BMW 5 Series

It's not an overstatement to say the BMW 5 Series has set the standard for premium sport sedans — and wagons, too, when they're available — since it was introduced to the United States market in 1972. Since then, the midsize 5 Series has offered a near-perfect blend of performance, luxury and interior room.

Unless you live in inclement parts of the U.S., most BMW 5 Series cars you'll come across have rear-wheel drive; however, all-wheel drive (BMW's xDrive) has been optional in recent years. Traditionally, the 5 Series featured an inline six-cylinder gasoline engine, but BMW has offered four-cylinder and V8 variants in the recent past. Turbocharging has played a big part in the 5 Series engine lineup in newer cars, and the current generation is solely powered by turbocharged engines that offer both fuel efficiency and zippy acceleration. When people ask us to recommend midsize luxury sedans, BMW's 5 Series is invariably high on the list, new or used. Many will gravitate toward newer models loaded with technology, but older 5 Series cars are even more satisfying to drive.