BMW is big on luxury.

Byline: By Paul Malley

BMW's new 5-series executive car deserves much respect. It has won a host of awards since its launch late last year, and I was very much looking forward to seeing what all the fuss was about.

Seeing what it was all about didn't take long as it really stood out from the crowd in the company car park. This BMW does not have a problem with lack of dimension ( it's gargantuan.

It isn't a big, ugly brute though. Sleek lines combine to produce a very elegant-looking car which you just know will eat the tarmac at an impressive rate.

Such are its proportions, however, that it's a very difficult vehicle to negotiate, especially around tight car parks.

I found this to my cost on a trip to a superstore when I almost found myself wedged on the sloping driveways of a multi-storey car park. Driving in more spacious surroundings, however, is a delight.

The 530i SE has an ultra-smooth ride ( no matter how bumpy or pothole-ridden the surface, the saloon just seemed to be gliding along the road. For such a large car it handled very well and steering was not too heavy.

The automatic gearbox was also very smooth and responsive with more than enough power at your disposal, even mid-range.

The three-litre engine is capable of producing more than 230bhp, making this one super-quick monster. And the stats spell this out with the 0-62mph dash taking a little more than seven seconds and a top speed of 152mph.

It won't come as any surprise but the economy figures aren't fantastic, and nor are the CO2 levels. According to the manufacturer expect to get less than 29mpg combined.

The interior of the 530i SE was very luxurious. Black, grey and chrome effect was the colour scheme of my vehicle and it looked very classy.

This class translated into comfort. The electrically-powered leather seats were a delight and the cabin was very quiet, providing for a very relaxing experience.

For the inexperienced, BMW's control system for the climate, entertainment, navigation and communications systems may seem complicated.

But after a few minutes of twisting and pushing the dial you'll have no problem selecting the function you are after.

As you would expect for such a large car, there is plenty of space both front and back and there's a large boot, too. A very impressive package indeed.

Facts and figures

Make: BMW

Model: 530i SE

Price: pounds 32,750

Mechanical: 231bhp, 2,979cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via 6-spd automatic gearbox

Max speed: 152mph

0-62mph: 7.1 seconds

Combined mpg: 28.5

Insurance group: 17

CO2 emissions: 240g/km

BiK rating: 34%

Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles; 2 years paint; 6 years anti-rust