Is the 2026 BMW M5 a good car?

The 2026 BMW M5 earns an expert rating of 7.17/10. The model scores 9/10 across Performance and Technology.

BMW positions this M5 as a performance car that still works in daily life, and the data backs that up: you get a plug-in hybrid powertrain, multiple body styles, and a blend of serious speed with everyday comfort. The trade-offs are clear, though: the design may be polarizing, the dashboard layout is awkward, and the interior is described as gaudy.

Good and great deals percentage: 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there’s some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 BMW M5 reliable?

The 2026 BMW M5 is presented as a highly engineered performance sedan with a plug-in hybrid system, adaptive chassis hardware, and a broad range of adjustable driving settings. BMW’s setup suggests a car built for both hard use and relaxed cruising, and the performance content emphasizes that the chassis tech feels natural even with the car’s complexity.

The expert data also points to a well-integrated powertrain and chassis, plus a usable electric-driving range that can make day-to-day operation easier when you plug in regularly. If you keep up with maintenance and buy a well-kept example, the main long-term ownership risk is the usual one for a complex high-performance hybrid: expensive repairs if prior care was inconsistent.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 BMW M5?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 98.4% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on a car with this much performance hardware and hybrid complexity. Focus on overall condition, signs of hard use, and whether the car has been maintained consistently, since the M5’s appeal depends on both its drivetrain and its chassis systems working as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The standard car already brings a dramatic exterior, a glass roof with power sunshade, Merino leather front seats, paddle shifters, and performance presets, while the optional Executive Package adds front and rear seat heating plus front-seat ventilation.
• Powertrain: You’re looking at a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, an eight-speed automatic, and a plug-in hybrid system with 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
• Safety package: Standard driver aids include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed limit adjustment, blind-spot monitors, parking sensors, and Backup Assistant. The Driving Assistant Professional Package adds automated lane centering and Traffic Jam Assistant.
• Infotainment: The standard BMW Curved Display combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen, and the system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, YouTube streaming, AirConsole gaming, and over-the-air capability through BMW’s iDrive 8.5 setup.
• Fuel efficiency: The sedan is rated at 14 mpg combined, with 25 miles of EPA-rated electric range.

Which 2026 BMW M5 trim should I buy?

The 2026 BMW M5 is offered in 2 trim levels: sedan, Touring.

Here's the short version:

• sedan: This is the better pick if you want the lower starting price and the classic M5 formula with the same 717-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain, strong performance hardware, and daily usability.
• Touring: Choose this if you want the wagon body style and the added practicality that comes with it; it’s the more distinctive choice and the one that best fits the M5’s “do everything” mission.

The safety package is strong either way, but the Driving Assistant Professional Package is the key upgrade if you want lane-centering and Traffic Jam Assistant.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 BMW M5?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without expecting a fire sale.

• Deal availability: 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 190 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 98.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $121,299.35, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 BMW M5 safe?

Crash-test results from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard driver-assistance features include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed limit adjustment, blind-spot monitors, parking sensors, and Backup Assistant. The Driving Assistant Professional Package adds automated lane centering and Traffic Jam Assistant for stop-and-go highway driving at speeds up to 40 mph.

BMW also gives you useful control over the driver aids: Sport mode reduces most steering and brake interventions, while Track mode turns everything off completely. That flexibility is helpful if you plan to drive the car enthusiastically, but it also means some of the more advanced assistance features are not standard on every version.

Should I buy a 2026 BMW M5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 98.4% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• BMW adds a more powerful onboard charger and more paint choices.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It introduced the plug-in hybrid M5 formula and brought major redesign changes.

The bottom line: If you want the latest version of this M5 with the updated onboard charger and current-year inventory, the 2026 is the straightforward choice. If you’re shopping primarily on value and want the same core redesign-era performance and daily usability, the 2025 is worth a close look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.