2022 BMW M5 CS Sedan

　　

2022 BMW M5 CS Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　The BMW M5 Competition pushes the limits of performance with an excess of power and physics-defying handling. But for 2022, BMW goes all-in with a new four-door rocket called the M5 CS (for "Competition Sport"), which is available only for the 2022 model year.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 BMW M5 CS 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 CS Base

　　M5 CS Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $142,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　BMW claims the new 2022 M5 CS is the quickest and most powerful BMW production vehicle ever. It uses the existing M5 engine, a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, and squeezes out 627 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That's 10 hp more than the M5 Competition, and while peak torque is the same, the powerband is slightly wider when winding the V8 up to nearly 6,000 rpm.

　　To make measurable gains in performance, a crash diet melts 230 pounds from the car. As a result, BMW says the M5 CS will reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and attain a top speed of 190 mph. Additionally, the car will come standard with carbon-ceramic brake rotors and performance Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires are a no-cost option. The suspension has been retuned to match the lighter brakes and standard 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, with ride height dropping slightly (0.2 inch) compared to the standard and Competition M5 variants.

　　You can spot the 2022 BMW M5 CS by its exclusive bronze-gold Y-spoke wheels and exterior trim, vented hood, and added carbon-fiber bits and pieces. Three colors are available: Brands Hatch gray, Frozen Brands Hatch gray metallic and Frozen Deep Green metallic. Peer inside, and you'll spot individual rear bucket seats with side bolsters that are almost as deep as the front seats.

　　Is the CS worth the price premium compared to the regular M5 Competition that costs $30,000 less? Not by any logical analysis. Do we want one? Yes. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for our full evaluation of the car's performance, comfort and more.

　　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.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the M5 CS drive? The M5 CS is among the quickest internal-combustion cars zzdcar has ever tested. It ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat and cleared the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds at 127.5 mph. To find a quicker sedan, you'll need to look at electrics such as the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air Dream Edition. A 100-foot stop from 60 to 0 mph is one of the best we've recorded from a sedan too. Another impressive number is the 1.04 g of lateral grip we measured on our skidpad.

　　BMW has been refining this powertrain for years now, and that shows in the CS. The engine revs freely and smoothly and it rushes to its redline with a life-affirming vigor. In its standard drive mode, the transmission engages smoothly, and even the engine stop-start feature is seamless despite this car's sporting intentions. In Sport mode, the transmission is smart and works to keep the engine in its formidable powerband and can rip off shifts just about as quickly as any sports car. On the road, the CS is dominant, with sports car-like reflexes and confidence-inspiring handling. If you like driving very quickly, this is the sedan for you.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the M5 CS? The most obvious concession to performance is the way the M5 CS rides over anything but glass-smooth tarmac. You are constantly jiggled around, and hitting a pothole results in a backbreaking thud through the carbon-fiber bucket seats. While the seats themselves are excellent for sporty drives, their heavy bolstering and thin padding make them borderline unusable for journeys longer than a few hours.

　　Even at sedate speeds, the M5 CS is a loud place to be. Less sound insulation and plenty of tire roar from those big wheels means you are never without ambient noise digging away at your eardrums. Even the air conditioning somehow seems weaker in the CS than in other 5 Series models. In short, the M5 CS isn't really suitable for daily driver duty and is best left in the garage for that special Sunday morning drive. Unless, of course, you're just that hardcore.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below