2009 BMW 5-Series - Tweets

The chief competitor to the 2009 BMW 5-Series's sedan is the Mercedes E-Class, and the Audi A6 Avant is the Sports Wagon's closest rival.

The E-Class has more of an emphasis on comfort than the 5, with a roomier-feeling interior and a softer ride.

The Avant only comes with the 255-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine, not the larger, 350-horsepower V-8 available on the sedan.

As with the Sports Wagon, all-wheel drive is standard, though the Avant has a slightly softer ride, and its handling isn't as sharp as that of the 5-Series, nor does it offer such advanced technology features.

The Cadillac STS brings plenty of high-tech options and respectable performance, but it doesn't have the prestige of the 5-Series.

The Saab 9-5 SportCombi is now a quite dated design.

It comes with front-wheel drive and turbocharged four-cylinder power, and its powertrains aren't as refined as those of the other rivals, but it's packaged well, with excellent seats, plenty of headroom, and more useful cargo space.

There's also the Infiniti M35 and M45, which bring brisk performance and some rival high-tech features such as a lane-departure system, but their cabins aren't as quiet and refined as those of the 5-Series models.