You'd have expected the BMW 5 Series to have been toppled from its throne in the executive sector by now. Yet it continues to rule the roost - the more so with the introduction of the latest generation version. And that styling? Well, it's growing on me, I have to say. Burkhard Goschel, the Munich company's head of research and development said that "the days of lookalike BMWs are over. from now on each volume model will display its own unmistakable personality." I wouldn't argue with him on that one. This is in contrast to Audi and Mercedes whose models appear increasingly homogeneous. Though it's all a bit teutonic for me, I can't help being attracted by its continuing blend of speed, handling and sheer quality.

As usual with 5 Series models, there's a two-way choice of bodystyles - saloon and 'Touring' estate. Measuring 4.48m in length, the 535d 5 Series Touring model I tried is a good deal longer than the car it replaced as well as marginally wider and higher. There's 3cm more shoulder room and 4.5cms of additional rear passenger knee room as a result with increased headroom for all occupants. What's more, load capacity has been raised to 535 litres with the 60/40 split folding rear seats in place and a hefty 1,650 litres with the seats folded down - an increase of 125 litres over the old car. The latest model features a split bootlid with the rear window opening separately for the easy loading of small items. Customers can also opt for a fully automatic tailgate operation with a press on the key fob opening the hatch and simultaneously retracting the boot load cover. Neat. There's a lockable floor panel that conceals a 35-litre area for the spare wheel and tyre, but if run-flat tyres are chosen, this is converted to additional storage space for valuables. I liked the little touches too. The way for example, that there's no need to move the seat cushion, lift out the rear head restraints or fiddle with the rear seatbelts when folding down the rear seat. The way that the retractable luggage cover slots in behind the front seats when you're not using it. And of course that natty back screen, which opens separately, so that you can throw in a coat or a sports bag without lifting the rear tailgate. The tailgate itself is easy to use too; when closing, you can let it fall gently onto the latch and watch an electric motor click it into place. One clever option is a rear floor which slides two feet out of the car on beautifully engineered roller bearings, takes up to 170lbs of cargo, then slides in again.

The controversial iDrive control system is carried into this car from the larger 7 Series. However, this version is notably easier to use than the 7-series system and is backed up by more conventional knobs and switches on the fascia. There are also programmable favourites buttons to make key features more accessible. The fiddly electronic handbrake system used by its big brother has also been replaced, in this instance by a conventional manual one. A wide range of engines are available in the mainstream line up, the 190bhp 523i, the 218bhp 525i, the 272bhp 530i, the 306bhp 540i and the 367bhp 550i. Then there's the 177bhp 520d, the 197bhp 525d, the 235bhp 530d and the 286bhp 535d. That only leaves the mind-boggling M5 with its 507bhp V10 engine. Read the figures and weep in abject terror - 520Nm of torque, 0-62mph in 4.7s, 0-124mph in 15s and a derestricted 205mph top speed. That is some car. In the 535d I was driving, sixty is just 6.4s away en route to a maximum of around 155mph. Yet fuel consumption is excellent (expect to average around 35mpg). These are figures good enough to make you wonder why people pay the considerable premium to own the larger-petrol engined variants. Each to his own company bank account.

The 5 Series will always find room in my drive. The price tag is self-indulgent, yes, but you get what you pay for. It was ever thus.