2011 BMW 550i

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For years, my distaste for BMWs has been a running joke on this site. But after a week with the all-new 2011 BMW 550i, I must make a painful admission. Man, this is hard. Okay, here it is...

I like BMWs.

And I love the new 5-series.

For all my preconceived notions about BMWs, it's impossible to ignore that this is one of the best luxury sedans I have ever driven. Why am I changing my tune? Read on.

Larger photos: Front - rear - interior - all photos

Before I tell you why I'm smitten by the 5-series, let me tell you what I look for in a luxury car: I want to be coddled. Sporty is nice, but if I want to go around corners fast, I'll buy a sports car. And that's been one of my problems with BMWs -- they take the whole sporty thing so darn seriously, and often as not, luxury seems to get pushed to the side.

That's not the case with the all-new 5-series, or at least the 550i I tested. Thanks to its adjustable suspension -- a $2,700 option that BMW calls the Dynamic Handling Package -- the 5-series really can be all things to all people. Adjustable suspensions are nothing new, but I've sampled few work as well as the 5's. Put it in Sport mode, and it's as BMWish as a BMW can be. But it was out on the open road that the 5-series really impressed me. With the suspension set to Comfort, the 550i was as quiet, smooth and serene as my previous class favorite, the Mercedes E-Class -- something I absolutely was not expecting.

While the Dynamic Handling Package tipped the scales for me, I'm sure that even without it I'd still love the 5-series, because everything else about the car works so well. The 400 hp turbocharged V8 (Link goes to photo) in my 550i tester had enough power to qualify as a weapon of war, but I know from experience that the six-cylinder engines in the 528i and the 535i aren't exactly slouches. The new bodywork does away with the "Bangle bumps" that made the last 5-series so controversial, and the new duds are handsome, if a bit generic. The front seats are comfortable, the back seats are roomy, and the trunk is generous. I don't have a huge problem with BMW's iDrive system; it's complicated, yes, but once you learn its foibles, it's way more user-friendly than the plethora of buttons you'll find in a Mercedes E or an Audi A6. (Lexus' GS has a more logical control layout, but the big buttons always make me feel like I've stumbled into the large type section of the bookstore.)

If I have one complaint about the 5-series, it's that the interior is virtually identical to every other BMW model. If I were a seasoned BMW owner moving up from a 335i to a 550i, I'd like some sort of reminder as to why I paid an extra $12,000 for the bigger Bimmer.

All in all, though, I can't really come up with any serious complaints about the new 5. Even the price is right: At $45,525, the 528i undercuts the Mercedes E350 and Lexus GS300 by a significant margin, and with an option list as long as your arm, the 5 can be configured for every butt and budget. My well-equipped 550i test car listed for a hefty $70,450, and I can't for the life of me figure out why BMW charges $475 extra for a fold-down rear seat or $1,700 for a proximity key. Still, with all the other optional toys -- premium sunroof, rear-view camera, mega-adjustable front seats -- I think my tester delivered pretty good value-for-money.

I've always seen BMWs as one-trick ponys, but the 550i is the first Bimmer I've seen that really can do it all. No question, this is one of the most impressive luxury cars I've ever driven. If I rated cars with thumbs, I'd grow an extra one so I could give it three thumbs up.

Consider me a BMW convert. -- Aaron Gold

Disclosure: The vehicle for this test drive was supplied by BMW. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.