Overview

A potent piece of German weaponry from BMW's renowned M division is the weapons-grade M5. This new generation of M5 represents a return to form for BMW by delivering genuine driver involvement while still incorporating high-tech amenities and electronics that have dampened the current crop of Bavarian sedans. This contrasts with the M5 that came before it.

Engine, Transmission, Performance

The M5 is highly speedy thanks to its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, which produces 600 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft of torque. It reached 60 mph at our test track in 2.8 seconds, ran the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds at 129 mph, and reached a high speed of 163 mph. An M5 Competition model with 617 horsepower is now even more potent. However, this BMW boasts a high-tech drivetrain that can direct 100% of power to the rear wheels for the entire rear-drive personality, while the M5 faithful will rue the lost manual gearbox and new all-wheel-drive technology. Here, sharp and direct steering, a well-controlled (almost rigid) ride, and a heroic cornering grip accentuate the driving experience. This does not imply that the M5 cannot serve as a luxury sedan either: It travels serenely and is incredibly quiet inside the cabin while in Comfort mode.

Interior, Comfort, Cargo

The M5 sports a distinctive leather interior with soft and supportive sports seats, exceptional outward design, and improved performance. Making changes to the air conditioning or the radio while driving doesn't distract much because the driving position is designed for performance-style driving. BMW hasn't gone the all-touchscreen way used by many of its competitors. The large infotainment screen, operated by a rotary knob on the center console and mounted on the dash to the right of the driver's field of sight, runs the most recent version of BMW's iDrive software. BMW offers standard driver-assistance features, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and automated emergency braking with pedestrian recognition.