Two legendary nameplates have defined BMW M throughout history—the M3 and the M5. The M3 was sold in coupe and convertible forms for half of its history, but the M5 was conceived from the start to be BMW M’s segment-defining four-door sports car. As such, the BMW M5 has served as the brand’s flagship sports sedan ever since.
Trends come and go, but regulations unfortunately dictate what a car should be. For the M5 to remain alive, it had to adopt a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It may be a controversial move, but as you’ll see later, BMW has done a great job of maintaining as much of the M5’s appeal as possible despite stricter emissions regulations. To understand how they were able to achieve this, let’s take a look at what BMW has done to maintain the M5’s desirability among super sedans.
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Evaluating The Competition
To understand where the 2026 BMW M5 sits, we have to evaluate what kind of competition it is dealing with. At this price point, competition isn’t just fierce—they’re downright the most capable four-door sedans that this world will ever witness. There’s no room for messing up, especially for the most discerning customers.
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Back when developing a sports sedan was still straightforward, the M5’s competition was also simple. If you wanted the attitude of a muscle car but in a refined suit, you’d go for the Mercedes-AMG E 63. Meanwhile, the all-wheel drive (AWD) grip provided by Audi’s signature Quattro system meant you’d end up with an RS6 at some point. In fact, the fight in this segment was mostly centered around the E 63, RS6, and M5.
Unfortunately, these two competitors are now gone—or at least are in their transition phases. The RS6 is still under development within Audi, while the Mercedes-AMG E 63’s successor is in limbo. For now, if you want a Mercedes rival for the M5, your options aren’t exactly that straightforward. The E 53 Hybrid 4Matic is a plug-in hybrid with a 3.0-liter electrically turbocharged straight-six, which means it is down on power versus the M5’s 4.4-liter V-8 plug-in hybrid drivetrain. This leads us to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, which is its only traditional competitor in 2026—one that’s formed a reputation for being one of the most brilliant V-8 midsize sports sedans at a time when the M5 has become a heavy plug-in hybrid.
Options Are Now Broad
Now in 2026, your choices for a V-8 midsize luxury super sedan are very diverse and beyond what would be considered the BMW M5’s traditional competitors. Want a V-8 midsize luxury super sedan but without the plug-in hybrid complexity? That’s where the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door and Porsche Panamera GTS come in. Both feature a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, and neither features any form of electrification—not even a mild hybrid. If you want a non-hybrid German M5 alternative, you’ll have to choose between these two more expensive machines, since the AMG GT 4-Door and Panamera are more premium four-door sedans.
On the other hand, if you still want a V-8 plug-in hybrid setup like the M5, the AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door and Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid still exist. However, you’re going to be spending at least $200,000 on these vehicles, and at that point, you’re better off getting the M5, along with using the spare change to get yourself a BMW M2.
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How BMW Saved The V8 When Others Gave Up
When designing the M5, the folks at BMW M have to navigate stricter emissions regulations while keeping their customer base happy. While this introduces a few compromises to the 2026 BMW M5, it’s hard to argue that this is the best you could probably achieve in a super sedan that balances regulatory needs with customer wants.
Yes, It’s Heavy, But It’s Still As Good As It Can Be
Would it have been better if BMW M had simply limited this engine to a mild hybrid setup in the M5? Absolutely! Now, you may ask why Cadillac can keep the CT5-V Blackwing without a plug-in hybrid. Well, the answer is simple. This sedan is only sold in North America, and so it only needs to comply with North American emissions regulations. The M5? It’s sold everywhere, including Europe and China, where such laws are even stricter.
Unfortunately, emissions and even fuel economy regulations aren’t computed on a simple per-model basis, but also on a fleet-wide basis. Yet, we have to credit BMW M for still keeping with the M5’s 4.0-liter V-8, because the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance went the 2.0-liter electrically turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid route, and we all know how that went for the brand.
Sticking To Its Core Competencies
There are so many options these days, but none of them are its traditional competition, while non-electrified options are even more expensive because these choices are flagship sedans of competing brands. The M5 still exists today because it was able to comply with stricter emissions regulations, while still keeping the ingredients that defined the M5. In this case, it’s the V-8, and thank goodness, it’s a good V-8. Under its hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8—aka the S68 that’s derived from the iconic S63. The S68’s main difference from the S63 is its ability to work around various electrified technologies. Our team has also been able to comprehensively review the 2026 BMW M5, and while we can always lament its weight gain and plug-in hybrid powertrain, the fact of the matter is, among super sedans with a plug-in hybrid, it’s still one of the absolute best when it comes to handling.
|
Engine |
4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 plug-in hybrid |
|
System Horsepower |
717 hp |
|
System Torque |
738 lb-ft |
|
Drivetrain |
AWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.4 sec. (sedan) 3.5 sec. (wagon) |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
|
EPA Electric Range |
29 miles (sedan) 25 miles (wagon) |
|
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) |
15 MPG (sedan) 14 MPG (wagon) |
|
EPA Energy Efficiency (Combined) |
TBA |
|
Base MSRP |
$123,300 (sedan) $125,300 (wagon) |
The steering feel, like with most BMWs these days, isn’t the most rich on center, but its body control is excellent, the chassis tuning is as sublime as any plug-in hybrid super sedan can be, and its V-8 engine note behind those electric motors is going to be better than the E 53 Hybrid 4Matic’s inline-six or even worse, the C 63 S E Performance’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Finally, you also have to remember what the BMW M5 is all about. Yes, it’s able to keep up with sports cars, but it’s also meant to be a business sedan—one that’s refined, comfortable, and relaxing on a long day of running a company. Indeed, it can still satisfy that duty, albeit with a slightly unsettled ride, as our review notes, because the suspension needs to compensate for its more-than-5,000-pound heft.
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Everything Else A BMW M5 Offers
The 2026 BMW M5 is indeed one of the world’s all-time great super sedans, and so if you’re interested in splurging more than $120,000 on yourself, then here’s what you need to know about this vehicle in terms of design and features.
Wide But Handsome Looks
The 2026 BMW M5 is a complex machine since it needs to deal with a plug-in hybrid system. At the same time, the M5’s platform also needs to accommodate a pure electric drivetrain since this is also being utilized by the fully electric i5. The resulting design may not be the most elegant thing in the world. Whether you like it or not is up to you—design is subjective anyway. Personally, the M5 in 2026 isn’t at its leanest, but it’s about as good as it can get.
Undoubtedly, however, the M5 to go for, in my opinion, is the M5 Touring. The car ain’t light, so you might as well go all in with the M5’s all-rounder demeanor, right? Besides, while design is subjective, a wagon will almost universally be more handsome to any car enthusiast. The bulbous look is easily cured by its long roof and taut shoulders—one that looks well-proportioned with a more upright rear end.
A Tech-Loaded Interior
As for the interior, this is going to be a place that will satisfy those who love tech, but will probably infuriate those who want a more traditional layout. To be fair, it’s a good thing that iDrive 8.5 is one of the nicest infotainment systems you’ll encounter in any vehicle. You also have the option to navigate those two large screens via the signature iDrive controller. Unfortunately, apart from the iDrive controller and a few shortcut buttons, there aren’t many physical controls around the vehicle.
Thankfully, the interior itself, though not the most stylish for its six-figure price point, is still well-built and high quality. There’s a wide variety of trim and leather upholstery choices for the M5, along with plenty of options to splurge on if you really want to go all-in with the luxury items. Go for the wagon version, and you’ll appreciate the rear seat space, especially since this model has an upright roof line.
Sources: BMW