"In assembling this review of the new 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon, the seasoned car reviewers at TheCarConnection.com handpicked some of the best critical reviews covering this vehicle to draw a consensus opinion. TheCarConnection.com's editors have also driven the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon to help bring you the most useful information.
The 5-Series is offered in an extensive line of sport-sedan models that is joined by a single Sports Wagon model. The Sports Wagon isn't much different in length than the sedan, but its wagon body style takes better advantage of available space and permits a large, continuous cargo area with the backseats folded.
The 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon model gets BMW's stellar 300-horsepower,
...read more 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and xDrive all-wheel-drive system as its only powertrain, resulting in its nomenclature, 535xiT. There's a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions; the automatic comes with paddle shifters that may be of use in high-performance driving or on mountain roads.
The Sports Wagon has excellent handling and braking, along with a firm but absorbent ride and impressive standards of refinement inside the cabin. Although with all-wheel drive--requisite in the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon--the steering feel isn't quite up to the standards of the rear-wheel-drive (sedan) model.
The front seats in the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon are tremendously firm and supportive, and they're among the best in any luxury vehicle in this price range. Even better are the optional 20-way power Multi-Contour front seats, which include adjustable lateral and lumbar support and an articulated backrest. In back, they're also quite comfortable but a bit less spacious than expected.
Standard-feature content on the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon is as extensive as rival models, but it's the astonishing list of high-technology options that really differentiates the model. They include an active steering system, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps, a head-up display, active cruise control, high-beam assist, front and rear parking aids, infrared-based night vision, a lane-departure warning system, heated rear seats, and a power rear sunshade. BMW's pesky iDrive is standard, and its unintuitive operation blemishes the high-tech fun.
When the federal government tested a 5-Series, it earned a three-star rating in frontal protection for the driver--the lowest mark typically awarded--but five stars in the other dynamic tests. The bad news didn't end there; the insurance-industry-supported IIHS found the 5-Series sedan to be just "marginal" in side protection and "acceptable" for the sedan and wagon in the seat-based rear-impact test. However, there's an enviable list of standard safety features in the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon, including front side airbags, tubular head-protecting airbags for front and rear outboard occupants, and electronic stability control. Rear side airbags are optional."hide
The Bottom Line
"The 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon is a great alternative to an SUV for those who prefer to drive enthusiastically."
Read the full review
