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Brawned up but slimmed down – BMW’s thumping new M5
BMW M5: brutal power, muscular looks, better mpg
BMW M5 V8 auto saloon car review
Review: Richard Lofthouse
What is it?
BRAND new, fifth generation BMW M5 slashes CO2 and taxes while increasing performance, doing both with the aid of twin turbos. In all other respects the car remains faithful to the M heritage – the muscular looks are there, the quad exhausts are there, the luxury is there and the dynamic handling is there. The car is on sale now and costs £73,040 on the road, while if you’re thinking of running an M5 through your business, the P11d for company car tax purposes is £72,195.
What’s hot?
- 4.4 litre V8 beats out a lovely baritone sound and lies at the heart of the M5 package
- Torque up a significant 30%, power up 53hp
- CO2 slashed to 232g/km, mpg hugely improved over outgoing M5 to 28.5mpg
- Conservative, classic styling hides a 0-62 time reduced 0.3 sec to 4.4 seconds
- Active M-Differential allows serious track credentials, as do much improved brakes
- 7-speed auto/manual transmission now includes stop-start technology as well, and it works faultlessly
- High levels of standard kit compared to lesser models in the range, includes heated seats and excellent head-up sat nav display
What’s not?
- Conservative, classic styling is bland to some
- Space grey not as convincing as monte carlo blue, unless you are deliberately playing it down
- Near-two-tonne bulk makes M5 more like a lightweight Bentley GT contender than true track star
- Internet preparation still costs extra
- Easy to add £10k in options, which seems wrong at these heights
- Avoid the optional full merino leather at £5,445…
- …basic leather is standard and more than adequate
- Split-folding rear seat is still a £375 option
- Absence of traditional manual transmission arguably reduces driver involvement…
- …but greatly enhances ease of use
- Despite the CO2 reductions, BMW M5′s company car tax is 35%
- With a benefit in kind rating of £10,107 for a 40% tax payer
What you need to Know
| P11D Value: | £72,195 |
| Monthly Rental*: | £1098 + VAT per month upwards |
| Tax Band when posted: | 35%, 35%, 35% |
| Monthly BiK: | Check M5 BIK here |
| Engine: | 4.4 litre, V8 turbocharged petrol |
| CO2 Emissions: | 232g/km |
| Power/torque: | 560hp/ 680 Nm |
| Economy: | 28.5mpg |
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