better to afford more fun to drive and cooler to look at than your stupid crossover over SUV go and buy a touring # touring everything so in the interior I do have to get used to the fact that you don't get the old Comfort Seats from like a seven Series in a five series anymore but I am starting to get used to the whole design Revolution at BMW and I think in certain specs it does work okayish and I think this is one of those specs but let's have a look at the rear space so that is my seating position and that is really really spacious and you also have what I always really like and you will start to like it once have kids this this sunscreen this little privacy shade really like that no more Hello Kitty sun visor right here in your car that should be good news so guys the allnew BMW 5 series g61 touring let me know what you think of it is it better than the sedan G60 is it a worthy successor to the g31 touring write it all down there thankswhat's up ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the all new BMW 5 series touring now of course the new 5 series The G60 generation I'm not sure how it has been received up until now I think it's uh been a bit of a letdown to be honest we've driven the 520 and the I5 M60 this is a touring and it's different in many ways way it's different it's it's it's more different than with a G30 and a g31 the predecessor of the G60 and this g61 touring the difference is bigger between the two now normally you had the sedan version which was you know a true BMW product very European based European focused and I think that changed with the G60 I think the G60 has been developed for different markets other than Europe and that might have something to do with the amount of touring we buy and love in Europe um so I had little hope that BMW decided to really take them apart and focus the touring for the European market and the San for the other you know Asian American markets I think that's the case I mean if you look at this profile it's a totally different car if you ask me I mean that hip line going all the way to the rear light unit I quite like it actually I think I've regain my hope in this new BMW 5 series generation because of the touring now let me walk you through it let's see what's changed what kind of engines we are going to get what's missing maybe in comparison to the g31 and just let's see how we like it so from a design perspective there have been a few modern BMWs I didn't really care about like the two series Grand coupe the BMW XM and some others but uh with the sedan I thought it was sort of a mixture of all the BMW modern BMWs I didn't like so especially the front for me was so two series Grand Coupe I I really didn't like that but with this hip line you don't have to droy front anymore because the rear sort of has been risen so it's like angling down instead of having a bit of a hunchback and you know leaning forward what also helps is that they spec this car really really well it's a fire rep metallic without privacy glass and it's an M60 now you have that Little M performance steering wheel poking through the front windshield those typical M mirror caps and it's a little more aggressive styling wise in the front because of the M60 pack um and in total I think it's a really really striking looking thing pretty impressive and looking at it from the rear it is a different different car broadening the car instead of you know going down a bit with the sedan has such a weird line going back but what I also really like is the rear light unit this really reminds me of the g21 current three series touring which I think uh is the best looking BMW nowadays it really is something completely different compared to the sedan um what's also really handy is that you have loads of space in the rear now you know I own a g21 m340i uh because I also own two dogs and two kids and for me having a touring is is super super handy you know you just throw them in close it up everyone's comfortable and it is just such a practical experience and for me that is Pinnacle BMW I do hate the fact that they have lost a little bit of the BMW touring pedigree a separately opening rear window um so you always have like a button underneath here the g21 has it the g31 has it every touring has it and you can just pop open the rear window and you know just grab something without everything falling out or just push something in you know give your dogs a treat without them running loose stuff like that and I think it's part of the pedigree of a BMW Touring that feature they've ditched it which I think is a true shame and you know why because of weight reduction they wanted the I5 touring to be as light as possible so yes they have succeeded at that saving like 200 g of weight of two hinches and a hatch why yeah I think that's honestly a shame this is the biggest fattest most powerful I5 you can get the M60 but I don't feel like the floor is higher than it normally is so I think they've done a great job with that and I do hope that it won't change with the plug-in hybrid that's coming the 550e you can also get a 53 30 but the one to have is Al is that b58 plug-in hybrid 550 that is going to be quite an interesting car I think for many markets with the last generation the g31 LCI we could not get a 545e touring they just wouldn't make that car you could only get the four-cylinder hybrid the 530 as a touring so with this generation they're going to do any engine in any shape so you can get an M5 as a touring you can get the 550 as a touring and I really really like that and I feel like tours are really starting to come alive again I mean come on guys let's stop doing stupid Crossovers and SUVs touring they are much more economical better to afford more fun to drive and cooler to look at than your stupid crossover over SUV go and buy a touring # touring everything so in the interior I do have to get used to the fact that you don't get the old Comfort Seats from like a seven Series in a five series anymore but I am starting to get used to the whole design Revolution at BMW and I think in certain specs it does work okayish and I think this is one of those specs but let's have a look at the rear space so that is my seating position and that is really really spacious and you also have what I always really like and you will start to like it once have kids this this sunscreen this little privacy shade really like that no more Hello Kitty sun visor right here in your car that should be good news so guys the allnew BMW 5 series g61 touring let me know what you think of it is it better than the sedan G60 is it a worthy successor to the g31 touring write it all down there thanks\n"