The regular 5 Series has been a stalwart of the aspirational middle managers since the 1980s and since then, BMW has honed it into a mighty business tool we've no hesitation in calling our favourite choice in its class. The 530e plug-in hybrid car (PHEV) is aimed at drivers who want an electrified car and reap the benefits of lower emissions, which ultimately means less company car tax to pay. But what if you're not a company car driver? Well we're pleased to report the BMW 530e is a very good car, and not just a canny way to reduce a tax bill. Adding a battery and the ability to go (up to) 37 miles on pure electric power has taken very little of BMW's driving prowess away from the 3 Series, while the interior is still one the most ergonomically designed on the market.