The BMW M5 is a car like no other. First and foremost it’s a comfortable executive sedan. It’s also a plug-in hybrid with 43 km (27 miles) of electric range. It has over 700 hp under the hood. And you can get it as a wagon. It’s a car for everyone… if you can afford it.
Performance
Engine – Like the previous generation, the new BMW M5 still uses a V8 as the primary power source. It’s a 4.4L that produces 577 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque (430 kW & 750 Nm). Those numbers are a little bit less than the previous generation and this 2025 M5 has gained weight. It now tips the scales at 2,445 kg (5,390 lbs). That makes it heavier than the Acura MDX Type-S, the Mercedes-Benz EQE 500, and a Jeep Wrangler 4xe to name a few.
But the engine gets some help from an electric motor. This motor supplies an additional 194 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque (145 kW & 280 Nm). On its own, this motor is about as powerful as the engine in the Honda Civic Si. But even with all the weight, the M5 can accelerate at a pretty brisk pace in the electric only drive mode. It’ll keep up with traffic from a stop and drive on highways up to 140 km/h (87 mph).
However, when the car is in one of the Sport modes, the V8 and electric motor produce a combined output of 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque (535 kW & 1,000 Nm). Despite its heavyweight status, the 2025 BMW M5 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a BMW claimed 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 305 km/h (190 mph) with the optional M Driver’s package. In the sporty modes, the M5’s acceleration is relentless. The engine picks up from almost idle rpms and pulls right up to its rev limit of 7,200. So if you’re not careful, you can easily and very quickly find yourself beyond the posted speed limits. Sadly, this engine is not that loud anymore. Due to strict government regulations, the sound coming out of the exhaust is quieter than the sound that comes out of the speakers in the cabin.
Fuel Economy – Thanks to the addition of the plug-in hybrid capability, the 2025 BMW M5 is much more economical than before. That is, if you use the electric driving range more often in the city than just leaving the battery “depleted”. In reality, the battery is never actually depleted as some charge remains to provide peak power. But during my time with the car, I managed to average a very respectable 9.6 L/100km (24.5 MPG) combined over roughly 330 km (205 miles) of driving the car in the week that I had it. Officially though, it is not that efficient as it is rated for 20.4 L/100km (11.5 MPG) in a city and 13.5 L/100km (17.4 MPG) on a highway.
Battery & Range – In the floor of the M5 is a 14.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is capable of providing up to 43 km (27 miles) of electric driving range. During my week with the car, the most I was able to get out of it was 40 km (25 miles) of electric only driving range which is not too bad. Recharging the battery can only be done from a level 2 AC charger at a rate of up to 11 kW and it’ll take approximately 2 and a half hours from 0% to 100%.
By default, the car will start up in the Hybrid drive mode. This is just like many other PHEV hybrid modes where the electrical power is used as much as possible until the battery is depleted. But should you press a bit harder on the throttle pedal, the engine will start up. In the infotainment system, you can set it so that the car starts up in EV mode. In this mode, you can push the throttle pedal right to the floor without the engine starting up but if you press it past the kickdown function, the engine will start. Once the battery is depleted, the M5 behaves like a self-charging hybrid. The engine will get the car going from a stop or accelerate it onto a highway. Then once a bit of charge is stored in the battery, it will shut off for a brief moment or two and let the electric motor drive it under normal driving conditions. The engine can also recharge the battery when it is in the eControl mode. In other markets, this mode can either hold the battery charge or recharge the battery to a set point. In my experience while driving in this mode, it kept the engine running at all times and it recharged the battery to nearly 100%.
Transmission – Paired with the hybrid powertrain is an 8-speed automatic transmission. I will go on record to say that this is the best automatic transmission on sale today. Not only are the shifts smooth for everyday driving, but they are quick and responsive when the mood takes you. The car now features a Boost function which will downshift the transmission, set the car to its sportiest settings, and provide maximum power from the hybrid powertrain for 10 seconds at a time.
Braking – The 2025 BMW M5 uses massive brakes to stop the heavy car. 410 mm front discs with 6-piston calipers provide the bulk of the stopping force. This demo car had optional carbon ceramic brakes which are 25 kg (55 lbs) lighter than the standard brakes and feature 420 mm front discs. In everyday driving, these brake discs do not need to be warmed up. They provide more than enough stopping force. On a race track, yes, they probably do (I’ve never driven a car with carbon ceramic brakes on a race track before). The brake pedal is firm but with just enough movement for smooth stops in city traffic.
The M5 does use regenerative braking to recharge the battery. It has minimum, medium, and maximum regen braking options. I found medium to be perfect for city traffic as it is just a little bit stronger than engine braking but not strong enough to turn on the brake lights like the maximum mode.
Handling – With all of the extra weight of the hybrid battery pack and electric motor, the 2025 BMW M5 doesn’t feel as heavy as the spec sheet suggests. It has a variable steering ratio that responds quickly and precisely to the smallest of driver inputs. This, along with 1.5° of rear wheel steering, make the M5 feel agile and lighter than it actually is. Additionally, standard adaptive M suspension keeps the body roll in check and ensures that the tires are maintaining contact with the road in any driving situation. The steering along with the adaptive suspension can be adjusted in the infotainment screen and set to either the M1 or M2 preset buttons along with other parameters of the car.
