Some goals take many years to come back true. For followers of BMW’s M division, the arrival of the 2025 M5 Touring within the U.S. is a long-overdue second. For years, fanatics have pined for a high-performance wagon from Bavaria—one thing that mixes the practicality of an SUV with the unrelenting fury of an M automotive. Now, that dream is a actuality. However goals hardly ever come with out caveats. At practically 5,300 kilos, the M5 Touring isn’t simply breaking pace information—it’s testing the scales. Is that this heavyweight a champion, or has it strayed too removed from its agile, enthusiast-driven roots?
Design: Operate Meets Ferocity
BMW wagons have an extended historical past of wanting higher than their sedan counterparts, and the M5 Touring proudly upholds that custom. It in some way makes the M5 look each extra menacing and extra sensible, stretching the sedan’s brooding aggression right into a form that’s unmistakably utilitarian with out shedding its commanding presence. But, regardless of its expanded proportions, nothing about it feels awkward or pressured.
However this isn’t only a wagon for present. With 58 cubic ft of cargo area, the Touring has room for all the pieces from grocery runs to a weekend’s price of monitor necessities. It’s a automotive that doesn’t make you select between practicality and efficiency—it permits you to get pleasure from each with equal ease.
Powertrain: Now Slower With extra Energy
Below the Touring’s lengthy hood lies the identical electrified S68 engine that powers its sedan sibling. The dual-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, paired with a hybrid motor, produces a staggering 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. On paper, that is an absurd quantity of energy for a wagon, but it surely seems the M5 Touring wants all of it. Regardless of BMW’s xDrive system making certain grip, its 0-60 mph time of three.4 secondsis slower than the earlier technology—extra on why in a second.
As anticipated from BMW, the hybrid system isn’t nearly energy. The 14.8-kWh battery permits the Touring to cowl round 25 miles of pure electrical driving. Pulling away from a crowded car parking zone in whole silence was a refreshing expertise, although as soon as the V8 roars to life, its (augmented) bass-heavy soundtrack reminds you of the efficiency pedigree. Nonetheless, this hybrid expertise comes with a weighty draw back.
Driving Dynamics: Weight vs Dynamics
No dialogue of the M5 Touring can ignore its weight. Tipping the scales at over 5,200 kilos, it’s heavier than many SUVs, together with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Even with in depth use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum, the hybrid system and structural reinforcements add 140 kilos over the sedan.
But M engineers have a penchant for making weight appear to vanish behind the wheel–principally. On paper, the M5 Touring’s dynamics appear each bit as sharp as an M automotive’s needs to be. On the street, it’s principally true—till you push the automotive into its limits. The chassis reinforcements and retuned Adaptive M suspension do an admirable job masking the mass, however in tight corners or throughout repeated exhausting braking, the heft subtly reminds you it’s there.
Does it drive like an M automotive? For probably the most half, sure. The steering is sharp, the physique management spectacular, and the general sense of confidence stays intact. BMW’s extra bracing and suspension recalibrations make sure the Touring feels extra participating than its weight suggests.
Nonetheless, physics has its limits. Whereas we didn’t get to check this pre-production instance on a monitor, our time with an M5 sedan at BMW’s South Carolina Efficiency Middle revealed a automotive that’s distinctive for its measurement—although undeniably giant.
When the tempo quickens, there’s no hiding the elephant within the room. However for many it is likely to be exhausting to identify. We discovered that the Touring dances properly in sweeping corners, the tight rhythm of switchbacks reveal a automotive that has been tuned to ship precision (if not true suggestions) that breeds confidence that one of the best M vehicles have all the time delivered.
Inside: Acquainted M Luxurious With a Wagon Twist
Inside, the M5 Touring is each bit as luxurious and tech-packed as its sedan sibling. At $121,500 you’d anticipate that it might ship as a luxurious automotive as a lot as a sports activities sedan. And in our temporary time with it, we will verify it does. The fabric high quality is one of the best we’ve ever seen in an M automotive and the curved 12.3-inch driver show and 14.9-inch infotainment display dominate the dashboard with crisp graphics and M-specific UI particulars.
It’s the rear, nevertheless, the place the Touring really shines. With its prolonged roofline and rear hatch, it gives as much as 58 cubic ft of cargo area—greater than triple the sedan’s 18.7 cubic ft. This added practicality makes it an interesting selection for drivers who want versatility however don’t desire a crossover. The wagon’s wide-opening tailgate and decrease load top (in comparison with the X5) make it simple to make use of, whether or not you’re loading suitcases or stowing track-day gear.
Verdict: A Sensible Wagon and a Flawed M5
The 2025 BMW M5 Touring is a automotive of fascinating contradictions. It’s blisteringly quick but undeniably heavy. It’s sensible but indulgent. It wears the badge of a driving icon whereas balancing innovation with compromise.
For fanatics who’ve lengthy begged for a high-performance BMW wagon, it delivers on practically each depend. However the query stays: does the Touring carry an excessive amount of weight—each actually and figuratively—to actually embody the M spirit?
In the end, the M5 Touring pushed the boundaries of what an M automotive may be. For some, will probably be an ideal mix of energy, utility, and luxurious. For others, it could really feel like a step too removed from the ethos that when outlined the model. What can’t be denied is that the M5 Touring challenges our expectations—and for BMW, which may simply be the purpose. In spite of everything, the idea of the last word driving machine has by no means been about purity. It’s concerning the pursuit of one thing that places a smile in your face in any state of affairs, on any day. In that body, the M5 Touring over delivers.
