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In truth, there's little to separate the BMW from the Audi, but our expert panel couldn't overlook the fine-driving 5-Series this year. The car was mildly reworked last month, yet its looks have barely changed, so early models don't appear dated. Prices start from £16,000 for an entry-level 03-registration 520i with around 40,000 miles on the clock.
There's a huge choice of petrol engines - however, the excellent diesels hold more appeal, and the torquey 177bhp 525d offers decent performance as well as 42mpg potential. Budget £20,000 for an early 04-plate example that's covered about 35,000 miles. Performance fans can have their cake and eat it, too, because above the 530d sits the 272bhp 3.0-litre 535d. It covers 0-60mph in only 6.6 seconds, yet returns 35mpg. Prices start at around £25,000. Any automatic 5-Series typically fetches £1,500 more than a manual example, and you can add the same amount to step up from SE to Sport trim.
When it comes to downsides, the intimidating iDrive control system is an obvious place to start. It will initially confuse and frustrate you, but getting the hang of the set-up doesn't take long, so don't be put off.
The big petrol powerplants are smooth and can initially look like bargains - until you experience their thirst for fuel and high CO2 emissions. If you must have one, the V10-engined M5 is worth a mention. With 507bhp, the five-seat saloon is capable of 0-62mph in an astonishing 4.7 seconds, although you'll need at least £50,000 to get behind the wheel. And expect to pay £300 for the VED.
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