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2025 BMW M5 Sedan First Drive: Is the Plug-In Hybrid Still a Proper M Car?

The seventh-generation BMW M5 adds a performance-focused plug-in hybrid system, but its extra weight and complex settings shape the experience as much as its power.
Entry610 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Yes: the seventh-generation BMW M5 remains a serious performance sedan, and its plug-in hybrid system is designed to add performance as well as electric-only driving. The trade-off is substantial weight and, in one first-drive account, a sometimes imperfect transition between electric and V8 power. The result is an M5 with a broader range of talents—and a different feel from a lighter, conventional sports sedan.

What the 2025 M5’s plug-in hybrid system adds

BMW calls this the seventh-generation M5 and the first M5 with an electrified drive system. Its U.S. launch announcement pairs a 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 with an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission. BMW quotes a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, with M xDrive all-wheel drive. The claimed 0–60 mph time is 3.4 seconds. These are BMW’s specifications and performance claims, not independent test results. BMW Group PressClub USA, June 25, 2024

MotorTrend’s first-drive specifications list 577 hp from the V8, 194 hp from the electric motor, and a 14.8-kWh battery. That split helps explain the hybrid system’s purpose: the electric motor is a meaningful part of the performance package, not just a way to cover a short commute without starting the engine. MotorTrend

Electric range is useful, but it is a projection

BMW projected approximately 25 miles of fully electric range for the U.S. model. That is a manufacturer estimate, not a range result established by the independent drive reports cited here. Actual electric distance can vary with conditions and use. BMW also says the standard ELECTRIC mode can call on the V8 if the driver presses the accelerator through kickdown or selects manual mode.

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Modes give drivers control—and add complexity

BMW provides selectable hybrid modes and configurable drive settings. M xDrive also offers different settings, including a rear-wheel-drive mode that BMW says is available only when Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is fully deactivated. That is an advanced configuration, not a recommendation for ordinary public-road driving. Car and Driver describes the extensive adjustments and sub-settings as part of the car’s breadth, but also as a learning curve. Car and Driver

How much does the M5 weigh?

Weight is a central part of the new M5’s story, but the commonly cited figures describe different things. MotorTrend’s first-drive specification table gives a manufacturer-estimated curb weight of 5,400 pounds. Car and Driver’s instrumented test reports 5,251 pounds for its measured test car. One is an estimate; the other is a measurement of a particular test vehicle. They should not be treated as interchangeable official curb-weight specifications or as evidence of a contradiction.

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The hybrid system’s performance contribution does not make the car light. Instead, the M5 combines its considerable mass with a high-output powertrain and all-wheel drive. Car and Driver reported that the car handled tight chicanes confidently during its drive, while also noting that the steering could feel light and indistinct. Those are that publication’s impressions, not a guarantee of how every driver will experience the car. Car and Driver

What the first-drive reports say about the driving experience

Power is not the same as polish

MotorTrend’s account presents electrification as part of the M5’s performance case, but it also notes an occasionally unpolished handoff from electric to hybrid operation: the V8 can wake abruptly when the driver asks for more power. That observation is specific to the publication’s drive; it should not be read as a universal owner complaint.

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Capability comes with a setup menu

The M5’s configurable modes let the driver adjust how the car responds, but the number of settings may demand time to learn. Car and Driver’s comments on the extensive controls and occasional light, indistinct steering offer a useful counterweight to the car’s speed and confident cornering: its appeal is not simply that it is powerful, but that it can be configured across different driving situations.

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Price figures depend on the source and context

BMW’s June 25, 2024 U.S. launch announcement listed a $119,500 base MSRP, plus $1,175 for destination and handling. Later Car and Driver pages show different figures: its drive review lists a $120,675 base price, while its instrumented test lists a $123,275 base price and $146,225 as tested. These are figures from different publication contexts, not one directly comparable price series. Check BMW’s current pricing and a dealer quote for the model year and configuration you are considering. BMW Group PressClub USA · Car and Driver drive review · Car and Driver instrumented test

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BMW identifies a carbon-fiber roof and M Carbon Ceramic Brakes among the factory options discussed in the review material. The cited sources do not establish current option pricing, so those features are best treated as configuration choices to verify with BMW rather than as fixed-cost additions.

One test car’s tire fitment is not a universal guarantee

Car and Driver’s instrumented test car wore Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z tires: 285/40ZR-20 at the front and 295/35ZR-21 at the rear. That is useful reference information for the tested car, not a promise that every 2025 M5 has the same wheels or fitment. Before buying replacements, confirm the exact trim, wheel specification, load rating, and front/rear sizes for your vehicle. Car and Driver instrumented test

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Who is the hybrid M5 for?

The M5 makes the strongest case for drivers who want a very powerful, configurable all-wheel-drive sedan and value electric-only capability without asking the hybrid system to replace the V8’s role. The compromises are equally concrete: a manufacturer-estimated 5,400-pound curb weight, complex drive settings, and a first-drive report of a sometimes abrupt engine transition. Whether the new approach feels like an improvement depends on how much you value breadth and electrification against the lighter, more direct character some enthusiasts may prefer.

For a meaningful comparison with another performance sedan, keep the bases aligned: compare claimed acceleration with claimed acceleration or instrumented results with instrumented results; distinguish measured weight from manufacturer estimates; and weigh electric range, powertrain response, steering impressions, price context, and the amount of customization each car offers. The sources cited here do not establish a direct rival ranking.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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