BMW has revised its highly successful 5 Series line-up and there is a new entry level model that costs less than £30,000.

The sixth generation of the popular business driver's car has a number of cosmetic changes to give their sporting character a sharper edge.

These tweaks include a revised grille, a restructured lower air intake, the introduction of xenon lights as standard, indicators integrated into the side mirrors, LED headlights on some models and a redefined rear bumper.

There is a new chassis to improve the ride quality on poor surfaces and the designers have worked hard to maximise the aerodynamics and minimise the acoustics all resulting in a more comfortable and quieter journey.

All models are also more fuel efficient than the outgoing car.

Available as a Saloon, Touring or Gran Turismo, the car is supplied in a choice of grades - SE, Modern, Luxury and M Sport and as is typical with most premium cars these days, there is a host of optional extras and packages available to personalise the cars.

We tried out a couple of 5 Series models at opposite ends of the scale and both impressed immensely.

First up was the new 518d SE Saloon with a starting price of £29,830. This model can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.7 seconds and tops out at 132mph. According to BMW it can achieve combined fuel efficiency of 62.8mpg and has carbon emissions of 119g/km.

The first factor of note is how well equipped the car is. Even the basic SE model is feature rich with plenty of built-in technology as standard.

Admittedly, the test car featured a number of optional extras which added £6,500 to the price, but even without those options the car still impresses.

There is a real sense of quality to the interior with its soft-touch dashboard, black Dakota leather upholstery, sports seats and sports steering wheel along with all the multi-media infotainment you could wish for to keep you connected on the move.

The handling is excellent and after a route incorporating busy village streets and faster country lanes, it was hard to believe this was the entry level model.

The road-holding and cornering proved exceptional and acceleration also impressed through the six-speed manual transmission. All-round visibility is excellent and the comfort levels also good.

There is a choice of driving modes to suit your requirements along with auto stop/start to help conserve fuel.

The 5 Series saloon boasts a massive boot with 60:40 split folding rear seats to increase storage capacity if necessary plus there's plenty of handy storage options scattered throughout the cabin.

Next up was the 535d M Sport Touring model priced at £50,405 plus £15.2k of optional extras. It soars to 62mph in just 5.4 seconds and has a top speed that is limited to 155mph. Combined fuel efficiency is 49.6mpg and CO2 is 149g/km.

If it's sheer luxury, gadgets and blistering pace that tops the wish-list, this could be the perfect 5 Series model on offer.

With creature comforts galore, including a double sunroof, head-up display, Internet connectivity and a larger-than-life infotainment screen, the M Sport's interior resembles a flight deck.

That said it is all very user-friendly and all dials, controls and read-outs are very clear.

The automatic transmission is ultra-smooth and the dynamics can be altered by changing the driving mode. There are also steering wheel mounted paddles if you want to change gears manually.

Throughout the car there are subtle reminders that it is a little bit special such as the letter M on the steering wheel and door plates.

This is certainly the model for thrill seekers, but still boasts good all-round economy along the way.

BMW has a proven track record with more than a million 5 Series saloon sales in the past three years.

These new models are sure to increase the company's already high profile even further.