We thundered to Munich for a first test drive of the new BMW M5 Touring.
We went to Munich for a test drive. (Photo: BMW)
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Station wagon with power
The new BMW M5 is available as both a sedan and a station wagon, with the station wagon undoubtedly being the coolest. Let me explain why. This car is about being able to do it all – with one and the same car.
If you want to transport people and stuff to, for example, the Nürburgring Nordslinga without needing an SUV with too high a center of gravity, this is one of the few options. I dare say that any car enthusiast, including myself, is attracted to that idea.
The seventh generation of the BMW M5 has become bigger, faster, but also heavier, a theme we will return to later. For the first time, it has been equipped with an electric motor and batteries, making it a plug-in hybrid.
However, unlike some competitors, BMW has not compromised under the hood but has retained the V8. With 727 horsepower and the ability to drive seven miles entirely on electricity, it tries to make the best of both worlds.
The M5 Touring has up to 1,600 liters of luggage space with the seats folded down. (Photo: BMW) The M5 Touring has been criticized for its enormous weight. (Photo: BMW) Plug-in hybrid with a focus on performance
As a plug-in hybrid, the M5 delivers more linear power, but the electric motor augments rather than complements the V8 because it’s mated to the gearbox and doesn’t cover the small power gaps between gears.
The transition between electric drive and hybrid drive can sometimes feel jerky, something BMW’s straight-six hybrids handle better.
When you press the gas pedal to the bottom, it’s quickly apparent that the M5 is a supercar in a family car’s body, even if it’s no faster to 100km/h than the previous model.
But the most impressive thing is not the performance itself, but how stable and controlled the car accelerates at high speeds. It is easy to underestimate how fast you actually drive.
It’s easy to drive fast in the new M5. (Photo: BMW)
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Sledge hammer in luxury packaging
And this is where the M5’s strength and weakness lie; you are so isolated from the outside world that the journey becomes extremely comfortable, but at the same time you can feel that a little of the sporty feeling disappears, especially with all the comfort settings.
In curves, the new M5 impresses with incredible grip and a low center of gravity, but it is, after all, a luxury car over five meters long that weighs a whopping 2.6 tonnes. Yes, you read that right.
The new M5 is heavier than both the Lamborghini Urus and the Tesla Model X and almost twice as heavy as the first generation M5. BMW has done a fantastic job of managing the weight, but its impact on driving pleasure is unavoidable.
I would describe the design as powerful, potent and aggressive, but not particularly elegant, just like previous M5 models. However, I am glad that BMW has not gone too far with the design, something that has been evident in recent years.
The M5 is offered both as a station wagon and as a sedan. (Photo: BMW)BMW M5 Touring – a new estate king
As an insanely fast, do-it-all family car, the new BMW M5 is fantastic, especially in Touring guise.
With a price starting at 1.6 million it can be a deterrent, and of course there are a lot of settings to keep track of, but if you only have room for one car in the garage, the M5 Touring should be high on the list of possible choices. Maybe at the very top?
First impressions of the BMW M5 Touring: 4/5
Engine: 4.4-liter V8, gasoline, electric motor, 727 horsepower, 1,000 newton meters
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3.6 seconds
Top speed: Up to 305 km/h
Electrical range: 67 km
Weight: 2,550 kg
Dimensions (length/width/height): 5096/1970/1516 mm
Price: From SEK 1,615,000