Comfortable and dynamic

The new BMW 5 series saloon truly lives up to the hype, writes Mai Al Khatib, when it comes to excitement, divine comfort and the utter joy of driving. She joined a team of journalists at the Royal Golf Club to put the vehicle to the test and to try out the helpful park assist technology, a must for manoeuvring around the car parks of the kingdom's malls.

After a briefing on how best to handle the vehicle, the BMW representatives escorted the group to five shiny models parked outside for a trek to the Bahrain International Circuit.

I first stepped into a BMW523i and was told that I would get the chance to experience its full capabilities - and that of the other BMW models - on an obstacle course. I couldn't wait to really put these cars to the test.

The course was set up in one of BIC's parking lots. Orange and blue cones were laid out to guide the test drivers through quick breaks, tight curves and the part which I really enjoyed, a section to experience torque and speed followed by braking.

I turned to my passenger and said: 'I like speed, so you have been warned.'

After taking a few rounds around the course, swerving past the cones and braking at the necessary spots it quickly became apparent that the BMW aerodynamics were keeping me safe and on the right path.

Fast, furious fun but what happens when it's time to cool down the pace and park up for a coffee?

That's when the BMW 'ConnectedDrive' system comes into play. When parking, for example, even tight spaces become a problem of the past. The optional park assistant measures the size of the parking spot and automatically steers the car into it, at the press of a button. All you have to do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals.

The surround view option is also a technological breakthrough. It helps you see what you need to see when things get tight.

Of all the models I drove there were clear interior design features which unite the BMW family. These are uncluttered, elegant surfaces and neatly arranged controls at home within high-class materials finished with divine workmanship.

It's not just aesthetically pleasing it is also functional. Every control and display is angled towards the driver and located in just the place where you would want it to be - allowing you to focus all your attention on the road ahead of you.

If you cast your eyes a little towards the centre console, your gaze falls on the perfectly integrated display of the optional navigation system. On the other side, integrated in the exterior mirror, the optional lane change warning system features an indicator warning you of any vehicles in your blind spot, a feature highlighted with much acclaim in a recent car review in this newspaper.

In fact there's a lot of amazing options available. There's optional zone automatic air conditioning, allowing passengers to choose individual air conditioning settings and even a rear-seat entertainment system, comprising of two monitors, a separate DVD drive and easy-to-use controls to ensure the children in the back never have to argue over what movie to watch!

My overall impression: the new BMW 5 series will captivate any driver and impress any passenger. It's a great drive that's both comfortable and dynamic.