Before I was handed the keys to a 2026 BMW M5 Touring Wagon, I read the PDF of its Monroney in shock after reading that, after add-ons, taxes, and fees, it cost a whopping $145,775. I saw things listed that helped justify the price, like “717-horsepower bi-turbo V8,” “PHEV,” and “M Carbon Ceramic Brakes,” and knew I was in for one hell of a ride. And I was right to assume that, because it checked every box: it can fit the family, there’s plenty of power, it had an amazing sound, and it was easy on the eyes. When I saw it parked in my driveway, the price made even more sense.
Kristen Brown
Driving it, though, made the price feel like a bargain. The transmission is one of the most responsive ones I’ve experienced, the twin-turbo V8 is always ready for action, the interior technology is brilliant—all while getting about 25 miles to the gallon. I didn’t want to give it back. After driving about a few different six-figure cars, including the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680, this is one of two (the other one being the Rivian R1S Quad Motor) that feel like it’s worth the money. Let me explain.
The base price of the 2025 BMW M5 Touring Wagon is $121,500, but my tester had a total MSRP of $145,775. So, what kind of upgrades did my shaggin’ wagon come with to bring the price up by $24,275? Well, quite a bit.
Kristen Brown
Here’s a breakdown of the added packages, their prices, and what they add to the overall experience:
Kristen Brown
If you think the packages bloat the price by too much, don’t worry—the M5 Touring Wagon still comes with a very long list of standard convenience, safety, and comfort features that keep up with BMW’s prestige, like an all-wheel drive system that can be turned into an RWD system if you want to either drift or save on MPGs, a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, a fixed “sky lounge” panoramic sunroof (huge hit with my toddlers), a comprehensive and fully customizable HUD, M-Drive modes that allowed you to adjust every aspect, and an excellent PHEV system (more on that later).
Because BMW’s typical buyer is an affluent 56-year-old male, and M5 buyers are reportedly only “slightly” younger, it makes sense that the technology offers a lot, but is remarkably simple to figure out and use. Finding menus is easy, the app icons are even easier, and the 14.9-inch infotainment screen is bright, responsive, and doesn’t cause any strain on the eyes. I also learned that it’s designed to be perfectly legible in sunlight without being too bright, and that makes perfect sense. BMW’s operating system is one of the more seamless software systems I’ve had the pleasure to become acquainted with, especially the customization menus.
Most PHEVs offer the ability to customize how the gas engine and the battery interact, but the M5 had five different modes that come with the M Drive Professional package: EV mode, hybrid mode, eControl, as well as dynamic and dynamic plus. eCONTROL tells the M5 to prioritize the gas engine so it can maintain the battery’s current charge level—or even recharge it through braking and engine load—so you have full electric power saved for later in your trip. Dynamic keeps both the gas and electric systems active and primed for sustained high performance. It ensures the cooling system is pre-conditioned for hard driving and maintains a “ready” state for constant power delivery.
Kristen Brown
Then there’s the Dynamic Plus mode. This would be considered the track-ready mode, because it pushes the electric motor and the V8 to their absolute limits for short bursts of maximum system output, though it will eventually dial back once the battery’s thermal or energy limits are reached. There’s also sort of a hidden boost control function, which is activated by pulling and holding the left-hand shift paddle for more than one second; the car automatically switches all powertrain and chassis systems to their sportiest settings for an instantaneous burst of speed.
The Monroney says that, as a gas-only car, the 717-horsepower twin-turbo V8 is rated for a cringey 13 mpg in combined driving. As a hybrid, though, I saw much better figures. Even in Sport mode and driving it pretty hard, I saw an average of 25 mpg in most settings. Those meager figures are built around a depleted battery, but when the battery is used regularly, the PHEV system functions as an efficiency multiplier. By relying on the electric motor to handle high-load situations—like starting from a standstill or maintaining cruising speed—the system significantly reduces the strain on the V8.
Kristen Brown
For the nerdy ones like me who find this stuff interesting, the battery is integrated directly into the transmission, and it produces 194 horsepower (the V8 produces 523 horsepower). Being built into the transmission is what gives the M5 its seemingly instantaneous acceleration, without needing a separate set of gears. When fully charged, you’re granted 25 miles of purely electric driving. Which, on its own, isn’t all that impressive to me. What made the ultimate difference was how efficient the M5 was when the electric motor and the V8 worked together. Can you name another performance wagon with over 700 horsepower that gets that good of mileage? Didn’t think so.
I know, I know—fat brakes, all that horsepower and torque paired with all those drive modes are not typically synonymous with a comfortable ride. But there’s a reason BMW’s known as the “ultimate driving machine.” Yes, it’s built for the track, but as a daily driver, it was surprisingly good. I typically drove the M5 in Sport mode because I preferred the responsiveness of the drive and powertrain in conjunction with the juicy performance exhaust (I rarely get to hear the roar of a V8 anymore, can you blame me?), but when I had my toddlers in tow, I put it in comfort mode, and it was an entirely different animal.
Kristen Brown
The throttle response isn’t as rambunctious, the steering is a bit squishier, and the ride is noticeably smoother. It doesn’t feel like there are 717 rip snortin’ ponies under the hood. It feels tame, making it perfect for road trips or appeasing any passengers with sensitive backs or necks. And because it’s a PHEV that allows you to drive it tamely to prioritize mileage if you want to, a road trip is even more doable. Unlike most performance cars of this caliber, the M5 Touring Wagon can (and should) be driven daily.
