2025 BMW M5: A Heavyweight Hybrid Punch

The BMW M5 has long been the benchmark for the super sedan segment. It is the automotive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife—a vehicle that can handle the daily school run with grace, storm the Autobahn at 180 mph, and hold its own on a technical race track. For nearly 40 years, the M5 has defined what a sports sedan should be. But for 2025, BMW has taken a bold, controversial step. The new G90 generation M5 has gone hybrid.

This isn’t a mild hybrid system designed solely to eke out a few more miles per gallon. This is a full plug-in hybrid performance system, adapted from the XM super-SUV. The result is the most powerful M5 ever created, but also the heaviest. With a curb weight tipping the scales at over 5,300 lbs, the new M5 is heavier than a Ford F-150. Can modern engineering magic overcome the laws of physics? We spent a week with the new M5 to find out.

The Powertrain: Electrified Fury

Under the hood lies the familiar 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine (codenamed S68), a masterpiece of engineering in its own right. On its own, this engine produces 577 horsepower. But in the 2025 M5, it is paired with a powerful electric motor integrated into the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission. This electric motor contributes an additional 194 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque.

When working in concert, the total system output is a staggering 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are supercar territory. The acceleration is brutal and relentless. The 0-60 mph sprint is dispatched in a claimed 3.4 seconds, though in our testing, we consistently saw times closer to 3.1 seconds. The instant torque fill from the electric motor completely eliminates any hint of turbo lag, providing a throttle response that feels telepathic.

But the hybrid system isn’t just about straight-line speed. It allows for pure electric driving for up to 25 miles. This transforms the M5’s character in urban environments. You can glide silently through city centers, emissions-free, before unleashing the V8 on the open road. The transition between electric and gas power is seamless, a testament to BMW’s calibration engineers.

Handling the Weight: Defying Physics

There is no getting around the elephant in the room: the weight. At 5,390 lbs, the new M5 is over 1,000 lbs heavier than the previous F90 generation. On paper, this should ruin the handling. In practice, it’s bafflingly capable.

BMW has thrown every chassis technology in its arsenal at this car to mask its mass. It features:

• Integral Active Steering (Rear-Wheel Steering): The rear wheels can turn up to 1.5 degrees, virtually shortening the wheelbase at low speeds for agility and lengthening it at high speeds for stability.
• Active Roll Stabilization: Electric motors on the anti-roll bars actively fight body roll in corners, keeping the car eerily flat even under high lateral G-loads.
• M xDrive: The sophisticated all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, sending power to the front wheels only when absolutely necessary. And yes, for the hooligans, there is still a 2WD mode that disconnects the front axle entirely for tire-shredding drifts.

On a tight mountain road, you can feel the weight under heavy braking—the laws of physics are immutable, after all. But turn-in is sharp, precise, and immediate. The front end bites with ferocity, and the rear axle follows dutifully. It doesn’t dance like an M2 or even the old M5 CS, but it bludgeons the road into submission with a level of competence that is frankly terrifying.

Interior and Technology

Step inside, and the weight penalty begins to make sense. The cabin is a fortress of luxury and technology. The materials are exquisite—Merino leather covers almost every surface, accented by carbon fiber and aluminum. The new M Multifunction seats are some of the best in the business, offering a perfect balance of long-haul comfort and track-day support.

Dominating the dashboard is the BMW Curved Display, which merges a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 14.9-inch central touchscreen. It runs the latest iDrive 8.5 operating system. While the removal of physical climate control buttons is a step backward in usability, the system is fast, responsive, and packed with features. The M-specific graphics are sharp, providing critical data like tire temperatures and boost pressure at a glance.

The ambient lighting deserves a special mention. The “Interaction Bar” that debuted on the 7 Series makes an appearance here, providing dynamic lighting effects that change based on the driving mode. In Sport mode, the cabin glows with a menacing red hue, while in Electric mode, it adopts a calming blue.

Daily Usability

This is where the M5 has always shone, and the hybrid system only enhances its dual personality. In “Comfort” or “Hybrid” mode, the M5 is a convincing luxury limo. The suspension is compliant, soaking up bumps and imperfections with ease. The cabin is whisper-quiet, especially when running on electric power.

The trunk space is slightly compromised by the battery pack, but it’s still large enough for a week’s worth of luggage or a trip to Costco. The rear seats are spacious, with ample legroom for adults. This is a car you could genuinely drive every single day without compromise.

Fuel economy, usually an afterthought in this segment, is surprisingly decent if you plug it in regularly. We averaged 22 mpg over a week of mixed driving, a significant improvement over the previous V8-only model.

The Competition

The super sedan segment is shrinking, but the competition is fiercer than ever.

• Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance: Also a hybrid, but it swapped its V8 for a 4-cylinder. It’s powerful but lacks the soul and soundtrack of the BMW.
• Audi RS7 Performance: Still rocking a pure V8, it offers a more traditional experience but lags behind the M5 in raw dynamics and technology.
• Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: The purist’s choice. It’s lighter, available with a manual transmission, and offers more steering feel. But it lacks the M5’s all-weather capability and interior polish.

Verdict

The 2025 BMW M5 is a technological marvel. It is a triumph of engineering over physics. It is faster, more refined, and more capable than any M5 before it.

Is it better? That depends on what you value. If you crave the raw, analog connection of the E39 or even the relatively lightweight agility of the F90, the new G90 might feel like a step away from the M division’s roots. It feels more like a compact M760i than a traditional M5.

But viewed as a modern super sedan—a car that needs to navigate emissions regulations, offer cutting-edge tech, and deliver crushing performance—it is a masterpiece. It manages to integrate a complex hybrid system without losing the V8 soul that defines the M5 experience. It’s a heavyweight, yes, but it packs a punch that few cars on earth can match.

Pros:

• Massive power and torque
• Seamless hybrid integration
• Luxurious, high-tech interior
• Incredible handling for its weight

Cons:

• Significantly heavier than its predecessor
• Steering lacks feedback
• No physical climate controls
• Polarizing styling

Rating: 8.8/10