To ensure that all 717 hp make it to the road, the M5 is equipped with M xDrive. By default, it’ll stay in the 4WD mode but 4WD Sport can be selected via the setup menu. There’s also a 2WD mode which will send power only to the rear wheels. However, this is only possible with the dynamic stability control switched off. Additionally, the active M differential can lock the rear wheels for easier powerslides and drifts.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Although the 2025 BMW M5 has the performance of a supercar, at the end of the day it is an executive sedan. This means that it needs to deliver a comfortable ride. I’m happy to say that it does, for the type of car that it is. Yes, the suspension is firm when compared to a Mercedes S580, but it’s not an uncomfortable ride. It doesn’t feel as though the rims are riding directly onto the tarmac. There is give in the suspension as each tire drives over a bump. Furthermore, the hip hugging front seats provide ample support when you’re driving enthusiastically on your favourite road but they are soft enough when you’re stuck on your long commute to work.
Interior Space – The 2025 M5 is not that much bigger on the inside as the previous generation. Headroom and legroom across both rows of seats remains similar between the generations. For my height of 6’4”, there is more than enough in the front seats and just enough in the back seats behind my driving position. Where you will notice more interior space is in the trunk. The new M5 has 466 L (16.4 cu-ft) of cargo space. The rear seats can be folded 40/20/40 for more storage space and of course, there is no spare wheel under the trunk floor. Actually, the trunk floor cannot be lifted at all in this M5. Should you require more cargo capacity, the M5 Touring will make its way to Canadian shores for the first time. It has 500 L (17.6 cu-ft) of space behind the rear seats and 1,630 L (57.6 cu-ft) with the rear seats folded.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – As I mentioned earlier, the exhaust note is not as loud as it once was in older BMW M5s. But the noise is enhanced by the stereo system and I will admit, it’s a really nice tone. Otherwise, the cabin of the 2025 BMW M5 is remarkably quiet. This demo car had winter tires fitted to it but the noise that they produced did not intrude into the cabin on highways. As for vibrations, the engine is very smooth and there’s almost no discernible jolt when the engine starts up from the EV mode.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Sadly, the BMW M5 is not attainable for everyone. It has a starting price of $135,000 CAD ($119,500 USD) with this demo vehicle being equipped to a price of $160,650 CAD ($128,350 USD). On top of that, you have to add on taxes, dealership fees and markups if you cannot find a dealership that will honor the MSRP of the car.
Gadgets – For a 6-figure car such as this, it comes brimmed with convenience gadgets and features, most of which are standard here in Canada. It has a 4-zone automatic climate control system, heated & ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, power trunk, Bowers & Wilkins audio system, wireless phone charging pad, standard panoramic sunroof (full carbon fiber roof is optional), and an ambient lighting system with multiple colours to choose from that also reacts to certain functions, such as turning on the hazard lights.
The M5 receives BMW OS 8.5 which allows for multiple widgets to be displayed on the home screen and rearranged to your liking. It can feel a little daunting when selecting the “all apps” option as there are so many options but once you get the hang of it, it’s not too bad.
Interior Design – The interior is eye candy. Visually, it looks stunning. But it’s not as simple to use as before. The climate control and seat heating/ventilating buttons are gone. They’ve been integrated into the touchscreen. I find touchscreen controls to be much more distracting to use while driving than physical buttons and toggle switches. Furthermore, whatever functions that have not been integrated into the infotainment touchscreen now use touch sensitive controls. These are a bit finicky as they require a touch or three before they actually do what they’re supposed to do. Some of these type of controls include the air vent flow and the hazard signal and front defroster among a few others.
The rest of the cabin is lined in top quality materials. The leather on the dashboard and door panels is soft to the touch. The carbon fiber trim is real as is the aluminum trim. There is some gloss black trim on the center console which easily attracts fingerprints and scratches but thankfully, it’s not mostly relegated to this portion of the interior.
Exterior Design – The new 5-series has a mature look and this M5 builds upon it with an aggressive design. It has flared wheel arches, a subtle trunk spoiler, and a striking jaw line to funnel air into the radiators. The car definitely has presence as I’ve noticed a lot of people, mostly men, turning their heads to grab a second look at this car.
Safety – Apart from the advanced driving assistant package, the 2025 BMW M5 is equipped with every available safety feature. All of the features operate well without any false readings such as a false reading with the forward collision alert. The IIHS gave the 2025 5-series a Top Safety Pick award with good scores in every test but with an acceptable rating for the updated side impact test.
Warranty – Like all other BMW vehicles, the 2025 BMW M5 is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty in Canada. In the United States, it’s 4 years or 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, the 2025 BMW M5 is just about the perfect sedan. It’s a comfortable long distance cruiser, it’s an economical city commuter, and it’ll get your heart pumping around a race track. It’s just too bad only a handful of people will be able to experience this car due to its price tag.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the vehicle. www.BMW.ca
2025 BMW M5 Gallery
