2018 BMW M5 Test Drive Review

• Published On: 3 December 2018
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The BMW M5 is a serious performance sedan with a luxurious interior.

The new generation BMW M5 (F90) has been launched in India and this is based on the G30 5-Series. This is the first time that the M5 is coming with a 4WD system because all previous generations had a standard RWD layout. The new M5 looks killer, comes with a lot of tech and gets the same engine as the older car, albeit in a higher tune producing more power and torque. So, how is the new M5? Time to find out.

Exterior - There is this slightly irritating trend these days of offering virtually identical vehicles in small, medium and large sizes. The BMW M5 is no exception, for the standard 5-Series looks like scaled down version of the 7-Series. The M version adds some serious enhancements, of course. There are elements that stand out and make it feel like the brash 5. The front is dominated by the jet black grille, air intakes and aggressive bumpers. The tiny M5 logo on the kidney grille looks quite cool. The side profile is not vastly different from the standard car but those wheels, the brake callipers, the dominant shoulder line give this car all the necessary athleticism.  The rear is highlighted by the quad tailpipes and additional creases on the bumper, both of which look quite sporty. M5 is an attractive car if not stunning. Like all German sports saloons, there is a refined rage to the way the M5 presents itself. The matte red that we had on our car, however, looked a bit unique. 

Interior - The interior is where the BMW has raised the game and how! It is every bit the kind of atmosphere you expect from a high-end German saloon. It is a typical 5-Series affair here but the M division has thrown more icing on the cake. The large seats, the M logos on them, red switchgear, thick-rimmed steering wheel, all look and feel wonderful. The infotainment screen that sits atop the driver-centric dashboard is a gem. It is crisp, responsive and effortless to use. The M5 additionally gets performance dials which show the power and torque real time, the M-configuration menu that lets you change various aspects of the steering wheel, engine, suspension, and four-wheel-drive system. 

The quality of materials is impressive though a shade lower than that in the Mercedes E63 AMG. Nonetheless, it feels perfectly engineered and well screwed together. The ergonomics are improved substantially over the older M cars. Everything falls to your hands easily and the visibility is not bad either. Should you, for some reason, be bored of listening to the 4.4 V8 roar, you can opt for the excellent sounding Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system. Munich to Monaco? No problem in this cabin.

Performance – The BMW M5 comes with a 4.4-litre, twin turbo, V8 engine producing 600 HP and 750 Nm of torque. The result of this is a 0-100 km/hr time of just 3.2 seconds. The engine is very lively and delivers stonking performance. The way it propels the car from standstill to mind-numbing speeds is just something else. Mated to this engine is an 8-speed automatic gearbox which provides lightning-quick shifts. At the 7000 RPM redline, the M5 just screams and the exhaust note with all its pops and crackles is properly eargasmic. The M5 also comes with multiple driving modes which all you to adjust the steering, suspension, engine and gearbox response.

The BMW M5 also gets a launch control system. While it comes with standard 4WD, you can switch to RWD too but then the car starts having a very tail-happy nature. Thankfully, it comes with a ton of electronics that help in keeping so much power under control. The top speed is limited to 250 km/hr but can be increased to 305 km/hr by purchasing the M Driver’s package. On the fuel efficiency front, the M5 delivers 3-5 km/l.

Driving Dynamics – The M5 offers sharp handling. With Sport+ mode on, it becomes stiff but that helps improve body control and the sedan feels very tight around the corners. It is lighter than the older car thanks to the use of carbon core technology. The ride quality is also good enough for a super sedan but it does thud into potholes. The perforated brakes also offer brilliant stopping power.

Safety - The biggest on the safety front is the all-wheel-drive system which ensures better traction when the going gets tricky. The M5 has all the modern safety features and advanced electronics to keep you on track. The standard 5-Series upon which the M5 is based also scores a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Verdict - The F80 BMW M5 is a performance luxury sedan offering the best of both worlds. It comes with lots of technology and has an excellent cabin and the V8 engine offers brilliant performance. The M5 is also great to drive and is one of the best performance sedans available in the market.