What is the best BMW saloon car?
BMW has a range of impressive saloon cars that are practical and premium – but which is best for you?
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BMW has a long list of cars available, and one of the widest selections of saloons of any manufacturer.
Whether you’re after a small runaround, a luxurious model or even something lightning-fast, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Keep reading to learn more about the best new and used BMW saloon models.
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé
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Despite its name, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is a four-door saloon, though it does have a sloping rear roofline to make it look sportier than your average family saloon.
It shares many of its parts with the updated BMW 1 Series, which means it’s one of the company’s front-wheel-drive models.
Petrolheads will tell you this makes it less fun to drive, but most drivers won’t be able to tell the difference.
Besides that, front-wheel-drive helps with fuel economy, which is a strong point of this small saloon.
Most buyers opt for the 218i model, which uses a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine that BMW reckons will do well over 40mpg.
Diesel versions were once available, but BMW only sells petrol models new now.
We’re fond of the performance M235i model. Despite having 306hp, the 2.0-litre petrol engine could see almost 40mpg.
BMW saloon models: is the 2 Series Gran Coupé the best?
Buying a saloon has historically meant you had to settle for a larger car, so the 2 Series Gran Coupé makes for a compelling choice for drivers after a smaller set of wheels. It’s a great alternative to the Audi A3 Saloon.
BMW 3 Series
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Think BMW saloon, and you’ll probably think BMW 3 Series. This is the company’s long-standing saloon model that’s just as popular with family buyers as it is with company car drivers.
It’s also rear-wheel-drive, which can make it feel more engaging and fun, but there are also four-wheel-drive versions available.
Most buyers go for one of the 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engines, but throughout its time on sale, there have been smaller, more efficient engines and larger performance ones.
Diesel power is generally the most common because many 3 Series drivers tend to do a lot of miles. The M340d is very fast, but we think the 320d model is fast enough for most drivers.
Is a 3 Series the most affordable BMW saloon?
The 2 Series Gran Coupé is cheaper to buy new, and the same can be said if you’re looking at nearly-new cars, but the 3 Series has been around much longer.
This means you can find an older model for less money, even opening up your options to higher trim levels or more powerful engines. You really have a lot of choice with the 3 Series.
BMW 5 Series
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The 5 Series is a great option for larger families or drivers looking for more rear-seat and boot space, without it being too large to be impractical in tight car parks.
Like the 3 Series, the 5 Series commonly sells with 2.0-litre engines, and the 190hp 520d is the pick of the bunch.
Because it’s larger and heavier, many buyers choose the more powerful 3.0-litre diesel engine. It’s very smooth and surprisingly efficient.
This, and the 3 Series, is available with a 2.0-litre petrol plug-in hybrid setup, which offers the potential for cheaper motoring.
Avoid the 545e hybrid – unless you’re desperate for speed – because the 3.0-litre petrol engine makes it less efficient.
It’s similar in size to the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6, but it's arguably the sportier-looking of the three.
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Why should I buy a BMW 5 Series saloon?
The 5 Series is a notable step up from the 3 Series and is more luxurious inside. It has more soft-touch materials – including leather, if you like that – and gets more car tech as standard.
BMW 7 Series
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This is the company’s flagship model and goes head-to-head with the Mercedes S-Class. It’s built primarily with passengers in mind, but it’s also great to drive.
Headroom and legroom in the back are great, especially if you go for a long-wheelbase model, which means you’ll have even more legroom.
It’s a heavy car and most models weigh more than two tonnes, so it’s only available with large engines, including the same 3.0-litre diesel found in the 5 Series.
The latest model turns the dial up to 11, even including a large 31-inch 8K fold-down screen for watching films in the back, but these are yet to become readily available on the used car market and cost more than £100,000.
Is the 7 Series the biggest BMW saloon?
The 7 Series is the largest saloon you can get from BMW, and it’s one of the largest saloons you can get from any manufacturer.
It’s a great pick for drivers who want a bit of luxury because you can find plenty of these with top-of-the-range tech for less than a new 3 Series.
BMW M3
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The M3 has an interesting history – it mainly used six-cylinder engines before BMW put a large V8 under the bonnet in 2007.
More recently, the German carmaker has shifted back to six-cylinder engines with a more powerful 3.0-litre unit, producing 510hp in the case of the latest M3 Competition.
It’s not short of competition, and anybody looking for an M3 may also want to consider a Mercedes-AMG C66 S or even a Tesla Model 3 Performance if they’re willing to trade in petrol power for the faint sound of electric motors.
What makes a BMW M3 saloon right for you?
Don’t be fooled, because this is no regular 3 Series. The M3 adds plenty of sporty upgrades including lower suspension, wider bumpers, and sports seats.
It’s incredibly fun to drive and makes the perfect choice for enthusiasts, but you may want to think twice about using this as your daily car.
BMW M5
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Because the M5 is larger and heavier than the M3, it also has a bigger engine – a 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8.
The latest version was introduced in 2018 and uses four-wheel-drive to put down all 625hp, as well as an automatic gearbox.
Inside, it’s a familiar place to anybody who’s been inside a regular 5 Series, but like the M3, it features several sporty upgrades.
Is an M5 the fastest BMW saloon model?
With a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds, it’s significantly quicker than the M3 Saloon, which does the same sprint in 3.9 seconds. Even the slightly cheaper M550i version of the 5 Series can get to 62mph in 3.8 seconds.
Only the M8 is quicker, but at 3.2 seconds, there’s not much in it. For reference, the latest 5 Series introduced in 2023 is also available in electric form, badged i5.
The fastest M60 model reaches 62mph in 3.8 seconds.
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