2025 BMW M5 Touring First Drive Review: Wagon + Hybrid = Whoa!

Wagon lovers rejoice as a result of, for the primary time ever, BMW will deliver one among its high-performance M Touring fashions to the US. The 2025 BMW M5 Touring will arrive stateside subsequent 12 months, a couple of months after the M5 Sedan hits vendor showrooms. DrivingOnRoad had an early alternative to drive the lengthy roof M5 on American soil at BMW’s Efficiency Heart in South Carolina, giving us an opportunity to match it to the sedan and render an early verdict on which one is superior.

Let’s get this subject out of the way in which earlier than the indignant feedback flood in; the 2025 M5 is a heavy automobile. The Touring weighs roughly 5,550 kilos in keeping with BMW – 160 kilos greater than the sedan and solely barely lower than one among Jupiter’s moons. With out going into an excessive amount of element, these are measured on a European check that always leads to larger curb weights, so the precise numbers ought to be considerably decrease as soon as American publications get the automobile on a scale.

The extra vital query to ask is that this; do you have to be involved in regards to the weight? This new G90/G99 technology M5 is probably the most highly effective one but, powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 mated to a hybrid system, delivering 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. Is the newest M5 Touring the automobile that can lastly persuade younger folks that station wagons are cool? Or, to make use of their vernacular, does it slap?

Exterior & Inside: Lengthy Roof, Excessive Curb Enchantment

In comparison with another current BMW designs, the M5 feels a lot much less controversial. Some critics may say that the deep gloss black chin seems a bit bizarre, however anybody who hates it will probably at all times go for a darker exterior coloration to cover that element. Talking of colours, the M5 arrives with 9 normal paint choices, together with a couple of flashy choices like Marina Bay Blue, Isle of Man Inexperienced (pictured), and Vegas Crimson. For consumers who wish to break the mould, BMW provides almost 150 Particular person colours, which means there’s nearly no restrict to how daring you can also make your M5. The wheel choices are much less spectacular, with solely two types out there, one among which is available in all black or a silver/black mixture. Blue, purple, or black brake calipers can be found for no price, whereas M Carbon Ceramic Brakes ($8,500) get gold calipers.

The M5 Touring seems largely the identical because the M5 Sedan on the entrance; it is solely once you transfer previous the C-pillar that it begins to alter. Although the wagon seems longer to the bare eye, it is truly the very same size because the sedan (200.6 inches). The M5 Touring is a tenth of an inch taller, however that additional top is totally as a result of wagon’s roof rails. Apart from the clearly longer roof on the Touring, the one different distinction is the roof. BMW provides the sedan with a selection of a carbon fiber roof or a glass one, whereas the Touring is simply out there with the latter.

Inside, the M5 Touring appears like a premium and sporty place to spend time. M Multifunction seats come normal wrapped in Full Merino Leather-based, which can be found in Silverstone/Black, Crimson/Black, Kyalami Orange/Black (pictured), or all Black. Heated and ventilated entrance seats plus heated rear seats are insultingly locked to a $1,850 Govt Bundle. These colours will be paired with Discover Wooden Darkish Oak Excessive Gloss, Aluminum Rhombicile, or Carbon Fiber Silver Thread Excessive Gloss ($300) trim. We have beforehand mentioned our annoyance with BMW iDrive 8.5, which forgoes its predecessor’s bodily local weather controls in favor of a menu on the 12.3-inch touchscreen. This method has a excessive studying curve, however it’s not a dealbreaker.

Practicality: Misleading Numbers

We love station wagons as a result of they pare the practicality of an SUV with the low-riding dealing with of a sedan into one car. On paper, nonetheless, the M5 Touring doesn’t seem to outcarry its sedan counterpart by a major margin. BMW says the M5 Touring holds 17.7 cubic ft behind the second row, which is simply barely bigger than the sedan’s trunk. This discrepancy is because of how the Touring’s trunk is measured, not counting the area above the cargo cowl. In actuality, the wagon has considerably more room, which expands even additional to 57.6 cubic ft with the seats folded. For comparability, the X6 M solely boasts two extra cubes in complete.

Efficiency: Scorching Hybrid

The G99 breaks new floor as the primary hybrid M5, utilizing the identical powertrain discovered within the XM SUV. A 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 contributes many of the oomph, 577 hp and 553 lb-ft, whereas an electrical motor pitches in with 194 hp and 207 lb-ft. Working in live performance, the M5 Touring delivers a intestine punch with 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, greater than any of its opponents. That seismic energy is distributed to an M xDrive all-wheel-drive system with selectable rear-drive mode through an eight-speed computerized transmission.

Although we did not have an opportunity to measure the M5 Touring’s full acceleration, we did file occasions for the sedan. 0-60 got here in simply 3.25 seconds, besting BMW’s 3.4 second estimate. BMW says the M5 Touring ought to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, so you possibly can estimate a 3.35-second run primarily based on our time within the sedan. This time is aggressive, however the Audi RS6 Avant Efficiency and Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon are able to related occasions with much less energy and no hybrid help (and the E63 wagon is 2 years older, too). In the event you preserve the throttle pinned, the automobile will speed up to a restricted 155 mph high velocity or 190 mph with the M Driver’s Bundle ($2,500).

