2026 BMW M5 Redesign, Interior, Engine

2026 BMW M5 Redesign, Interior, Engine    –  The 2026 BMW M5 sedan falls just shy of being a perfect vehicle, but it comes admirably close to being the car for all drivers. Whether you want to take it onto a racetrack, impress your passengers with its rocket-ship acceleration, or tool around town in luxurious quietude, it does a really good job. And to top it all off, it does it all while being cheaper than some of its closest rivals.

2026 BMW M5 Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

As with the standard 5 Series, the M5 is equipped with BMW’s latest infotainment system, which is alright, though I find it to be overloaded with menus and submenus. Unfortunately, the M5 only complicates matters further thanks to the addition of M modes, which bring even more menus for drivers to play with (or get lost in). Even though BMW tried to reduce complexity by adding physical M buttons on the steering wheel, it complicated the execution by making them customizable.

Avoiding the penalty at the pump isn’t the only reason to keep the battery charged. As with all large sport sedans, the M5 has two natures. On the one hand, it’s a meathead jock with taut muscles. On the other, it’s a big, comfy luxury machine, and its ability to drive around in sumptuous, electrified silence is a major factor contributing to the M5’s luxury appeal.

In addition to its smooth electric propulsion, the M5 also has a variety of drive modes that help soften the suspension and soak up bumps. The seats may be sporty, and do a good job of preventing you from sliding across the cabin, but they’re also large and endlessly adjustable. There may be more comfortable vehicles out there, but they certainly don’t have 700 hp.

2026 BMW M5 Specs

The incredible powertrain isn’t the M5’s only strength, either. BMW Canada has done a good job of balancing standard features against optional ones. With a starting price of $135,000, you would hope for a lengthy list of features, and you get it. From the luxurious (excellent stereo, heated seats all around, a panoramic glass roof, and self-parking) to the sporty (adaptive suspension, four-wheel steering, and a fancy rear differential), the M5 feels like a complete product from the get-go.

The available options feel like extras, not necessities. These include the $4,000 package of carbon fibre exterior pieces that replaces the standard roof with a lighter-weight carbon alternative and does the same to the mirrors and rear spoiler. The carbon-ceramic brakes with gold callipers may also tempt buyers, though they come at a cost of nearly $11,000. And, blessedly, BMW has also decided to offer a wide variety of exterior paint colours. Although the really expressive options will add another $6,000 to your price tag, the nine standard colours include a handsome green, a tasteful blue, and a pretty good red. 2026 BMW M5 Redesign

Engine and Performance

A whopping 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque are generated by the PHEV powertrain, which pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 engine with BMW’s latest electric motor. The power gets funnelled to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of acceleration, BMW quotes a zero-to-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds, which isn’t as impressive as you might think given that the M5 has around 100 more hp and 100 more lb-ft of torque than its closest competitor, the Audi RS 7. If manufacturer estimates are anything to go by, that Audi will just barely outhustle the M5 to 100 km/h by a tenth of a second.

Despite what’s on the spec sheet, actually launching the M5 is hugely impressive. In a reckless mood, on an empty stretch of two-lane highway, I kicked the throttle in my tester and the force of the acceleration was such that I half expected stars to start streaming by the windows, as if I had engaged warp speed. The numbers here don’t tell the full story, and only keyboard warriors will be disappointed by the acceleration. Owners will not.  2026 BMW M5 Redesign

2026 BMW M5 Fuel Economy

While fuel economy tends not to be a talking point for vehicles with 700 hp, this being the first M5 to ever feature a PHEV powertrain inevitably brings it into focus. Although the electric motor was primarily designed to improve performance, it also generates enough power (194 hp) to move the car on its own. In my week with the M5, this was a great boon, as the 18.6-kWh battery handled the majority of trips around town.

For reference, that’s 0.1 L/100 km better than an all-wheel-drive Toyota Prius, whose engines cannot be set to warp speed, no matter how hard you kick the accelerator. However, you should be forewarned: if you let the battery drain completely, the M5 consumes 17.3 L/100 km combined, which is somewhere between the Ford F-150 Raptor and the F-150 Raptor R in terms of fuel economy.

2026 BMW M5 Safety Features

While the list of standard equipment is good, there is one exception to my assertion that the options feel like extras, not necessities. It’s a bit frustrating that features like collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are all part of an optional package. However, the package only costs $2,000 and also includes BMW’s latest driver-assistance system, which can adjust your speed, keep you in your lane, and even change lanes for you.  2026 BMW M5 Redesign

2026 BMW M5 Price and Release Date

In some ways, it feels like the 2026 M5 is the first of a next-generation of German performance sedans. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t currently sell a direct competitor to it, while Audi’s RS 7 is getting a little long in the tooth. Despite that, its starting price is about $10,000 richer than the M5’s, it makes around 100 fewer hp, and it has no all-electric driving mode. The closest competitors in terms of powertrain are the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door Coupe and the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. While the Mercedes makes more power, the Porsche does not, and both cost nearly $100,000 more that the BMW. 2026 BMW M5 Redesign

If you want a similar amount of power, in a similarly-sized sedan, with a comparable (though not an equivalent) amount of luxury for less money, you’ll have to go for the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Admittedly, it makes around 50 fewer hp but it’s offered with a manual transmission, costs around $30,000 less, and the driving experience was good enough to make it AutoTrader’s premium performance vehicle of the year in 2024. Despite there being a cheaper option, the 2026 BMW M5 offers a ton of performance, a wagon-load of brand cachet, and ample luxury for what amounts to a reasonable price in the segment.