It looks good, it goes quickly, it’s definitely nice inside, but it’s gained a ton of weight. We almost need to classify this thing as an SUV. This is the new, extremely powerful, and quite heavy 2025 BMW M5. One of my favorite cars of all time, believe it or not, is actually a BMW. I say believe it or not because anyone who’s followed my ramblings knows that I’ve not always been so kind to BMW.
Historical Context
Typically, I’ve preferred BZ to the Beamer stuff, but back when the ultimate driving machine tagline actually held some weight, the brand was cranking out all-time greats. The E39 M5 remains a “Meet Your Heroes” automotive moment for me personally.
That was the third-generation version of the legendary sports sedan. Today we’re talking about the seventh generation, and it is an extremely powerful machine with its plug-in hybrid setup.
Performance and Specifications
The 2025 BMW M5 produces 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque—absolutely gargantuan numbers and a very healthy jump over the prior version of the M5. That power comes from a 4.4 L twin-turbocharged V8 and an electric motor integrated into the 8-speed automatic gearbox.
There’s also an 18.6 kWh battery pack, so this latest M5 has a very usable electric-only driving range too. In electric mode, you can go about 25 miles and drive up to 87 mph, though that will slice into your available EV-only range.
BMW claims a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. With the available BMW driver’s package, you can uncork a 190 mph top speed. You’ll want to check the box for that package though, as you need it for the dynamic and dynamic plus driving modes as well as the track mode.
Driving Dynamics
While the M5 is an all-wheel drive machine, this is the MX drive system we’re talking about here. So it’s rear-biased, but it can also be run in straight-up rear-wheel drive mode. You can still drift the latest version of the BMW M5, which is nice to know.
Just save money for the tires, with the M5 getting a stagger setup on 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels, wearing high-performance tires.
Chassis and Handling
BMW gives the M5 a stiffer chassis setup with steel springs along with adaptive dampers. The M5 has four-wheel steering, great for both high and low-speed maneuverability. You get large six-piston front brakes. Steel is standard, but carbon ceramics are available as an option.
BMW has developed a lot of chassis smarts for this one because it’s quite heavy. I’m not exaggerating here either. The curb weight is listed at 5,390 lb, which means this M5 is well over 1,000 lb heavier than the prior version. It’s heavier than a Range Rover Sport, a Ford F-150 SuperCrew, a Maybach sedan, the Lucid Air Sapphire, and a Bentley Flying Spur.
Design and Styling
It’s wildly heavy and it still goes quite quickly, which is pretty amazing to be honest. But imagine how much easier it would be for driving dynamics engineers if they didn’t have to deal with all that curb weight. The stress on the tires, brakes, and suspension is immense.
Style-wise, the new BMW looks pretty good, especially with that green paintwork BMW has on this launch vehicle. It’s obviously wider than the latest 5 Series, but it’s also longer and wider compared to the prior M5 competition. The quad exhaust looks great and the various vents and lines set the proper tone stylistically for the car.
Interior Features
Inside, you’ll find the twin-screen setup that BMW is using now, but in front of that is the M-specific wheel with M buttons, proper paddle shifters, and a flat-bottom design. BMW will show off the car later this month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s set to go on sale here in North America in November of this year and will start north of $120,000.
Don’t forget though that the M5 Touring is also set to arrive, and we should see that one in the fall as well. As gorgeous as I expect that car to be, it’s probably going to be even heavier than the sedan.
Expected Fuel Efficiency
The 2025 BMW M5, featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain, achieves a significant improvement in fuel efficiency. It boasts an estimated consumption of 1.6-1.7 liters per 100 kilometers (approximately 147-155 mpg) under WLTP standards, a major leap from the previous model’s 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers (approximately 22 mpg).
This efficiency is enabled by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine paired with an electric motor and an 18.6 kWh battery, providing up to 25 miles of electric-only range and a full recharge time of about three hours and 15 minutes.
Expected 0-60 Time
The 2025 BMW M5, featuring a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, reflects a shift towards hybrid power with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor generating 717 horsepower. This is a slight deceleration compared to the 2021 M5’s 3.1 seconds due to the new model’s significant weight increase to over 5,300 pounds.
Historically, the M5 has seen substantial performance improvements. The E39 M5 (1999) achieved 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds with 394 horsepower. The F10 M5 (2011) improved this to 4.2 seconds with 560 horsepower. The F90 M5 (2018) further accelerated to 3.2 seconds with 600 horsepower. Despite the added weight, the 2025 M5 continues to compete robustly in the high-performance sedan market.
Competitors
The 2025 BMW M5 faces competition from the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and Audi RS7. The E63 S features a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with 603 horsepower, a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, and advanced tech like the MBUX infotainment system.
The Audi RS7, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 591 horsepower, achieves 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. It also boasts a luxurious interior with Valcona leather seats and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
