The super BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review segment has always been for the enthusiast who refuses to compromise. It’s a niche defined by immense power tucked into a body style that screams “responsible adult.” For decades, this category has been dominated by a select few, but a new contender has arrived to shake the foundations: the 2026 BMW M5 Touring (G99).
After a long hiatus and years of fervent pleading from fans, the M5 Touring is not just back; it’s been reinvented for the electrified age. Forget the old V10 or pure V8 power—this new long-roof beast wields a plug-in hybrid powertrain that pushes the output to a staggering 727 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque. But the core question BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review: can this technological, two-and-a-half-tonne behemoth truly blend the best of family practicality with the raw, uncompromising performance expected of a BMW M car?
Let’s dive into the ultimate breakdown of the G99 M5 Touring, exploring the engine, handling, interior, and whether this high-performance BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review is the ultimate daily driver.
The Powertrain: A BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review
At the heart of the 2026 M5 Touring is a concept BMW calls M Hybrid. This is not a mild hybrid system; it’s a full-on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) designed to deliver relentless performance while offering a genuinely useful electric-only driving BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review.
The Twin-Turbo V8 Engine
The legendary 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged S68 V8 remains the soul of the machine. On its own, this engine generates a formidable 430 kW (585 hp) and 750 Nm of torque. It retains the classic M-car character, with a broad power band and a soundtrack tuned for aggression. BMW M has made sure that even with the electrical BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review, the V8 is the dominant voice in the symphony of speed.
The Electric Motor Synergy
The V8 is paired with a potent 145 kW (197 hp) electric motor integrated into the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission. This motor is the key to the M5 Touring’s massive system output of 727 hp (535 kW) and a breathtaking 1,000 Nm of torque. The beauty of this setup is the instantaneous electric torque filling in any potential turbo lag from the V8, resulting in relentless, seamless acceleration.
The performance numbers speak for themselves. The official 0-100 km/h sprint is clocked at an astounding 3.6 seconds, but real-world tests often shave that time down even further. With the optional M Driver’s Package, the top speed BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review to a supercar-rivalling 305 km/h. This is a family wagon that can outrun most dedicated sports cars.
The Practical PHEV Component
A 18.6 kWh (usable capacity) lithium-ion battery pack provides the electrical juice. This allows the M5 Touring a claimed all-electric range of up to 65 kilometers (WLTP cycle) or an estimated 25 miles on the US EPA cycle. For the daily commute, school run, or a quick silent drive through a residential area, the M5 can operate in pure EV mode at speeds up to 140 km/h. This duality—silent cruiser one moment, missile the next—is the genius of the M Hybrid system. Charging time is remarkably quick for a PHEV, taking just over 2 hours for a 0-100% charge BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review the 11 kW onboard charger.
Dynamic Performance and Chassis Technology
The challenge for a car of this caliber is simple: how do you make a vehicle weighing around 2,550 kg (5,622 lbs) handle like a featherweight M car? BMW’s engineers have thrown every bit of cutting-edge technology they have at the G99 chassis.
M xDrive and Suspension
Power is managed by the sophisticated M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which offers the traditional 4WD, a more playful 4WD Sport, and a pure 2WD mode (available when DSC is off) for those moments when you crave a traditional, rear-drive M BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review.
The chassis is equipped with Adaptive M Suspension featuring electronically controlled dampers. This system is crucial for managing the car’s considerable mass, offering a sublime balance between everyday comfort and track-ready stiffness. In Comfort mode, the M5 Touring soaks up road imperfections like a luxury saloon, but flip the switch to BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review Plus, and the car hunkers down, ready to attack corners with a surprising degree of agility.
Integral Active Steering
A major aid in disguising the wagon’s length and weight is the standard Integral Active Steering (rear-axle steering). At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, significantly reducing the turning circle for easy manoeuvring and parking. At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction, enhancing stability and BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review grip, making the car feel smaller and more responsive than its 5.1-meter length suggests.
Braking Power
To haul this monster down from speed, the M5 Touring features high-performance compound brakes as standard, with the option to upgrade to the magnificent M Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Not only do these gold-calipered options offer more direct application of force and supreme fade resistance, but they also contribute to a lower overall unsprung BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review, further benefiting handling and agility.
