Whether you’re a middle-aged dad or one of the newest aficionados of the longroof clan, the M5 Touring is one of the few performance wagons available to Canadians. With the Mercedes-AMG E63 still in gestation, and the Audi RS6 Avant PHEV yet to be revealed, the M5 has the stage all to itself with 717 horsepower from its hybrid unit.
Harbouring enough power to unsettle dedicated sports cars, the M5 is even more impressive for its ability to ferry around five passengers and their payloads. The Touring houses 500 litres of trunk volume with the rear seats up and 1,630 litres with them folded. For context, that’s 34 litres more than the M5 Sedan, and 100 litres more than the X6 M Competition. The rear seats do not fold flat, though, so any items longer than six feet will rest at an angle.
But it can even achieve all of this without polluting the ozone in all-electric mode. That’s the essence of what makes these multi-faceted wagons more desirable and memorable than their sedan and SUV counterparts: their lower center of gravity, unassuming performance, uncompromised cabin, and understated presence.
The M5 Touring carries over into the 2027 model year unchanged, though we expect a mid-cycle refresh next year with a Neue Klasse injection and updated cabin touches. That doesn’t stop prospective buyers from distinctively configuring their wagon with over 150 paint colours from the BMW Individual palette ($6,000). Our test vehicle was coated in a discreet shade of Sepia III Metallic that reveals its luminous lavender flakes and indigo lustre beneath overcast skies or in shadow. Under direct sunlight, however, the cool tones morph into a warmer bronze with grey undertones. Think of Dravit Grey but with the saturation meter bumped up a few notches. Sepia is certainly a more nuanced spec than the traditional blues and greens, though still tasteful and fits the wagon vibe well.
That layer of restraint is in stark contrast to the dazzling light show from the cabin. Between the Las Vegas Strip glow and the abundance of digital real estate, the M5 Touring borders on a nightclub crossed with a Twitch streamer’s setup. Considering its $147,900 asking price, it’s not the most upscale interior either, with thin leather surfaces and a surplus of plastic, from the seat controls to the Bowers & Wilkins speaker covers. The window switches are now in a glossy black finish, but the lack of carbon-fibre bucket seats, adjustable upper and lower backrests, soft-close doors, rear-door keyless entry, or Extended Merino Leather options is unfortunate.
The M5 powertrain’s duality is what impresses us most, with a formidable marriage of a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 (S68), 14.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, and an electric motor integrated into the transmission housing. It generates a combined 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, channelled through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. On electric power alone, the M5 can travel up to 45 km, but range was never the primary justification for electrification. Its real purpose is to provide torque fill, instantaneous acceleration, and an additional layer of efficiency when desired.
The S68 is one of the higher-revving V8s on the market, singing all the way to 7,000 rpm, and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, although BMW’s acceleration figures have historically been conservative. Our butt dynos peg it in the low 3s. But more importantly, the M5 thrives on twisty roads sprawled across the map like a schnitzel, welcoming cresting, off-camber turns with open arms. Unfasten the leash by dialling back traction and stability control, and the M5 transforms into a mercurial puppy that demands precise inputs and your full attention, but rotates with more energy at every stage of a corner.
Much of its behaviour depends on the choice of tires. The standard tire is the “Performance” Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z, while you can also opt for a no-charge “High Performance” tire such as the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 or Pirelli P Zero R. We’ve tested all three street tires on the M5 and found the Pirellis to be much grippier on dry tarmac. The Michelins don’t offer that on-rail confidence, with the rears too willing to step out after mild mid-corner throttle inputs paired with lateral weight transfer.
The Pirellis, on the other hand, do not loosen their reins easily, and allow you to carry more speed and attack winding roads with more enthusiasm. Lateral grip is immense, making it difficult even intentionally to break traction. But no matter the tire, those migrating from a luxury SUV will find the ride to be much busier than they are used to, with low-frequency vibrations permeating the seat bottoms. While you do feel more of the bumps, the vertical oscillations are restrained and pillowy, making it easy to settle into a gentle rhythm, even over a cratered road.
Though it emits the same racket as BMW’s other V8-powered chariots, the M5’s soundtrack remains scintillating and expressive. If you’ve heard the current crop of hypercars bump-start at Le Mans, you’ll notice the M5 does something similar. Pull away from the garage in near silence on electric power, and moments later the V8 emphatically roars to life. Unfortunately, the swap isn’t as instantaneous or as violent as in the BMW XM or the M Hybrid V8 LMDh car, and some software calibrations don’t allow for seamless transitions. Instead, the V8 awakens more progressively, as though it had a rough evening the night before. Still, that theatrical transition adds another layer of occasion to the M5.
The multi-tasking M5 Touring is an intense concoction of motorsport performance and everyday usability, distilled in equal measure and mastered in each. Hybrid powertrains continue to prove their effectiveness at extracting overwhelming power figures, but BMW has ensured it remains accessible even to those without FIA licenses, marrying it with a fair ride and enough cargo space to rival performance SUVs.
Specifications:
Model: 2027 BMW M5 Touring (G99)
Paint Type: Sepia III Metallic
Base Price: $147,900
Price as Tested: $168,300
Wheelbase(mm): 3,006
Length/Width/Height (mm): 5,096 / 1,970 / 1,516
Curb weight (kg): 2,485
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 (S68), 14.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, electric motor
Horsepower: 717 hp @ 5,600 – 6,500 rpm
Torque: 738 lb-ft @ 1,800 – 5,400 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, AWD
Observed Electric-only Range: 45 km
Tires: Pirelli P Zero R; HL285/40ZR20 front: HL295/35ZR21 rear
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