The 5 Series’ interior demonstrates just how well BMW can put a cabin together. Even on pre-facelift examples, no holes can really be poked in the build quality inside the German saloon, and the calibre of the materials used is absolutely top notch. The 5 Series also offers more legroom than either of its competitors in this test, while its infotainment is the best by a fair margin. At 530 litres, the boot space is perfectly adequate for a model in this class, and only trails the XF’s 540-litre capacity slightly.
Volvo S90 – the comfortable choice
For: Most comfortable car on test, strong interior quality
Against: So-so handling and slight lack of boot space
Advertisement – Article continues below
Even when fitted with a powerful engine, the Volvo S90 feels much more set up for comfort than an exciting drive. That’s by no means a bad thing, and may suit you better than the sporting credentials offered by its rivals here.
It rides superbly and is very refined, while grip is plentiful and the four-wheel-drive system inspires confidence. But pressing on in the S90 reveals light steering without much communication, while body roll is relatively prominent. We saw a 63,000-mile, 16-plate D5 PowerPulse in Inscription trim for around £18,500.
Like the 5 Series, the S90 benefits from a fantastic- quality interior, with a well laid-out dashboard, too.A particular strong point with the Swedish saloon are the front seats, which are incredibly comfortable. This trait, together with the softer suspension set-up, makes the Volvo a very relaxing car to drive over long distances. Rear legroom is decent, if a shade down on the 5 Series’, while the Volvo’s infotainment set-up is better than the Jaguar’s system, but not as good as that in the BMW. The boot capacity stands at 500 litres, which isn’t a bad volume, but still places the S90 third in this area here.
Did you know you can buy a used car with Auto Express? Choose from tens of thousands of cars with trusted dealers around the UK. Click here to buy used with Auto Express now…