Design and Aesthetics: The Ultimate Sleeper Look
The M5 Touring is the definition of a high-performance sleeper. To the untrained eye, it’s a high-end estate car. To the enthusiast, it’s a rolling statement of power and exclusivity.
Exterior Styling
The G99 M5 Touring gets the full M treatment. It features a dramatically widened track compared to the standard 5 Series Touring, aggressive, flared wheel arches, and a unique front fascia with large air intakes for cooling the V8 and the hybrid BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review. The signature BMW Iconic Glow Kidney Grille adds a modern, illuminated touch, while the rear is dominated by a powerful diffuser and the unmistakable quad exhaust tailpipes (finished in Dark Chrome). The car rides on massive staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels, wrapped in performance tires.
Practicality: The ‘Touring’ Advantage
For all the talk of power, the “Touring” badge is what matters most for practicality. The M5 Touring offers a respectable 500 liters (17.7 cubic feet) of cargo volume with the rear seats up, which is comparable to the M5 Sedan. However, folding the 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench down expands the utility to a substantial 1,630 liters (57.6 cubic feet) of space. This is where the wagon body style truly shines, allowing it to swallow large items that would never fit in the sedan’s trunk. The power liftgate with hands-free access completes the package of convenience.
Interior: Luxury Meets M Performance Technology
Step inside the M5 Touring, and you are greeted by an exquisite blend of high-end luxury and M-specific sporting cues. This is a cabin built for BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review-distance comfort and high-speed excitement.
The Digital Cockpit
The dashboard is dominated by BMW’s latest Curved Display, which seamlessly merges a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a massive 14.9-inch central touchscreen running the slick iDrive 8.5 operating system. The system is fast, highly BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review, and features M-specific graphics and readouts. Standard features include a comprehensive Head-Up Display with M View, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System.
M-Specific Comfort and Control
The driver and passenger are held in place by standard M Multi-Function Seats upholstered in Merino leather, which offer excellent support for dynamic driving while remaining supremely comfortable for daily use. The M steering wheel features the signature red M1 and M2 buttons, allowing the driver to instantly access pre-configured performance settings. The cabin ambiance is further elevated by the optional Interaction Bar with Ambient Lighting, which runs across the dashboard and doors.
Driver Assistance and Safety
As a modern luxury machine, the M5 Touring is packed with advanced safety and driver assistance features. Standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot detection. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package adds features like adaptive cruise control with hands-free capability and lane change assist, making highway cruising effortless.
Driving Experience: The Grown-Up Hooligan
The question of whether the M5 Touring is a practical 727-hp monster is answered the moment you put your foot down.
In Hybrid or Electric mode, the car is calm, refined, and effortlessly luxurious. The plug-in hybrid system allows for peaceful, zero-emission urban travel. It is genuinely a comfortable 5 Series Touring for the vast majority of your driving.
But press the M Mode button, engage the Sport or Track settings, and the M5 Touring transforms. The V8 roars to life, the suspension stiffens, the steering sharpens, and the full 727 hp is unleashed. The sheer, relentless force of the acceleration is addictive. Despite the weight, the combination of the M xDrive and rear-axle steering allows it to corner with an unexpected sharpness. It dances through curves, the heavy weight managed by the exceptional adaptive chassis technology.
It’s not as light or as playful as a smaller M car, but for its size, it is a masterclass in dynamic engineering. It maintains the feeling of an authentic M product—a powerful, track-capable tool—while adding the layer of long-haul comfort and utility that makes it the ultimate all-in-one vehicle.
The Verdict: Is It Worth the Premium?
With an estimated starting price above $123,900, the 2026 BMW M5 Touring is a significant investment. It enters the ring as a direct, modern rival to the established super wagons.
The M5 Touring is a car of glorious contradictions: a BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review hauler with a supercar powertrain, a luxury cruiser with track-day ability, and a V8 monster with an electric range. It’s heavy, yes, and the hybrid complexity adds cost, but what you gain is a machine with a truly unmatched breadth of ability.
For the enthusiast who needs one car to do BMW M5 Touring Wagon Review everything—from silently dropping the kids off at school to attacking an autobahn at breakneck speed—the 2026 BMW M5 Touring isn’t just a practical monster; it is arguably the most complete and compelling performance vehicle BMW M has ever built. It represents a new era of high-performance versatility, proving that you can indeed have a 727-hp engine, a massive boot, and a clean conscience all in one stunning, wide-hipped wagon package.
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