Why the BMW M5 is still the king of the super sedan & more related news here

Two legendary names have defined BMW M throughout history: the M3 and the M5. The M3 was sold in coupe and convertible form for half of its history, but the M5 was conceived from the beginning to be BMW M’s segment-defining four-door sports car. As such, the BMW M5 has been the brand’s flagship sports sedan ever since.

Trends come and go, but unfortunately regulations dictate what a car should be. For the M5 to stay alive, it had to adopt a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It may be a controversial move, but as you’ll see later, BMW has done a great job of keeping the M5 as attractive as possible despite the stricter emissions standards. To understand how they were able to achieve this, let’s take a look at what BMW has done to maintain the M5’s appeal among super saloons.

Competitor Assessment

To understand where the 2026 BMW M5 stands, we have to evaluate what kind of competition it faces. At this price, the competition is not only fierce: they are without a doubt the most capable four-door sedans this world has ever witnessed. There’s no room to mess up, especially for most drives.current clients.

The E63 and the RS6 left BMW alone

When developing a sports sedan was still easy, the competition from the M5 was too. If you wanted the attitude of a muscle car but in a refined suit, you’d choose the Mercedes-AMG E 63. Meanwhile, the all-wheel drive (AWD) grip provided by Audi’s signature Quattro system meant you’d end up with an RS6 at some point. In fact, the fight in this segment was mainly focused on the E 63, the RS6 and the M5.

Unfortunately, these two competitors are no more, or at least they are in their transition phases. The RS6 is still in development at Audi, while the successor to the Mercedes-AMG E 63 is in limbo. For now, if you want a Mercedes rival for the M5, your options are not so simple. The E 53 Hybrid 4Matic is a plug-in hybrid with a 3.0-liter electrically turbocharged inline-six engine, meaning it has less power compared to the M5’s 4.4-liter V-8 plug-in hybrid drivetrain. This brings us to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, which is its only traditional competitor in 2026, one that has earned a reputation as one of the brightest V-8 midsize sports sedans at a time when the M5 has become a heavy plug-in hybrid.

The options are now wide

Now in 2026, the options for a V-8 midsize luxury super sedan are very diverse and beyond what would be considered traditional competitors to the BMW M5. Want a V-8 midsize luxury super sedan but without the complexity of the plug-in hybrid? That’s where the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-door and the Porsche Panamera GTS come in. Both feature a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and neither features any type of electrification, not even a mild hybrid. If you want an alternative to the non-hybrid German M5, you’ll have to choose between these two more expensive machines, as the AMG GT 4-Door and Panamera are more premium four-door sedans.

On the other hand, if you still want a V-8 plug-in hybrid setup like the M5, the AMG GT 63 SE Performance 4-Door and Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid still exist. However, you’re going to spend at least $200,000 on these vehicles, and at that point, you’d be better off getting the M5, plus using the spare change to get a BMW M2.

How BMW saved the V8 when others gave up

When designing the M5, the folks at BMW M have to meet stricter emissions standards while keeping their customer base happy. While this introduces some compromises for the 2026 BMW M5, it’s hard to argue that this is the best it could probably achieve in a super sedan that balances regulatory needs with customer desires.

Yes, it’s heavy, but it’s still as good as it can be

Would it have been better if BMW M had simply limited this engine to a mild hybrid setup in the M5? Absolutely! Now, you might be wondering why Cadillac can stick with the CT5-V Blackwing without a plug-in hybrid. Well, the answer is simple. This sedan is only sold in North America, so it must only meet North American emissions standards. The M5? It is sold everywhere, including Europe and China, where those laws are even stricter.

Unfortunately, emissions and even fuel economy regulations are not simply calculated per model, but also for the entire fleet. We have to give BMW M credit for still sticking with the M5’s 4.0-liter V-8, though, because the Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance opted for the 2.0-liter electrically turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid route, and we all know how the brand fared.

Meet your core competencies

There are tons of options today, but none of them are your traditional competition, while non-electrified options are even more expensive because they are flagship sedans from competing brands. The M5 still exists today because it was able to meet stricter emissions regulations while maintaining the ingredients that defined the M5. In this case, it’s the V-8 and thank goodness it’s a good V-8. Under its hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, also known as the S68, which is derived from the iconic S63. The main difference of the S68 compared to the S63 is its ability to work with various electrified technologies. Our team has also been able to thoroughly review the 2026 BMW M5, and while we can always lament its increased weight and plug-in hybrid powertrain, the fact is that among plug-in hybrid super saloons, it remains one of the best when it comes to handling.

Steering feel, as with most BMWs these days, isn’t the richest on center, but its body control is excellent, chassis tuning is as sublime as any plug-in hybrid super sedan can be, and the sound of its V-8 behind those electric motors will be better than the E 53 Hybrid 4Matic’s inline-six or, worse yet, the C 63 SE Performance’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Finally, we also have to remember what the BMW M5 is all about. Yes, it can keep up with sports cars, but it should also be a business sedan: refined, comfortable, and relaxing on a long day running a company. In fact, it can still perform that duty, albeit with a slightly shaky ride, as our review points out, because the suspension needs to compensate for its 5,000-plus pound weight.

Everything else a BMW M5 offers

The 2026 BMW M5 is indeed one of the world’s all-time best super sedans, so if you’re interested in spending over $120,000 on yourself, here’s what you need to know about this vehicle in terms of design and features.

Wide but attractive appearance

The 2026 BMW M5 is a complex machine as it needs to deal with a plug-in hybrid system. At the same time, the M5 platform also needs to accommodate a purely electric drivetrain, as it is also used by the all-electric i5. The resulting design may not be the most elegant in the world. Whether you like it or not is up to you; design is subjective anyway. Personally, the M5 in 2026 is not the slimmest, but it is the best it can be.

However, without a doubt the M5 to choose, in my opinion, is the M5 Touring. The car is not light, so you might as well bank on the M5’s off-road performance, right? Additionally, while design is subjective, a pickup truck will almost universally be more appealing to any car enthusiast. The bulbous appearance is easily remedied by its long roof and taut shoulders, one that looks well proportioned with a more upright rear end.

An interior loaded with technology

As for the interior, this will be a place that will satisfy those who love technology, but will likely infuriate those who want a more traditional design. To be fair, it’s a good thing iDrive 8.5 is one of the best infotainment systems you’ll find in any vehicle. You also have the option to navigate those two large screens via the unique iDrive controller. Unfortunately, aside from the iDrive controller and a few shortcut buttons, there aren’t many physical controls around the vehicle.

Fortunately, the interior itself, while not the most stylish for its six-figure price tag, is still well-built and high-quality. There’s a wide variety of leather upholstery and trim options for the M5, along with plenty of options to splurge on if you really want to go all out on the luxury items. Choose the estate version and you’ll appreciate the rear seat space, especially since this model has a vertical roofline.

Sources: BMW