A hybrid sports sedan in a class of its own, the BMW M5 combines an eco-conscious design with smooth yet thumping performance. Photos: Supplied.
The BMW M5 is not your average hybrid car.
A Toyota Prius is all about quietness and economy and minimal trips to the petrol bowser.
The BMW M5 can start silently and run for up to 60 kilometres on battery power alone, but it’s also a thumping heavyweight performance sedan. It can whack you up to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and has a claimed top speed around 280km/h, not that it’s remotely relevant for Australia.
What is relevant is the combination of plug-in hybrid drive with old-school M5 luxury and performance. Plug-in hybrids are a hot-button topic in Australian motoring for 2025 since they deliver workable electric-only range – most everyday commuters only cover around 40 km a day – with the benefits of old-school combustion power.
The newest M5 is the seventh generation of a model that has always been positioned at the top of the BMW family, even for a time with a Formula One-style V10 engine. Now it’s been specified to match the needs of an eco-conscious owner in 2025 and even comes with a – very slight – price cut to $259,900.
The M5’s interior is the epitome of comfort in a luxury-laden cabin.
The M5 package runs to every possible luxury, from cosseting leather trim and chilly aircon to USB ports and seats that can be cooled or heated. Predictably, there is a giant dashboard display screen but it is neatly integrated into the car and does not look like a cheapie add-on.
There has been lots of criticism of the M5 because it’s now heavy, very heavy, at 2.5 tonnes. But that extra weight has come from the hybrid battery and an increase in every measurement – it’s longer, wider and taller – to provide more comfort for bigger people.
It also has all-wheel drive. The headline numbers for the M5 run to 535 kilowatts of power and a monster 1000 Newton-metres of torque, enough to impress at any dinner party. For the moment, it is way ahead of any potential rival with a Mercedes-Benz or Audi badge.
The best way to measure any landmark car, and the M5 qualifies, is to drive it. It is fun, and surprising, to start the M5 without making any sound. It’s a nice contrast to many modern turbocharged hotrods that trumpet their ability.
With a potent twin-turbo V8 delivering a spectacular soundtrack, the M5 hybrid leaves a lasting impression.
It’s also smooth and relaxing around town, with one of the best motoring lounge rooms short of a Bentley or Rolls-Royce, and plenty of space for five adults and luggage.
But it’s the M5’s party trick, its towering performance, that makes the lasting impact. It might be heavy over the scales, but the weight fades away when you push the accelerator pedal to the floor. It provides a seamless surge of thrust that’s more like a full-battery car, but with a lovely thumping V8 soundtrack.
The M5 has always been a special car and this one is no different, thanks to its combination of green technology and old-school enjoyment. It’s not remotely cheap, and only a small number will come to Australia, but it’s good just to have it around in 2025.
BMW M5
- Position: Top-end sports sedan
- Price: From $259,900
- Engine: 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8
- Power: 535kW/1000Nm
- Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
- Plus: Performance, style, hybrid
- Minus: Costly and complicated
GRADE: A.
