2021 BMW M5 Review

　　

2021 BMW M5 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　High performance doesn't necessarily mean high profile. Case in point: the 2021 BMW M5. From a distance the M5 can easily be mistaken for the standard 5 Series sedan. Much like one of those reluctant movie action heroes, it may be unassuming in appearance, but if that fuse gets lit, watch out! The M5 is a serious high-performance vehicle that delivers the kind of thrills expected of a much smaller exotic coupe, yet it can also be as docile as a luxury sedan.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 BMW M5 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$267/mo  for M5 Base

　　M5 Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $103,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　For 2021, the M5 gets a styling update, a few infotainment enhancements and revised suspension tuning for the optional Competition package. These changes help keep it fully competitive with its main rivals: the Audi RS 7, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S sedan and the Porsche Panamera Turbo. Which one is going to be the best pick for you? Check out the categories of our in-depth Expert Rating below to help you decide.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the M5 drive? The M5 combines all-around athleticism with truly "wow!" bursts of performance. In zzdcar' testing, we recorded a 0-60 mph time of just 3.2 seconds. Stopping from 60 mph took just 99 feet. These are astounding numbers for a 4,300-pound luxury sedan that can just as easily be a comfortable luxury cruiser. Around turns, the M5 provides a seemingly endless amount of grip.

　　What's more, the big M5 does it all yet remains easy to control. The brakes are smooth and predictable, and the steering is accurate and responsive. The transmission provides smooth and quick shifts, making the mighty engine easy to tame.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the M5? The front seats are extremely comfortable thanks to the adjustable seatback bolsters. Our drivers weren't tired of them even after long drives. The seats are also aggressively shaped to hold you in place under cornering. The climate control system is effective and able to hold temperatures steady in the cabin provided you're not pushing the engine too hard.

　　On the road, it has a stiffer ride than a typical 5 Series. But it is not harsh, and Comfort mode delivers a compliant ride. Rolling the windows up keeps the cabin well insulated from outside noise, unless you prefer to roll them down to experience the sonorous V8.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Getting into the M5 is a breeze. The aggressive side seat bolsters up front aren't much of an impediment, nor is the sloping roofline for rear passengers. Once in, the driver's seat feels tight and snug. But the rest of the cabin is spacious. Most adults can easily find their ideal driving position, and rear passengers up to 6 feet tall will fit just fine.

　　One of the interior's strongest areas is visibility. The front roof pillars are thick but stay out of the way through left turns, and you have plenty of situational awareness around the car. A surround-view monitor helps in tight spots. The control layout is another positive. The buttons and knobs are clearly labeled and angled toward the driver.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The iDrive infotainment interface in the M5 doesn't take much effort to operate the many available features, and a trace pad and touchscreen allow for optimal control. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard. The M5's voice recognition system works quite well for a factory system and understands a lot of natural speech.

　　The M5's driver safety aids are successful in adding a layer of safety without getting in the way. The adaptive cruise control transitions from braking to accelerating smoothly and maintains its set speed on steep grades. Lane keeping assist helps the car stay centered without forcing the wheel from your control.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? There aren't changes between the M5 and its more common 5 Series sibling. The trunk is quite large and provides more space than an E-Class. The rear seats fold down in a 40/20/40-split configuration to help with long or bulky items. Up front, there is a wireless charging pad for keeping your phone secure. Good thing, too, because there's not much space for holding other small items in bins or pockets.

　　In the back row, car seat anchors are readily available for installing child seats. But because the front seats are very thick, it could be difficult to fit a rear-facing seat.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says you can expect 17 mpg combined (15 city/21 highway). That's typical for a high-performance sedan but still pretty low as cars go. We managed a pretty respectable 22.7 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the M5 a good value? The M5 provides typical airtight BMW build quality, and it lives up to the car's price tag. We had trouble finding fault with anything. The M5 is priced close to the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S. While the cost of entry for both is steep, they are worthy rivals.

　　BMW provides four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties, which is typical for a luxury automaker. Free maintenance for three years/36,000 miles is a nice bonus.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　The M5 is an exceptional entry in the super-sedan category. The power and performance are simply ridiculous, yet you feel perfectly confident and in control behind the wheel. You can even treat it as a docile, run-of-the-mill luxury car.

　　Yet this is a truly special vehicle. An unassuming exterior design features small accents that wink and nod at the athleticism that lies underneath. The M5 is a sport sedan for those in the know. And those in the know place it among the best of the best.

　　

Which M5 does zzdcar recommend?

Since there's only one trim level for the BMW M5, you're left to decide which options to add. For the rare driver who seeks even more performance, the Competition package is a worthy addition. We'd also add the Driving Assistance Plus package for the adaptive cruise control and other features that reduce the demands on drivers.

　　

2021 BMW M5 models

The 2021 BMW M5 is available in a single trim level. Power comes from a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine (600 horsepower, 553 lb-ft of torque). An eight-speed automatic sends power to all four wheels.

　　M5

　　Comes well appointed with standard feature highlights that include:

　　19-inch wheels with performance tires Adaptive suspension dampers Power trunklid Keyless ignition and entry Four-zone automatic climate control Heated front sport seats Heated steering wheel Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app 12.3-inch touchscreen 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Wi-Fi hotspot Wireless charging padEvery M5 also comes with these advanced safety features:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Automatic high beams Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)The optional Competition package increases power output to 617 hp and adds:

　　Special 20-inch wheels Dark exterior accents Lowered sport suspension Sport exhaust system Front sport seats Premium leather upholstery Unique M Sport seat beltsOther bundled option include:

　　Driving Assistance Plus package

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Forward collision avoidance (helps mitigate an accident by proactively swerving, if appropriate, to avoid a front collision) Front cross-traffic alert (warns of potential side collisions at intersections) Emergency stop assistance (senses if the driver is incapacitated and pulls the car over to the right while slowing to a stop with the emergency flashers activated)Executive package

　　Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Front-seat massage functions Sunshades for rear passengers Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Dashcam-like drive recorderM Driver's package

　　Increased top speed One day of high-performance driving instructionStand-alone options include:

　　Carbon-ceramic brake rotors Sunroof Premium Bowers & Wilkins audio

　　

2021 M5 Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$103,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$267/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles