Caraganza First Drive Review 2025 BMW M5: The Eco-Friendly Middle Finger from Munich

Every once in a while, it’s nice to be reminded of how things used to be. No, not things like sweatshops and smallpox, but things like gas guzzling, fire breathing V8 dragons. Sure, I get it. Today it’s all about saving the planet, ensuring that generations from now our kids won’t be living in a real version of Mad Max movies.

We’ve all had to make concessions. Climate change. Efficiency mandates. A collective panic attack over carbon footprints. We’ve swapped pistons for electrons, and somewhere along the way, the term “driver engagement” turned into a touchscreen menu.

But then, BMW’s M Division walks into the room like a leather-jacketed uncle at a vegan wedding—loud, unapologetic, and holding a plate of ribs. They’ve built the new M5, and it is, quite simply, absurd. In the best possible way.

It still has a V8, but here’s the twist: it’s now a plug-in hybrid.

Yes. Plug. In. Hybrid. The same words you’ll find on a Kia Niro, only in this case they’ve been strapped to a 717-horsepower Bavarian rocket sled. Because somewhere near the Nürburgring, I imagine a group of German engineers downing steins of beer and deciding to give the middle finger to purists and environmentalists at the same time.

The result is the 2025 M5 sedan. I had a week with one recently, and for a time this old gearhead was remembering how things used to be.

This is still an M5, loud, wide, fast. What has changed is how it gets that power; under the hood is a twin-turbocharged V8, dancing with an electric motor. Together, they produce that face-melting 717 hp and a 0–60 time that will unhinge your jaw.

And while it will hit 190 mph you can erase your guilt by puttering 25 miles on electric power alone the rest of the time—assuming you’re in no rush and feel like confusing your neighbors into thinking you bought a Tesla with kidney grilles.

So yes, this M5 is greener than ever. But when you dial up the appropriate drive mode—there are many, ranging from “Efficient” to “Hold My Beer”—the hybrid parts don’t feel like a compromise. They feel like a cheat code. You get the instant torque of electricity with the thunderclap drama of eight exploding cylinders.

Of course, all this techno-wizardry isn’t cheap. My test car came loaded with options: Driving Assistance Package ($1,700), Carbon Package ($3,100), Executive Package ($1,850), M Driver’s Package ($2,500), and ceramic brakes the size of pizza trays for $8,500. All in? Nearly $150,000.

But if you’re the kind of person who weeps at the thought of a naturally aspirated V8 going extinct, this isn’t just a car—it’s a museum piece that moves.

Oh and by the way, for the first time ever, you can now get an M5 wagon in the United States. BMW calls it the M5 Touring, and it’s every bit as nuts as the sedan. Finally, a family car you can launch off an on-ramp and still have room for groceries, children, or a German Shepherd named “Bruno.”

The 2025 M5 isn’t for everyone. It’s a complicated machine in a complicated time. But if you still believe driving should involve drama, speed, and a bit of noise, this thing is a glorious contradiction on wheels.

Because in the end, it may be a hybrid—but it’s not trying to save the world.

It’s trying to scare the hell out of it.

The 2025 BMW M5 Sedan
MSRP: $119,500
MSRP (as tested): $146,225
Engine: 4.4-liter V8 plug in hybrid 717 horsepower @5600 rpm, 738 ln.-ft. torque @1800 rpm
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 12 mpg city / 17 mpg highway / 14 mpg combined
Range in miles (city/hwy): 190.8/270.3 mi.
EPA city/highway MPGe: 45/57 MPGe
EPA combined MPGe: 50 MPGe
EPA electricity range:25 mi.
EPA kWh/100 mi: 59
EPA time to charge battery (at 240V):4.0 hr.
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 22 mpg
Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
Curb Weight 5,390 lbs

Exterior Dimensions
Length: 200.6 inches
Width w/mirrors: 84.9 inches
Height: 59.4 inches
Wheelbase: 118.3 inches

Interior Dimensions
Front head room: 39.0 in.
Front leg room: 41.3 in.
Front shoulder room: 59.2 in
Rear head room: 37.5 in.
Rear leg room: 36.2 in.
Rear shoulder room: 56.9 in.
Cargo capacity, all seats in place:16.5 cu.ft.

Warranty
Basic: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
EV Battery: 8 yr./ 100,000 mi.
Rust: 12 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside assistance: 4 yr./ unlimited mi.
Free maintenance: 3 yr./ 36,000 mi.

 

Greg Engle

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