Written by Keith Adams Updated: 21 February 2023

Overview

The BMW M5 is a very well-established member of the performance car elite. Now in its sixth generation, you’d be right in thinking that this ballistic family car from the company that brought you the term, ‘the ultimate driving machine’ is pretty well evolved.

Even since its launch in 2018, the M5’s pace has been picked up. With an ever-increasing amount of power, it’s not only capable of mixing it with the very best super-saloon cars, but also showing a clean pair of heels to all-but the most exclusive supercars. That’s quite something considering its 4.4-litre V8 has been around for quite a while in basic form.

But BMW’s M Division has been busy, and has already increased the 2018 car’s power from 600 to 625hp – first in the Competition we have here, and then the limited edition Clubsport. And since the 5 Series’ 2022 facelift, this is the only flavour of M5 available to UK customers.

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Rivals are less rare than you’d think – as well as the estate-only Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E-Class, you could also look at the Porsche Panamera and all-electric Taycan or Audi RS E-Tron GT (if range isn’t a factor), while if you’re after something completely different, how about tracking down one of the very limited edition Jaguar XE SV Project 8 models?

What’s it like inside?

The M5’s interior isn’t vastly different from a standard 5 Series saloon, which really isn’t a bad thing. So if you want to know the full story, we’d recommend you looking there. However, in order to give it an M Division makeover, there have been some changes – which go someway to help the driver feel like they’re in something befitting its price tag.

So, you get a pair of heavily bolstered, super-supportive sports seats, as well as seatbelts in M Division’s colours. You also get a wide variety of personalisation options, with all the trim and finishes you could ever need. But ultimately, it’s a 5 Series at heart, which means the latest version of BMW’s excellent Professional Multimedia infotainment system displayed on a 12.3-inch screen, and a crisp and clear set of digital instruments.

It also comes with all the standard executive car accoutrements you’d expect – wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected (and very effective) sat-nav, online services and DAB radio. There is even a concierge service, which will help you with more general travel requests such as finding fuel and parking. And without sounding like luddites, it’s an absolute joy to drive a car that doesn’t force you to stab at a touchscreen, thanks to its central rotary control.

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Comfort

The BMW M5 Competition has really supportive, shapely front pews that feel first on first acquaintance. There are M5 badges in the seats that light up when you unlock the car, and all the mood lighting you’d ever want.

There’s plenty of adjustment and the driving position is good, catering well for drivers of all sizes, while the fat-rimmed steering wheel feels lovely to hold. The rear seats are well-shaped and comfortable, and being a 5 Series, there’s excellent knee and headroom.

Safety

Like the BMW 5 Series it’s based on, the M5 is a five-star Euro NCAP-certified performer. It’s packed with the latest driver-assistance technology, intended to help the driver get out of trouble if they get things wrong. BMW’s lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control systems are about as good as they get, and are simple to use, too.

There are a number of optional extras, but are well worth the money – particularly the Driving Assistant Plus package, which wraps up a whole additional suite of driver aids intended to keep you better informed and even take control of the car for short periods.

What’s it like to drive?

The M5 Competition is brilliant, and its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine is a work of art. Fire it up and barks into life and idles with a purposeful exhaust rumble – but it’s what it achieves that’s really impressive. Floor it from a standing start and the acceleration is eye-catching – 0-62mph comes up in 3.3 seconds. Keep it going all the way, and it’s electronically-limited to 155mph unless you plump for the M Pro package, in which case it’ll go on to 190mph.

The big generational shift for this M5 is that it’s four-wheel drive as standard and an eight-speed automatic transmission is what’s used to put all of that power down. However, if you’re old school there is a ‘two-wheel drive’ setting. It’s for showboating really, because you can perform drifts and make lots of noise – but in reality it’s something for track days.

Handling is as you’d expect, impressive. It turns in and responds with genuine agility, while the level of grip is astonishing. There’s no bodyroll to speak of, and although you’re aware of the car’s great weight, it really doesn’t feel like a hindrance. The steering is a bit of a weak link, though. It’s very direct but lacks any real feel for the road surface or feedback, which can be disconcerting to begin with.

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There are a number of other drive modes to play with which can tailor the suspension and steering weight to your personal tastes, and you can also change gear fully manually for additional control. In reality, Comfort mode is more than capable of delivering all you’d need on the road. Even driving that way, the ride is still firm, and the damping surprisingly stiff (meaning it feels unsettled on lumpy roads), but it doesn’t affect A-road and motorway driving too much.

Ownership costs and maintenance

The high-performance M5 Competition returns a claimed 25.2-25.4mpg, but it’ll be all too easy to see fuel figures tumble into the mid-teens if you get busy with your right foot and start to enjoy that performance too much. And with a not-too-generous 68-litre capacity, you can easily burn through a tank in around 250 miles.

It has 625hp and supercar performance, so it’s not unreasonable to expect supercar running costs. Tyres and brakes are going to be a major factor because there’s so much power, and this is a quick and heavy car. The M5 comes with BMW’s standard three-year warranty with breakdown cover. Reassuring, but hardly generous, and you’ll no doubt want to be paying extra to extend that.

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What models and trims are available?

As we said at the top, since the 2022 the only M5 version you can get in the UK is the Competition – it’s well equipped out of the box, and even if you keep it standard, you’re not going to feel at all impoverished.

However, should the mood take you, you can improve your lot with the addition of a Visibility Pack, which adds laser headlights, Comfort Plus for massaging seats, Entertainment for rear screens, Technology Plus for upgraded sounds, M Pro for carbon brakes, and even an Ultimate pack which combines all of the above. It’s all pricey, though.

So, should you buy an M5? Is it the best super-saloon for your money? Read on for the full verdict.