BMW M5: an executive saloon with superpowers
The new BMW M5 drives like a sports car and has the performance of a supercar. Nicole Garcia Merida reports


The previous iteration of the BMW M5 has come and gone despite only being launched in early 2018, when BMW thought a 591bhp executive saloon “ought to be more than feisty enough for the majority of customers”, says Matt Saunders on AutoCar. “But, of course, it wasn’t.” When it comes to the modern luxury car market, more is always more. And so the “extra-hardcore” M5 Competition was born.
On the road, the M5 remains one of the most dynamically ambitious performance cars of its kind. It tries to be as “taut, agile and playful” as a sports car, but also as fast as a supercar. Importantly, it succeeds, and it does so “against that backdrop of high-speed stability and real-world touring comfort on which the lumpiest German autobahn specials have been trading for decades”. The eye-watering six-digit price tag risks making it out of reach of “people of remotely ordinary means”, but the lucky ones who drive it will quickly learn there’s no other car quite like it.
The latest M5 “remains a sports saloon with absurd composure”, adds Top Gear. It’s not an unruly hot rod, but rather a showpiece that cracks 0-62mph at supercar speed. It’s so quick, you’ll rarely be able to use full throttle for long. If you’re manually going through its eight gears, it’d be wise to tackle everything “a gear higher than your heart desires just to quell the warp speed” that slingshots you from the apex of each corner.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
It’s a car that will make an average driver feel like a pro, “and an experienced performance pilot a great deal faster behind the wheel”, says Trevor Hofmann on Hot Cars. It is luxurious inside too. The cabin features a top-of-the-line 16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound audio system, personalised driving modes, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The charcoal black leather, glossy carbon fibre and “dazzling metal brightwork” results in a sumptuous blend of style and quality.
The regular M5 was already highly rated, says Car magazine, but this version adds more drama and finesse, and “more outright muscle to make it even better”. The quickest M5 ever is also now the most comfortable M5 ever, says Top Gear. Indeed, it may be “the most complete super saloon of them all”.
Price: £100,850 Engine: 4,395cc, V8, turbocharged, petrol Top speed: 190mph 0-62mph: 3.3 seconds Power: 616bhp Torque: 553 lb ft
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Nic studied for a BA in journalism at Cardiff University, and has an MA in magazine journalism from City University. She has previously worked for MoneyWeek.
-
How to achieve a secure retirement, as more retirees admit to struggling with debt
Twenty-six percent of retirees now have unsecured debt – a sharp rise compared to two years ago – with many underestimating how much a typical retirement costs
-
The key October self-assessment tax return deadlines to remember so you can avoid a shock bill
There are two important dates for self-assessment taxpayers to remember in October
-
The alcohol industry is suffering as consumers sober up – is it still worth investing in the sector?
Changing consumer tastes are rocking the alcohol industry, but the best players are adapting their strategies. Buy them while their shares are still cheap
-
Giorgio Armani: the irreplaceable Il Signore
Giorgio Armani started his fashion business in 1975 and built it into the world’s largest private luxury brand. Where can it go without him?
-
8 of the best properties for sale with mountain views
The best properties for sale with mountain views – from an Arts & Crafts house with holiday lets in the Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire to a highland lodge with wood-burning stoves near the Rogie Falls in the Scottish Highlands
-
Review: Puerto Rico – embrace the spirit of Boricua
Travel Natasha Langan discovers why the indigenous name for Puerto Rico has come to define this Caribbean island’s vibrant culture
-
8 of the best beachside properties for sale
The best beachside properties for sale – from an Arts & Crafts house in Hampshire with 128 metres of beach frontage, to a 16th-century house in Norfolk, just 300 metres from a Blue Flag beach
-
A voyage of discovery through the Baltic countries
Travel Max King explores the rich history, culture and cuisine of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
-
Are wealthy whisky enthusiasts leaving Britain?
Collectables Wealthy whisky enthusiasts are heading to tax-friendly countries such as Dubai, where there is more disposable income to spend on collectable luxuries like rare whisky.
-
8 of the best properties for sale with kitchen gardens
The best properties for sale with kitchen gardens – from a 17th-century timber-framed hall house in Norfolk, to an Arts & Crafts house in West Sussex designed by Charles Voysey with a garden by Gertrude Jekyll