2026 BMW M5

Stunning. Gobsmacking. Useful. With that third word, we’re thinking of the M5 Touring wagon more than the M5 sedan, but the latter has quite a large trunk, nevertheless.

We can imagine someone from BMW putting on their best Liam Neeson voice and saying the company has made a car with a particular set of skills. Of course, the M5 has had these skills honed over a long career of being the sportiest, highest-performance iteration of the wonderful BMW 5 Series midsize luxury car. This latest generation debuted last year and rewrites the usual performance-car script by packing a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury cars, including the BMW M5.

The battery for this plug-in hybrid car can now charge at a slightly faster rate: 11 kilowatts (kW), up from last year’s 7.4 kW. A couple of new interior color schemes become available for the standard Merino leather upholstery: Dark Violet/Black and Taupe/Deep Lagoon.

There’s also a gas guzzler tax of $2,100 for the M5 sedan and $2,600 for the Touring wagon that should be added to those figures.

Looking at possible rivals, in order to get even close to the M5’s power in the (admittedly larger) Porsche Panamera means going for the Turbo E-Hybrid, which starts above $200K. There’s also the 577-horsepower Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid sedan, beginning below the M5, while the 621-hp Audi RS 6 Avant is closer to $130K.

Before buying a new M5 midsize luxury performance car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values of the previous-generation M5 were similar to most contenders in this rarefied class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The M5 develops a total of 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful M5 to date. Which is really saying something. This is an awesome amount of muscle, capable of propelling the sedan from standstill to 60 mph in a rapid 3.4 seconds (the Touring is a tenth slower). And it just keeps dashing, with the ability to thrust from 50 mph to 75 mph in a mere 2.2 seconds. The M5 also has a 47-hp edge over the much pricier Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, although that doesn’t translate to a faster sprint time. This Porsche clocks in at three seconds flat.

Which brings us to our one minor gripe. For all that impressive muscle, the 2026 M5’s extra hybrid hardware has added weight, making it a couple of tenths of a second slower to 60 mph than its 600-hp predecessor. We’re prepared to accept, though, that this may be academic while in the throes of acceleration.

An adaptive M-tuned suspension is part of the whole package, enhancing comfort at one end of the dynamics envelope, while containing body roll at the other. Integral Active Steering — BMW’s name for rear-wheel steering — is also standard in the 2026 M5, contributing to agility and maneuverability, and making this midsize car seem a tad smaller than it really is. We also like how the steering feels — there’s a decent amount of tactile feedback. And the brakes hit the usual high level of excellence that we admire so much in BMW cars.

Fuel Economy

BMW didn’t pair a twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor to make the M5 a fuel-sipper. The idea was to strap together two sources of power for the sheer thrill of it. These M5 variants are plug-in hybrids, yet still subject to a gas guzzler tax. The M5 sedan achieves the equivalent of 50 mpg combined (50 MPGe) or 14 mpg combined if the battery doesn’t have sufficient juice. The electric-only range is 27 miles.

The M5 Touring wagon manages 54 MPGe combined, or 13 mpg combined, with a battery-powered range of 25 miles.

For comparison, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid sedan runs to 59 MPGe combined/23 mpg combined, while its battery is capable of 43 miles.

High tech and fine leather combine with well-cushioned and well-shaped front seats to give the M5 the upscale air it deserves. We already like the cabin of the regular 5 Series and appreciate its exemplary build quality as well as the intelligent layout. Although BMW says the hybrid battery hasn’t encroached upon cabin or cargo space, the M5 has lost of bit of rear legroom, shrinking from 37.5 inches of rear legroom to 36.2 inches. It’s also impacted the trunk, which is a generous 18.4 cubic feet in the regular sedan and just 16.5 in the M5 sedan. The M5 Touring adds wagon versatility and practicality, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the 40/20/40 rear seats, opening out to 57.6 cubic feet when they’re folded down.

Apart from the obvious difference of a wagon body with the M5 Touring, the M5 has its own look to differentiate it from the rest of the 5 Series sedan lineup. This includes various aerodynamic additions, a wider body with redesigned wheel arches to accommodate the large wheel/tire combination, and a quad exhaust system — plus a palette of exclusive metallic paint choices that includes Isle of Man Green, Marina Bay Blue, and the matte Frozen Deep Grey.

Under the skin, BMW has increased the body’s rigidity compared with the regular 5 Series. The company also offers an optional carbon roof for the sedan, reducing weight by 66 pounds and lowering the center of gravity.

BMW Curved Display
A common sight in contemporary BMW vehicles, but — in our opinion — no less impressive because of it. This is the single housing that contains the 12.3-inch configurable instrument cluster and the 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, both with sharp graphics. BMW also offers streaming and gaming in the M5.

M Hybrid modes
In Comfort mode, the system leans more on the electric motor. In Sport and Sport Plus, the combustion engine is always in action. The two optional Dynamic and Dynamic Plus modes are for track use, delivering as much power as possible, for either a series of laps (Dynamic) or a quicker burst (Dynamic Plus).

Adaptive LED headlights with cornering function
This is one of those features we’ve really liked in other vehicles and miss when it’s not there. Being able to throw light into corners is especially useful given how fast the M5 can zip around them.

Bowers & Wilkins audio
Often at the pricier end of BMW’s options lists, this 18-speaker/655-watt surround-sound system is standard in the M5. We love B&W stuff for the clarity, power, and detail.

Carbon ceramic brakes
An expensive option, but one we’d recommend to anyone planning to take their M5 for a few track-day blasts. They’re strong, fade-free, warp-free, and 55 pounds lighter than the standard setup. These are offered with the M5 Touring as well.

BMW Digital Key Plus
M5 owners and a lucky few friends and family members can access and drive the M5 using their Apple iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device.

The plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the 2026 M6 benefits from BMW’s involvement in motor sports, endurance racing in particular. On the combustion side is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (a well-known entity in BMW vehicles). An electric motor is integrated into the M-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission. Together, they create a mighty 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, going to a standard M-tuned all-wheel drive system.

We review the regular BMW 5 Series separately.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical for European luxury car makers. Roadside assistance is included for that period, but with unlimited mileage. Hybrid batteries are covered for eight years or 80,000 miles. Scheduled maintenance is free for three years or 36,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This current generation of 5 Series was named a 2025 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the agency’s second-highest accolade. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, and Active Blind Spot Detection with rear cross-traffic alert.