2022 BMW M5
Starting at $105.695
Highs Crazy-quick acceleration, enthusiast-oriented rear-wheel-drive mode, luscious interior.
Lows Exterior styling lacks drama, AMG E63 S has a racier soundtrack, some other M cars are more engaging.
Verdict The M5 is an icon among sports sedans, and this generation's outrageous performance preserves that legacy.
What's New for 2022?
For the 2022 model year, BMW adds the limited-production Competition Sport (CS) to the M5 lineup. Along with unique chassis tuning and a reworked version of the Bimmer's twin-turbo V-8 (now making 627 horses), the CS benefits from a bevy of weight-reducing measures. BMW claims it's 230 pounds lighter than the M5 Competition and that it's the quickest and most powerful production car in the company's history. Other notable features on the CS are its lightweight, heavily bolstered M carbon-fiber front seats and its two rear bucket seats. The CS rolls on bronze-colored 20-inch wheels, and shoppers can add a set of Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tires at no cost.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
M5: $105,695
M5 Competition: $113,095
M5 Competition Sport: $143,995
The M5 CS's exclusivity and enhanced performance will cost you $30,900 more than the regular Competition. We'd settle for the Comp's 617 horses and roster of track-capable components but upgrade our pick with the Executive package. It adds myriad driver-assistance and luxury features, including a 360-degree camera system, ventilated front-seat cushions with built-in massagers, heated front and rear seats, parking sensors at both ends, power-operated rear window shades, self-parking assist, and soft-close doors.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The M5 is mighty, boasting 600 horsepower from its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 in base form. In the more track-focused Competition or CS variant, that figure increases to 617 or 627 horses, respectively. We've yet to climb behind the wheel of the CS, but we have strapped our testing gear to both the regular M5 as well as the Competition model. Both met our expectations with brutally quick acceleration, sports-car-like cornering grip, and amazing stopping power. Likewise, the Competition proved to be quicker than the regular M5 on Virginia International Raceway's Grand Course at the 2019 Lightning Lap competition. The M5 faithful will lament the discontinued manual gearbox and unfamiliar all-wheel-drive system, but this Bimmer has a high-tech drivetrain that can send 100 percent of its torque to the rear wheels for tail-wagging fun. Driving enjoyment is maximized here with lively and direct steering and a well-controlled albeit stiff ride. That doesn't mean the M5 can't also do duty as a luxury sedan: In Comfort mode, it cruises placidly, and the cabin is whisper quiet.
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