nAlready legendary in its past guise, the new BMW M5 Hybrid is here to break through to the next era in motorcars. The M connotes the pinnacle of BMW performance and the M5 is one of the most revered nameplates within the brand. But does getting a jolt of electricity help or hurt the effort? Napleton News finds out.
What’s so special about this new BMW M5?
The new BMW 5 Series was introduced in 2024, but the M5 is new for 2025. The old one was a bit stale, and it was time for a change. Well, now we have one, and it is a doozie!
Why are we talking that way about such a legendary vehicle? That’s because the M5 is going into uncharted territory being the first M car with Plug-in Hybrid technology. Notice we said car, because the XM SUV has been plug in from its inception in 2023.
The heart of the matter.
The beating heart of the new BMW M5 Hybrid is its award-winning 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It is a staple throughout the lineup used in everything from 5 Series, to the X7 SUV to the ultra high-performance Alpina line. It is even used in other brands like Land Rover and Rolls Royce. Here, though, we’re looking at a mill that adds an M-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission with electric motor. The combo delivers 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. All that torque goes to an M-tuned all-wheel drive system.
The M5 is equipped with the North American Charging Standard plug-in outlet, also known as the Tesla Charger. While the BMW M5 Hybrid features a typical 4-year/50,000 mile comprehensive and powertrain warranty, with four years and unlimited mileage of roadside assistance. The batteries, on the other hand, are covered for eight years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Our sampler was equipped with the added-cost carbon ceramic brake system. Fade-free but expensive to replace, they just may be what the doctor ordered for those track day excursions that you will likely see from time to time. They are 55 pounds lighter than the standard kit, which does come in handy when trying to shed weight.
There are several drive modes that offer different power choices with the BMW M5 Hybrid. While driving in Comfort mode, most of the power will come from the electric side of the equation. Sport and Sport+ find the gas engine doing most of the heavy lifting while the Dynamic modes deliver maximum power for track situations.
With the BMW M5 Hybrid, looks matter.
Featuring a wider body, the new M5 looks more aggressive than the run-of-the-mill 5-Series. The fenders have been flared a bit to accommodate wider wheels and tires. The look is good, although we think the boys and girls in Munich could have gone further. For instance, we understand the need for the plastic-y appearance of the grille because of pedestrian safety rules, but in this case the plastic makes the M5 appear more like an EV rather than an air-grabbing European Muscle car. There’s a rather large splitter/air spoiler that looks as though it’s confused whether it should be at the front or the back of the car.
Our car was equipped with the added cost carbon fiber roof. It serves two, well three purposes: It sheds about 66 pounds of weight, it lowers the center of gravity and it looks cool. Still, there is a good, if luxuriously high-performance look to the M5 sedan. It’s like the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Gentle looking on the outside, and ferocious under all that fur.
How about inside the M5?
The interior of the M5 is a mix of great hides, LED lighting and more. The seats are genuinely supportive and are ventilated in front. Passengers can even take advantage of heated outboard seating in back.
BMW’s curved display takes up most of the dashboard real estate but with good reason. Bowers and Wilkins Surround Sound is responsible for the audio tickling and it does an amazing job. There’s also wireless device charging. BMW’s iDrive Controller worked fine here but sometimes it was just faster to reach out and touch someone, er, something on the curved display.
An interesting fact: The hybrid battery array in the BMW M5 does not encroach on cabin or cargo space. This means there is no compromise in space and roominess in the M5. Pop the trunk lid to find 18.4-cubic feet of cargo room. If that’s still not enough, pick up the M5 Touring Wagon instead, which delivers 57.6-cubic feet of cargo space.
Behind the wheel of the M5.
This is a brute of a sport sedan that feels smaller than it actually is. That’s because of BMW’s adaptive M-Tuned suspension. Others call it by its more common name of “rear wheel steering.” To-may-to, to-mah-to. You get the idea. It’s a well-sorted accessory that helps to “shorten” the feel of the car as it cuts a corner. We say bravo!
But that’s just the handling aspect. What about acceleration?
It’s blistering. The reaction to a jab of the skinny pedal is one that will kick you back in the seat harder than a flying dropkick from legendary wrestler Ric Flair. It is, after all, the most powerful M5 offered to date. With 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque at the ready, there are very few cars in the segment that may keep up with it. But there are a few!
The BMW M5 Hybrid can be many cars to many people. As good as it is, it still manages to fall short in a couple ways. There’s too much going on in the drive mode selector, and the front seats lack a massage function. But we understand this is a performance car rather than a pure luxury car. But at $145,000, it should be both.
BMW M5 Hybrid Specifications
| Motor Type | 4.4-liter Twin Turbocharged gasoline-electric V8 |
| Horsepower | 717 hp |
| Torque | 738 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Hwy) | 50 MPGe |
| Suspension F/R | Double Wishbone / Multi-link |
| Turning Circle | 41.3 ft. |
| Also Available | |
| Specs | |
| Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Battery Warranty | 8 years/80,000 miles |
| NHTSA Safety Rating | Not Rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Wheelbase | 118.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 200.6 inches |
| Width | 77.6 inches |
| Height | 59.4 inches |
| Cargo Space | 16.5 Cubic Feet |
| Headroom, 1st | 39.1 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd | 37.7 inches |
| Legroom, 1st | 41.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd | 37.0 inches |
| Shoulder room, 1st row | 59.2 inches |
| Shoulder room, 2nd row | 56.9 inches |