A 14.8 kWh battery shops sufficient electrical energy to drive 27 miles with out utilizing gasoline. Drivers can use the M Hybrid button to manage when the M5 runs on gasoline or electrical. In actual fact, we ran a 0-60 check in Electrical mode with the M5 Touring, finishing the duty in 9.9 seconds. It is definitely not quick, however you possibly can merge onto a freeway with out worrying. The EPA has not launched full gasoline financial system figures for the brand new M5, however a look on the window sticker reveals a slightly poor 14 mpg mixed when operating on gasoline solely – three mpg decrease than the outgoing mannequin. Issues get so much higher when operating on gasoline and electrical energy with a 50 MPGe score. Your gasoline effectivity (or lack thereof) will rely upon how usually you’ll be able to plug within the M5 and the way a lot you’ll be able to depend on the battery.

Driving Impressions: An Preferrred Steadiness

Almost all the web discourse surrounding the brand new M5 main as much as its arrival has been in regards to the curb weight; at this level we’ve to ask… have been you anticipating a Lotus Exige? It is a big, heavy sedan, however the earlier technology wasn’t precisely petite, so we did not anticipate the wagon to be much less cumbersome. Regardless of its heft, the M5 wagon strikes with exceptional precision, sticking to the bottom as if it have been glued and delivering fast modifications of course on-demand. The steering feels sharper than the outgoing base M5, nearer to the texture of the sportier CS mannequin.

As we performed round with the automobile on native South Carolina roads, it grew to become clear that the M5 Touring can get its rear finish free, even with out placing the automobile in its rear-drive setting. Even on imperfect again roads, the M5’s Adaptive M suspension system straddles a advantageous line between enthusiastic dealing with and government consolation. It is firmer than the Audi RS6 Avant, however much more compliant than the Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon, which is strictly what we would like from a sporty wagon.

As we talked about, electrical mode is much from eye widening by way of acceleration, however it’s advantageous for a commute to work. BMW has labored on the transmission from electrical to gasoline energy, so it is much less jolting than it was within the XM. When the engine does kick on, you turn out to be properly conscious not simply as a result of noise, but in addition due to the change of tempo. With each propulsion techniques working in live performance, the M5 delivers a intestine punch that may take your breath away. Even with xDrive, all 4 wheels wrestle for grip earlier than lastly hooking up and rocketing away. The acceleration feels uninterrupted due to the electrical help between gear modifications, delivering an additional thump simply as you anticipate a quick reprieve from being pinned to your seat. You possibly can’t have the sort of acceleration with dinosaur juice alone.

Since this automobile can launch its driver to license-losing velocity sooner than most individuals can say “station wagons aren’t cool,” it is best to benefit from the M5 Touring’s full potential on a racetrack. On the BMW Efficiency Heart check monitor, the M5 rapidly confirmed its propensity to get sideways on-throttle. You possibly can really feel the burden on tighter corners because the entrance finish pushes extensive and the automobile understeers, however it’s straightforward to pitch the rear finish out with a fast burst of acceleration. The automobile rides on both Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S or Hancook S1 evo Z tires, neither of which is grippy sufficient to ship over 700 hp to the street at monitor speeds. For setting one of the best lap occasions, we suggest a sticky set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s (not provided from the manufacturing facility), until your aim is to slip round with an enormous grin in your face. It is best to do not forget that the M5 Touring is a cushty household car that may additionally deal with monitor obligation, not a race automobile that occurs to have 5 seats and an enormous trunk.

Pricing & Verdict: Vote With Your Pockets

The 2025 M5 Touring marks the primary time BMW has offered an M-badged station wagon right here within the US, and if you would like to see extra lengthy roof fashions come statewide, we might extremely counsel voting along with your pockets. Arriving at dealerships a couple of months after the sedan, the M5 Touring will begin at $121,500 (not together with a $1,175 vacation spot charge), however choices could make it far costlier. That is solely a $2,000 premium over the sedan ($119,500), which, at this worth, probably means having one fewer designer belt within the dresser. It additionally represents a slight financial savings over its closest competitor, the Audi RS6 Efficiency ($126,600).

This can be a uncommon alternative for fans to inform BMW straight that wagons can promote properly within the US. The M5 Sedan is a good car, however when the Touring solely prices marginally extra, delivers extra practicality, and nil drawbacks, why would not you get the wagon? That is solely hypothesis, however we predict the Touring can have higher resale worth as a result of rarity of go-fast wagons within the US. The RS6 is a visible stunner and an outstanding day by day driver, however it’s kind of boring to drive on the restrict. Whereas we anticipate Mercedes-AMG to reply with its personal hybrid efficiency mannequin of the E-Class All-Terrain, the BMW M5 Touring emerges as our favourite all-around efficiency wagon. Purchase one now whereas BMW is beneficiant sufficient to check the waters; if it would not promote properly, this can be a one-and-done within the US.