BMW M5 Touring hybrid review
Tired of high-riding, heavy and inefficient SUVs? This wild new wagon might be the car you’re looking for.
Luxury
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BMW’s M5 Touring could be the perfect solution for wealthy families.
Have you ever met one of those irritating families who for love nor money are never on time for anything?
From birthdays to bar mitzvahs, weddings to funerals when the service is usually halfway through, at the very most sombre or special moment, you’ll begin to hear a low rumble as they stage their shambolic arrival.
You’ll hear the cries of the sugar-crazed toddler first, then moans from the footy-missing dad, then the slow-feet-dragging of the miserable teenager missing out on their 12-hour lie-in.
Then, just when you think it has passed, all hell breaks loose, the doors bursts open and the bedraggled family fall in.
Of course, instead of leaving earlier the loving parents should have made better life choices – and we’re not talking about contraception – but the car they drive.
Instead of driving an [insert vulgar SUV here] they should have snapped up the new BMW M5 Touring because if they had they’ll never be late again.
Based on the latest advanced BMW M5, it’s the first time the M5 wagon has ever officially been offered in Australia and, if anything, it’s even more impressive than the supercar-slaying sedan.
That’s because zero compromises have been made in the transition from four-door to family-friendly wagon.
Under the bonnet that means the wagon bags the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 that is combined with both a trick 18.6kWh lithium-ion battery and a punchy 140kW e-motor for epic power – 535kW, to be exact, with a thumping 1000Nm of torque.
Those figures translate into ballistic levels of acceleration off the line with 0-100km/h shrugged off in just 3.6 seconds, while top speed is limited to 305km/h.
Better still, the M5 wagon is no one-trick pony.
BMW M has injected some extra agility into the big wagon that grows both in size and substantially in weight to an outrageous 2475kg.
The new hardware consists of sophisticated suspension systems, a new rear steer axle, active limited-slip differential and advanced all-wheel drive that either masters in efficiency or allows you to drift for Germany in its 2WD mode.
Not that they’ll be any of that on the way to the church, pub or whatever venue today the family are racing to.
Ensuring there’s no criticism from the cheap seats, the BMW M5 is surprisingly comfortable, quiet and refined at a cruise, while the driver enjoys the cultured burble of the V8.
Within, space is also generous with lots of leg and headroom for four, or five at a push but that should be no surprise with a car that has grown to a gargantuan 5.1-metres long.
For the full stealth mode when you approach your destination the BMW M car can switch to full EV for up to 67km of driving, even at near licence-losing speeds of 140km/h.
And it’s your licence you must be careful of, because it is comical how effortless the M wagon is and on tight and twisty country roads it flies. Overtaking is never a chore.
Of course, it’s not perfect.
An Audi RS 6 is even quicker and an incredible 500kg lighter but nowhere near as comfortable and refined when you’re not in the mood, although we think the Audi RS might be the better-looking of the two, with a fractionally sharper ride.
Not that BMW M designers haven’t tried.
We love the new wide body treatment, new deeper front bumper, larger rear diffuser, big tailgate spoiler and staggered 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels that all look the business and help offset the slab-sidedness of the regular 5 Series.
Within, the cabin offers an overtly sporty feel from its thick-rimmed flat-bottom steering wheel, heavily bolstered sports seats and wild BMW M flashes of red, blue and white across the dash.
Shame all the tech needs getting used to and the number of driver modes offered is dizzying.
From then on, it should be plain sailing for the formerly late family who will now rock up obnoxiously early to raid the buffet instead.
But that’s only if they can afford the substantial $263,900 price for the new M5 Touring – which is only $4000 more than the sedan.
For those who can stomach the price of entry we think you’d be mad to not buy one over the sedan as the wagon only adds to the BMW M5’s appeal.
BMW M5 Touring
PRICE: From about $263,900 plus on-road costs
ENGINE: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid, 535kW/1000Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICING: Five years/unlimited km, tbc
SAFETY: Eight airbags, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control (level 2+), remote park assist, 360-degree camera, driver fatigue detection and both side and exit assist, front- and rear-cross traffic assist
THIRST: 2.0L/100km (WLTP)
CARGO: 500 litres
SPARE: Repair kit
Originally published as BMW M5 Touring hybrid review
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