Yes, the M5 Touring Wagon is built for the track, but it’s also well-equipped for family duty, too. First, there’s over 37 inches of legroom back there, so even adults would have SUV-like space to make themselves comfortable. My kids are in car seats, but the Executive Package adds heated seats for rear passengers, in case you were hauling the in-laws to your timeshare in Lake Tahoe for the ski season. Speaking of skis, the M5, like other BMW models, has 40/20/40 split-folding seats, designed to carry the skis through the middle seat while still toting four passengers—car seat-bound or otherwise. BMW certainly understands its audience.
Kristen Brown
Kristen Brown
Behind the seats, there’s 27.2 cubic feet of space at your disposal, which is perfect for a double stroller, a Costco haul, golf bags, you name it. If you fold the seats flat, that expands to 67 cubic feet in case you have to haul furniture, lumber, or you’re helping a friend move. Space aside, there are other amenities the M5 gladly offers, like climate control settings, dedicated AC vents, USB-C charging ports for both the driver and passenger side, and, because of the Executive Package, manual sunshades that cover the entire window. Including the port hole-style side window. The panoramic sunroof extends over the second row and is tinted, which my toddlers loved—no matter how short the drive was. If anyone you know is prone to car sickness, that feature will come in handy.
The M5’s window sticker dubs it the ultimate driving machine, and while we covered the delectable performance aspects, one of my favorite aspects of this car was the advanced driving features. I noticed the interior camera above the infotainment screen, which told me my M5 came with a few very cool, very advanced safety features. First is the Advanced Driving Assistant Pro, which comes with the Driving Assistance Professional package. This semi-autonomous system provides “hands-off” driving capability on limited-access highways at speeds up to 85 mph, and it manages steering, acceleration, and braking. You still have to pay attention, though, and the car will know, because it has an interior camera.
Kristen Brown
With the interior camera, though, comes Active Lane Change with Eye Activation. This was, hands down, my favorite feature. It works with either Advanced Driving Assistant Pro or the car’s standard adaptive cruise control—but if the car sees an opening to either pass a slower truck or follow a navigational route, it’ll wait for you to look at the corresponding side mirror. Then, and only then, the M5 will make the lane change. Probably so a human can make doubly sure it’s safe to do so. I tested it while stuck in Bay Area traffic (a rarity, I know), and it was a very accurate, responsive system. At speeds under 40 mph, you can use Traffic Jam Assist, which is a hands-free system that will do the steering, braking, and accelerating for you. I can confirm it works, and it works beautifully.
The Active Cruise Control with Distance Control works flawlessly in traffic, too. You still set the speed, of course, but it follows the lead car at a distance set by the driver, and it smoothly does all the stopping and going without any fuss. It also comes with Evasion Assistant, which automatically detects and avoids objects in the road to avoid a collision, and Emergency Stop Assistant, which is a cool safety feature that automatically stops the car if the interior camera senses you’ve been inattentive for too long. It’ll cue audio alerts, and if those are ignored, the car will pull over, activate hazard lights, and notify emergency services.
Kristen Brown
And, of course, the way these systems work can be customized or turned off depending on the style of driving you want for the day through the M Mode settings. There are three to choose from: Road, Sport, or Track. In Road mode, all assistance systems are fully active for maximum safety. When in Sport mode, assistance systems like lane departure warning and side collision mitigation are deactivated to allow for more spirited, manual driving without electronic intervention. Then there’s Track mode, which comes with the M Drive Professional package, that deactivates all driver assistance features and even shuts off the center display to ensure zero distractions.
The M5 in Smyrna green is quite the attention getter, and everywhere I went, someone had to take the time to talk about the car, the color, or the horsepower. During my week, I had to pick up and drop off my husband at our local hospital for a simple, non-invasive procedure. While I was parked in the patient pickup area, a nurse gave me a very enthusiastic thumbs up, a nod, and he mouthed the word “nice.” When a staff member was helping my husband get into the passenger’s side, he said, “I love the color of your car,” before proceeding to go over the findings of his procedure. Neighbors complimented it, teens asked me to rev it, and servicemen nodded. If you’re a sucker for attention, the M5 will certainly get it for you.
Kristen Brown
I’m a person who genuinely enjoys talking about the cars I’m reviewing with people who can appreciate it, but it can sometimes embarrass my introverted husband. So, introverts beware. But extroverts will love it.
A truly multipurpose car, especially a luxury performance car, is a rare find. At first, I felt compelled to dismiss it because of the seemingly unattainable price tag. Most cars are priced that high purely because of prestige, or the power held by the name, not by offerings or capability. This is not the case for the BMW M5 Touring Wagon. This wagon is worth its weight in gold. It can truly do a little bit of everything. The only thing I wasn’t happy with was the fact that, with a journalist’s salary, I can’t afford one. But maybe someday…
Kristen Brown is an Oregon-based automotive writer and photographer who has been covering the industry since 2018. She specializes in a wide range of topics, including industry news, off-road vehicles, and Subaru culture, with a particular focus on testing new family cars from the practical perspective of a parent. Her writing has been featured in outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, The US Sun, and HotCars, while her photography has been published in Autoweek and Vintage Motorsports.
