The BMW M5 Sedan Delivers Brilliance Tangled With Compromise

The BMW M5 has worn its crown since 1984, and the latest saloon to bear the badge arrives with more horsepower, more technology, and more presence than any of its forebears. The 2026 BMW M5 Sedan rewrites the executive express playbook with a plug-in hybrid heart, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and 717 horsepower under the bonnet. Yet for all its talent, this newest M5 also asks questions about whether the formula has drifted from what once made it untouchable.

Start with the powertrain, because it is genuinely staggering. A 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 works in tandem with an electric motor housed within the gearbox, sending a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic and BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The result is a 0-60 mph sprint dispatched in just three seconds, putting it within touching distance of the Lamborghini Revuelto, a hypercar costing nearly five times as much. Electric torque fills in instantly, so the saloon punches forward from any speed without hesitation.

Inside, the M5 still plays the role of luxurious family haulier beautifully. The Merino leather seats are supportive across long drives, and the choice of wood, aluminium, or carbon fibre trim feels properly premium. BMW’s Curved Display fuses a 14.9-inch central touchscreen with a 12.3-inch driver readout, giving the cabin a futuristic, almost flight-deck atmosphere. Rear passengers also get 37 inches of legroom, edging out the Mercedes-AMG E53’s 35.8 inches and reinforcing the M5’s reputation as a saloon you can genuinely live with every day.

Then comes the elephant in the boot. At 5,390 pounds, this M5 is a full 1,020 pounds heavier than its predecessor, and the added battery and motor hardware make themselves felt. BMW’s chassis engineers have worked wonders disguising the bulk, with the four-wheel steering carving up corners far more deftly than physics ought to allow. Even so, the steering feels numb, the connection with the road feels distant, and the playful, lighter character that defined earlier generations has been swapped for something more planted and serious.

Complexity is the other sticking point. Drivers can tweak steering weight, damper firmness, regenerative braking, drivetrain response, gearbox behaviour, and a stack of stored profiles. Nothing is intuitive, and a quick twist of a dial into Sport mode no longer does the job. The depth will reward track-day enthusiasts, but most owners will likely never scratch the surface. BMW has built a saloon engineered for modern expectations, blending electrified power with luxury and usability brilliantly, yet the latest M5 leaves you respecting it deeply while quietly missing the leaner, sharper, simpler M5s of generations past.