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BMW 5 Series Touring vs VW Golf Variant comparison

Compare performance (727 HP vs 204 HP), boot space and price (53,100 £ vs 28,800 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – BMW 5 Series Touring or VW Golf Variant?

BMW 5 Series Touring vs VW Golf Variant: Key differences

BMW 5 Series Touring

  • considerably more power
  • considerably more efficient
  • considerably quicker 0–100 km/h
details

VW Golf Variant

  • considerably cheaper
  • visibly lighter
  • marginally more trunk space
details

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

5 Series Touring

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

VW Golf Variant is considerably cheaper – starting at 28,800 £ , while the BMW 5 Series Touring costs 53,100 £ . That’s a price difference of around 24,295 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the BMW 5 Series Touring uses 2.3 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the VW Golf Variant with 4.3 L/100km. The difference is about 2 L/100km.

Golf Variant

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the BMW 5 Series Touring offers considerably more power – delivering 727 HP compared to 204 HP. That’s roughly 523 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the BMW 5 Series Touring is considerably quicker – completing the sprint in 3.6 s, while the VW Golf Variant takes 6.5 s. That’s about 2.9 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the BMW 5 Series Touring delivers clearly more torque with 1,000 Nm compared to 360 Nm. That’s about 640 Nm more.

5 Series Touring

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, VW Golf Variant is visibly lighter – 1,366 kg compared to 1,850 kg. The difference is around 484 kg.

Looking at boot space, the VW Golf Variant offers marginally more boot space – 611 L compared to 570 L. That’s a difference of about 41 L.

When it comes to payload, the BMW 5 Series Touring carries slightly more – 620 kg compared to 547 kg. That’s a difference of about 73 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The BMW 5 Series Touring is clearly superior overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £53,100
5 Series Touring

BMW 5 Series Touring

  • Engine Type Diesel MHEV, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 197 - 727 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 2.3 - 6.1 L/100km
  • Electric Range 65 - 98 km
details

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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 5 Series Touring takes executive elegance and stretches it into a practical estate, marrying refined interior comfort with everyday usability. It drives with reassuring poise, offers plenty of space for luggage or a small life's worth of gear, and somehow manages to look sharper than most saloons in the car park — a compelling choice if you want luxury without surrendering practicality.

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Reviews BMW 5 Series Touring

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

VW Golf Variant

The Golf Estate packs Volkswagen's familiar poise into a practical, grown-up estate that quietly makes everyday life easier without shouting for attention. It's clever, comfortable and roomy enough for weekend kit or family chaos, offering smart packaging and refined manners that make it a sensible and surprisingly stylish choice for buyers who need space but don't want a van.

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Reviews VW Golf Variant

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Costs and Consumption
Price
53,100 - 126,200 £
Price
28,800 - 38,800 £
Consumption L/100km
2.3 - 6.1 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.3 - 7 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
65 - 98 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
53 - 157 g/km
co2
114 - 159 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Estate
Body Type
Estate
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,850 - 2,550 kg
Curb weight
1,366 - 1,551 kg
Trunk capacity
500 - 570 L
Trunk capacity
611 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,900 - 1,970 mm
Width
1,789 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
500 - 620 kg
Payload
509 - 547 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Diesel MHEV, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
197 - 727 HP
Power HP
116 - 204 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.6 - 7.5 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
6.5 - 10.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
330 - 1,000 Nm
Torque
220 - 360 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
145 - 535 kW
Power kW
85 - 150 kW
Engine capacity
1,995 - 4,395 cm3
Engine capacity
1,498 - 1,984 cm3

General
Model Year
2,024 - 2,026
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
E, F, B, C
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, C
Brand
BMW
Brand
VW
What drive types are available for the BMW 5 Series Touring?

The BMW 5 Series Touring is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.