The mid-size luxury sedan segment in India is a hotly contested one and is currently dominated by three German players.
Mercedes-Benz played their trump card with the LWB E-Class which was accepted widely by the Indian audience and BMW had to do something.
The F10 5-Series was more comfort-biased and that did take out the BMWness from it but now we have the all-new G30 5-Series.
Indian automobile website MotorBeam tells you how good the 530d is!
Starting off with the looks, the 530d is the range-topping 5-Series money can buy (M5 aside!) and boy it looks ravishing.
Resembling the 7-Series more, the 530d M Sport looks eye candy, especially in this Estoril Blue shade.
Everything is similar to the 520d variant which we drove a couple of months ago but there are subtle differences.
The 530d gets an M Sport body kit, wider 275-section rear tyres (the front gets 245-section rubber) and 18-inch M light double spoke alloys with blue brake callipers.
All in all, in our books, the 530d M Sport is the most handsome car in its segment.
Get inside and everything is typical BMW.
The dashboard is slightly tilted towards the driver and the highlights here are the all-digital instrument console and the 10.25-inch iDrive touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Navigation.
Quality of materials are top-notch and this particular variant is loaded with all sorts of creature comforts and gizmos.
You get an M multi-function steering wheel, Nappa leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, Anthracite headliner, full-colour Head-Up display, gesture control, two 10.2-inch rear entertainment screens and ambient lighting.
The icing on the cake and a show stopper of a feature has to be the R/C parking with BMW Display Key feature which lets you take out the vehicle in case you cannot get inside and drive out from the tight parking spot. Bond style!
Both the front and rear seats are comfortable and the rear has decent legroom and shoulder room.
Meanwhile, headroom is ample. The 400-litres boot is large enough to carry your nuclear family's weekend luggage.
The BMW 530d draws its motivation from a 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six diesel engine that produces 265 HP of power and 620 Nm of torque.
The torque curve is flat and is available from as low as 2000 RPM and what that means is that there is hardly any noticeable lag and performance from the motor is brisk.
Acceleration is brutal and the sedan manages to do the 0-100 km/hr sprint in just 5.7 seconds.
Not only performance but the refinement levels are also something that you'll appreciate.
At higher revs, there is a sporty engaging sound and not the ideal diesel clatter.
The oil-burner comes mated to an 8-speed gearbox which is butter smooth and fast in its shifts.
There are paddle shifters offered to make the drive more engaging in case you wish to.
The 530d gets three driving modes - ECOPRO, Sport and Comfort. In terms of fuel efficiency, expect a mileage of around 11-15 km/l.
We are happy to report that in terms of driving dynamics, the G30 5-Series doesn't feel like the F10 and what that means is that the former is indeed a hoot to drive.
The chassis of the Bimmer is extremely capable and though the wheelbase has gone up by 7 mm, the front and rear track have been widened by 5 and 3 mm respectively.
The car feels agile and that's largely due to the 100 kgs weight reduction over its predecessor.
There is quite a bit of body roll but that's negligible.
The steering offers great feel and feedback but feels a tad bit oversized. Ride quality is great, the vehicle feels stable at triple digit speeds and the brakes offer a stupendous bite.
Overall, there's no other car in the segment that comes close the 530d when it comes to matching the ride and handling balance.
In terms of safety, BMW has it covered. The 530d gets multiple airbags, Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control, ABS with Brake Assist and the luxury sedan has also been awarded a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
After sales experience of the German car brand has been a satisfactory experience for most of its customers and that leaves us with no rooms for complaints.
No, BMW hasn't done the same old mistake again and in fact, the German automaker has left no stone unturned with the 530d.
It looks the part, has a luxurious and feature-rich cabin and most importantly drives and handles like a charm without compromising on the fun to drive factor.
To sum it all up, if you're a driving enthusiast and want that broad smile on your face whenever you are behind the wheel, it is a given that you have to break your bank account only for the BMW 530d M Sport.
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