2011 BMW 535i
BMW has priced the 2012 528i sedan from $47,575—$1650 more than the 2011 model. For 2012, the BMW 528i’s naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six has been replaced with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four; the hp rating remains the same at 240, but torque increases 20 lb-ft to a total of 260. On the fuel economy front, the 2012 528i is rated at the same 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway as last year’s six-cylinder-powered 528i, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the four-cylinder 5er do better in the real world than its predecessor. A start/stop system may help everyday fuel economy, too. All-wheel drive is now available on the 528i for $2300—the outgoing six-cylinder 528i was sold only as a rear-wheel-drive car—and ZF’s excellent eight-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available.
While we lament the loss of the traditional naturally aspirated BMW inline-six from the 5-series lineup, our brief interludes with the turbo four in the Z4 sDrive28i were positive. We look forward to trying the four in the five.
