Driving the BMW 5-Series in Tenerife: Our Review

Tenerife is an island of sharp contrasts that demands versatility from any vehicle you choose to drive. Within a single hour, you can transition from baking coastal sunshine to the chilly, thin air of a volcanic plateau. We wanted to find out exactly how a traditional premium saloon handles this demanding environment.

The BMW 5-Series is a well known benchmark for executive comfort on European motorways. However, an island holiday presents a very different set of challenges. We spent several days putting this car through its paces across the varied terrain of Tenerife to see what it is actually like to drive here, far away from the predictable mainland highways.

How it drives on Tenerife roads

Our journey began on the TF-1 motorway, which stretches along the south coast of the island. Here, the BMW 5-Series is entirely in its element. The long fast sweepers that connect the southern resorts to the airport are dispatched with absolute ease. The cabin remains wonderfully quiet, isolating you from wind and tyre noise. It is the sort of environment where you can cover long distances without feeling any fatigue.

Turning inland, we took the TF-21 climbing up towards Mount Teide. This road ascends rapidly to an elevation of 2,100 m. As you climb, the air grows noticeably thinner and there is a big temperature drop. Some naturally aspirated engines begin to feel sluggish at this altitude, but the turbocharged engine in the 5-Series maintained a steady, reliable surge of power. The steering is precise, allowing you to trace the sweeping curves of the mountain road with confidence. The suspension strikes a fine balance, absorbing the occasional rough patch while keeping the heavy body controlled through the corners.

The narrative shifts entirely when you head into the Anaga forest roads in the north. This ancient laurel forest is often misty, leaving the tarmac damp and slippery. The roads here are incredibly twisty and narrow. While the rear-wheel-drive chassis of the BMW provides excellent balance and grip, you cannot ignore the physical footprint of the car. It feels substantial on these tight northern routes, requiring you to slow down and place the wheels with deliberate care, especially when oncoming traffic appears out of the fog.

The ultimate test of size came on the TF-436 descending into Masca. This infamous road features extremely narrow cliff hairpins and blind corners. To be completely honest, small cars have the advantage here. Taking a large executive saloon down into the Masca valley is a nerve-wracking experience. You will find yourself breathing in as local buses squeeze past, and you will likely need to execute three-point turns on the tightest switchbacks. The car handles the steep gradients effortlessly, but its width makes the drive far more stressful than it needs to be.

Back down at sea level, we navigated the busy resort streets in Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, and Playa de las Americas. The low-speed refinement is excellent, and the automatic gearbox shifts imperceptibly in stop-and-go traffic. However, the sheer length of the vehicle makes tight parking a constant chore. Finding a space large enough along the blue-line meters requires patience, and you will rely heavily on the parking sensors and cameras to avoid scraping the pristine alloy wheels against the high volcanic stone kerbs.

Where this car shines (and where it does not)

The BMW 5-Series shines brightest when you ask it to be a grand tourer. It is a magnificent machine for gliding along the TF-1 or making the majestic, sweeping climb up the wider sections of the TF-21 towards the national park. The seats are incredibly supportive, and the climate control works flawlessly to keep the cabin comfortable as the outside temperature fluctuates wildly between the coast and the mountains. It eats up kilometres with a grace that leaves passengers feeling entirely relaxed.

Conversely, it does not shine in the island’s most historic and rural bottlenecks. The Masca road is the obvious example, but even the older, narrower streets of northern towns like La Orotava will make you wish you were driving something half the size. The turning circle is large, which becomes painfully apparent when you take a wrong turn into a dead-end alleyway in a hillside village. This is a car that demands space to operate gracefully, and Tenerife does not always provide that space.

Practical notes

If you are planning to rent this vehicle, you must think ahead about parking. We strongly recommend using the paid underground car parks in the southern resorts rather than hunting for street spaces. While the blue-line meters are cheaper, the spaces are often painted for much smaller European hatchbacks. The underground lots offer wider bays and peace of mind from stray shopping trolleys or careless door openings.

Fuel economy is surprisingly good for a car of this size, provided you are not constantly pushing it hard up the steepest inclines. The boot space is vast, easily accommodating the luggage of four adults without needing to play a game of geometric puzzles. We spent our time testing the Automatic 2.0 L 5-seater, which we found to provide an ideal blend of motorway cruising ability and enough torque to handle the volcanic gradients without complaint.

Verdict

Driving the BMW 5-Series in Tenerife is an exercise in compromise. For 70-80 percent of your driving, including airport transfers, coastal trips, and the main routes up to Mount Teide, it provides a level of luxury and refinement that is hard to beat. You will arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and comfortable.

However, for the remaining portion of the island, particularly the Anaga mountains and the Masca valley, its size becomes a distinct liability. If your itinerary involves exploring every hidden, narrow mountain pass, you might want to look at a premium compact car instead. But if your holiday is focused on smooth, effortless progress between nice hotels, fine restaurants, and the main scenic viewpoints, the 5-Series is a genuinely superb companion.

Where to book the BMW 5-Series in Tenerife

If this one sounds like your kind of drive, you can check dates and prices for the BMW 5-Series hire in Tenerife directly. Prefer to compare first? Browse all Bmw rentals in Tenerife, economy car hire in Tenerife, car hire in Tenerife.