2020 BMW M5 Sedan Review: The Last Car You'll Ever Need
Cars are getting more and more powerful, and although we're not complaining, we have to wonder when the power wars will slow down, if ever. As a result of this continual increase in power, manufacturers that would never stray from their traditional means of putting power to the ground have invested heavily in all-wheel-drive technology. One of the cars that almost certainly needs this tech is the 2020 BMW M5. Available in two states of tune, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 at the front of the M5 produces up to 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox manages shifts while output is distributed to all four wheels. A switchable all-wheel-drive system allows experienced enthusiasts to send 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels, allowing the driver to indulge in some sideways action if the mood takes them.
What's the Price of the 2020 BMW M5 Sedan?
Despite the 2020 BMW M5's new updates over the 2019 model, it still starts at the same base price as last year, with the regular M5 carrying an MSRP of $102,700, exclusive of a $1,000 gas guzzler tax and a $995 destination & handling fee. The M5 Competition starts a little higher, at $110,000, while the limited-run M5 Edition 35 Years has a base price of $128,995. This special model is all but fully loaded from the factory, and will likely cost no less than $150,000 in full spec.
Handling and Driving Impressions
Having looked at the acceleration and outright performance figures of the M5, it would be almost acceptable for the super sedan to be a pig in the corners. Not for BMW, though. Almost acceptable is a phrase that doesn't define cars with a badge bearing the most powerful letter in the world. Despite its size and sheer power, the monstrous M5 is not in the slightest way unwieldy on the track. By default, the M5 runs as an all-wheel-drive car, and one that has tremendous levels of grip and traction too. Switching to 4WD Sport allows for more playfulness and a bit of sideways action if you want it, but with the rear-wheel-drive mode, stability and traction control systems are totally deactivated, allowing for the kind of ridiculous hooliganism that the M5's more sedate F10 predecessor was somehow missing. If you choose the Edition 35 Years (or the Competition model on which it is based), you get a heap of suspension upgrades including slightly stiffer springs and retuned dampers, stiffer engine mounts, and a beefier anti-roll bar. The result is an even sharper front end and a truly sporty driver's car that feels more agile than its size would imply.
Despite its sporty image, this is a car that you want to be able to drive every day, and thanks to a brilliant adaptive suspension setup, the dual personality of the M5 comes to the fore with an impressively comfortable and compliant ride, even in Sport mode. The brakes are similarly excellent, but if you want ultimate stopping performance, a carbon-ceramic setup can be fitted for lap after lap of fade-free stops.
Verdict: Is the 2020 BMW M5 A Good car?
The BMW M5 Sedan, regardless of which model you opt for, is a brutish but classily designed vehicle with oodles of power, fun and competent handling ability, and a remarkably well-tuned suspension setup that both minimizes body roll and keeps the ride supple. The interior is beautifully appointed with leather and more gadgetry than your local Radio Shack, and the performance overall is mesmerizingly brilliant thanks to an underrated power plant that performs far better than it is claimed to. Acceleration is brutal and when you want to let your hair down, while the switchable all-wheel-drive system will allow you to take full control and send it sideways 'round the nearest bend. Couple that with standard features like 20-way power front seats with heating, a fantastic Harman Kardon sound system, and standard ambient lighting, and you have a comfortable, capable, and fun super sedan that is worth every penny of its asking price.
What BMW M5 Sedan Model Should I Buy?
While we usually stray from special editions for how much value they offer in relation to their costs, the M5 Edition 35 Years is a highly attractive option for the prospective M5 buyer. Not only is it a Competition model with unique and exclusive paint, but it also gets a stellar array of optional features thrown in that you pay extra for on lesser models. In comparison, it's just as brilliant as its incredible Competition sibling on the track and the road, and also gains ventilated massaging front seats, heated rears, four-zone climate control, soft-close doors, adaptive cruise control, and all the other features included in the Executive package. In addition, you get a spectacular and unique interior, not to mention a rarity factor that few cars will be able to share. If, however, you miss out on one of these limited models, we'd certainly recommend the M5 Competition with the Executive package added.
2020 BMW M5 Sedan vs Audi RS7
Although we haven't yet had a chance to drive the all-new 2020 Audi RS7, we do know that its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 will produce similar power to the M5, with 591 hp, along with even more torque at 590 lb-ft. It will also use an all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic, although this system will not be able to run exclusively on rear-wheel-drive if the driver wants it. Pricing is expected to be a little higher than that of a base M5, at $120,000 versus the Bimmer's $102,700, and although we don't yet know further details like the cargo volume and the gadgets it'll get as standard, you can expect it to have a fairly large cargo area and lots of advanced tech wizardry. Nevertheless, due to its sloping roofline and hatchback-like profile, rear-seat comfort won't be that great for taller people. Overall, this is set to be an absolute monster with dashing looks and plenty of tech, and if you don't need to ever use rear-wheel-drive alone, you may want to wait for this one.
2020 BMW M5 Sedan vs Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S is very similar to the M5 in many ways. It too comes with a switchable all-wheel-drive system and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, although it only develops 603 hp versus the M5 Competition's 617. Nevertheless, it has far more torque with 627 lb-ft of the stuff. Supremely fast and incredibly capable, the E 63 S is a similarly subtle take on understated aggression, but despite its massive dual screens in the cockpit, the cabin feels a little old-school and the ride is oddly not as good as that in the M5. It also has less trunk space with 13.1 cubes versus the BMW's 18.7. Nevertheless, the standard features on the Merc are impressive, with the Affalterbach-born Autobahn bruiser boasting things like a surround-view camera and ventilated front seats from the factory. You can also get luxury features like a panoramic sunroof and safety improvements like full-speed autonomous braking. The decision between these two is, therefore, very close, but because of their different styles, we'd recommend taking each for a test drive before making a final decision.