The BMW M5 is the quintessential high-performance midsize sedan and, as of last year, a wagon called the Touring. Part of the eighth-generation 5 Series family, it is a plug-in hybrid with serious power and, unfortunately, weight to match. It takes on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe and the Audi RS 6.
2026 BMW M5 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 BMW M5
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 BMW M5
After a new generation arrived for 2024, the 2026 BMW M5’s plug-in hybrid system can charge faster on a Level 2 home charger, thanks to an 11-kW onboard charger replacing the previous 7.4-kW unit. Inside, it gets two new two-tone Merino leather combinations: Dark Violet/Black or Taupe/Deep Lagoon.
Design
Sedan or wagon, the M5 cuts an imposing shape. It’s a midsize car with blocky lines and a high-set, dark version of the BMW twin-kidney grille. Large air intakes sit up front, below squinting LED headlights, while the detailing along the sides is defined by angular creases. Quad exhaust tips at the rear and a set of staggered tires on 20-inch front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels announce the car’s capabilities. Shadowline exterior trim is standard, with gloss-black on the mirror caps, window surrounds, and rear apron. The M Carbon Fiber Exterior package uses carbon fiber for the roof, mirror caps, and rear spoiler. Buyers can also get a front grille that lights up.
Powertrain
The M5 features a monstrous plug-in hybrid powertrain that starts with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that houses an electric motor, and the two power all four wheels, though the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system also includes a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mode. The engine spins out 577 horsepower on its own, and total output is 717 hp and 738 pound-feet of torque. A 14.5-kWh battery supplies power to the motor and unlocks 25 miles of electric driving range.
Interior
Every M5 comes standard with power-adjustable heated front sport seats upholstered in Merino leather. The headliner is Alcantara, and buyers also get a heated steering wheel, four-zone automatic climate control, an Interaction Bar with ambient lighting, a color head-up display, and a panoramic sunroof. An optional Executive Package includes ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and power rear and rear-side window sunshades. The M5 sedan’s trunk has 16.5 cubic feet of space, while the Touring has a much more useful 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 59.3 cubic feet behind the front seat when the second row is folded flat.
Technology
The M5’s cabin crackles with modern technology, highlighted by a curved display with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system runs the iDrive 8.5 interface that is easy to use with a generally flat control structure. It also comes standard with cloud-based navigation, a digital key, wireless device charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Drivers can rock the tunes with a standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system with 655 watts of power. BMW’s Connected Package Professional is also standard. It provides real-time traffic and on-street parking information (available in select cities), connected music and weather information, and Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control. It’s free for four years, then requires a subscription.
Safety
Standard safety features include automatic parking, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors with steering support, lane-keep assist, and front, side, and rear parking sensors with emergency braking. Options include adaptive cruise control, automatic lane-change capability, evasive-steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and Traffic Jam Assist that can handle the controls on highways at speeds under 40 mph. The M5 had no official crash-test scores at the time of writing, though the related 5 Series sedan has Good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the small front overlap and updated side-impact crash tests, and Good ratings for its headlights and front crash-prevention system.
Pricing and Release Date
At the time of writing, the BMW M5 sedan was priced at $126,850, including a $2,600 gas-guzzler tax and a $1,450 destination fee. The M5 Touring wagon started at $128,850. In addition to the features mentioned above, the M5 is loaded with performance equipment, including an M Sport exhaust system, adaptive dampers, big brakes, and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. It also gets a power-operated trunk and tailgate. Notable options include carbon-ceramic brakes, an M Driver’s Package that raises the top speed from 155 to 190 mph and includes a day of track driving instruction, and an M Drive Professional Package that adds an M Track driving mode, Dynamic, and Dynamic+ hybrid modes, 10-stage M Traction Control, a lap timer, and a boost mode for full power for 10-second bursts. The 2026 BMW M5 is on sale now.
