Road Test: 2025 BMW M5 Sedan & M5 Touring

It’s not often you drive two vehicles that perfectly balance raw performance and real-world practicality, yet here we are with the all-new 2025 BMW M5 Sedan and M5 Touring. Both are more powerful, more advanced, and more ambitious than ever before, each representing a new chapter in BMW M’s evolution toward electrified dominance. This is a true automobile power couple.

Hybrid Power, M-Style

Beneath the sculpted hoods lies a 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 paired with BMW’s fifth-generation eMotor system, combining for an astonishing 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. The new plug-in hybrid system uses a 14.8 kWh battery, good for up to 40 kilometres of electric range, giving the M5 just enough stealth to sneak through neighbourhoods before unleashing its full fury.

Acceleration is instantaneous, with the electric assist filling any turbo lag and the V8 roaring to life with ferocious intent. The result is a sedan and wagon that can go from zero to licence-suspending speeds in the blink of an eye, yet slip silently through city traffic when needed. BMW calls it balance. We call it brilliance.

Design and Presence

Both models share flared fenders, 75 mm wider up front and 38 mm in the rear, alongside aggressive new air intakes and that unmistakable M stance. The Sedan, finished here in Daytona Violet Metallic, channels classic BMW heritage with a modern edge, while the Touring, dressed in Frozen Brilliant White Metallic, adds understated menace and exclusivity.

From the front splitter to the quad exhausts, every angle serves purpose and presence. Optional M Carbon Ceramic Brakes with gold calipers not only look the part but stop these high-speed icons with surgical precision. The Touring’s elongated roofline and expanded cargo area add versatility without dulling the experience; it’s a supercar that carries hockey gear.

Interior and Technology

Inside, both M5s elevate the luxury-performance equation. Merino leather upholsters every surface; Red/Black in the Touring and Taupe Grey/Deep Lagoon in the Sedan, while a Bowers & Wilkins surround system delivers concert-hall acoustics. The curved display integrates BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 interface, blending intuitive control with seamless connectivity.

Rear passengers enjoy heated seats, while the driver benefits from Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Traffic Jam Assist, and Steering and Lane Control under the Advanced Driver Assistance Package. Despite their ferocity, both cars can ease into commuter duty without complaint.

On the Road

BMW’s Adaptive M Suspension and Integral Active 4-Wheel Steering make these nearly 2.4-tonne hybrids feel remarkably agile. The steering is precise, and body control remains tight whether carving alpine roads or sweeping highways. In M Dynamic Mode, both cars come alive, the electric torque sharpening throttle response while the V8 soundtrack crescendos through the cabin.

Between the two, the Touring edges out the Sedan for sheer personality. It’s the one enthusiasts didn’t expect BMW to build, and that’s exactly why it matters. The combination of practicality and lunacy is irresistible.

Conclusion

The 2025 BMW M5 and M5 Touring redefine what it means to be an M car in the electrified era. They’re still bruisers, fast, loud, and unapologetically indulgent, but now more capable, comfortable, and conscious of the times. For drivers who refuse to compromise, this pair is as close to perfection as it gets.

2025 BMW M5 Sedan & M5 Touring
Price as tested: $158,400 (Sedan)
Price as tested: $158,900 (Touring)
Freight: $2,995 (est.)
Configuration: Front-engine/All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 with 5th Gen eMotor / 8-speed automatic
Power/torque: 717 horsepower / 738 lb-ft of torque
Battery: 14.8 kWh lithium-ion
Electric range: Up to 40 km (estimated)
Fuel (capacity): Premium (68 L)
Combined fuel economy (est.): 11.5 L/100 km (hybrid operation)
Observed fuel economy: 12.3 L/100 km (mixed driving)
Warranties: 4 years / 80,000 km (basic); 8 years / 160,000 km (hybrid components)
Competitors: Audi RS 7 Sportback, Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Website: BMW Canada