Should you buy one?

In a world where money and the environment don’t matter, the BMW M5 might easily be considered the best car that money can buy. Its towering performance is ridiculuous easy to access, and unless you’re particularly hamfisted, it’s also surprisingly tame.

It’s roomy and quiet on the motorway, yet riotuously fun on the circuit – and in the real world the only real criticism you’d throw at it (beyond its appetite for the world’s precious fuel resources) is that at legal speeds, it’s not that fun. And if you were to gun it from the lights on an A-road, you’ll be banned within eight seconds.

Having said that, the M5 still has a place for international jetsetters, and as such if you’re in the market for a car like this, you can be absolutely confident that it’s the best of its type. It’s better to drive that a Mercedes-AMG E-Class and faster than an Audi RS6 Avant. So if you’re in the market for a super-saloon, this is the one to have.

What we like

The performance and handling are outstanding, yet it manages to be completely docile in busy conditions. It’s roomy, and the tech on board is nice to use, and as long as you don’t need to carry loads, it’s certainly practical for families.

What we don’t like

Very little, although if you’re on any kind of budget the monthly payments are savage, while the running costs are equally eye-watering. And for keen drivers, the steering is a little remote in terms of feel.