2019 BMW M5

The 2019 BMW M5 (F90) is a car that means straight-up business. Its executive look with a sporty flair, track-friendly powertrain, and unrivaled handling prowess convey that it is a car that can handle both your commute duties as well as track duties alike without much fuss. The M5 is priced at $104,695 for the standard variant and the prices go up to $111,995 for the Competition variant. It competes with the 2019 Mercedes-AMG E63 S, the 2019 Porsche Panamera Turbo, and the 2019 Lexus GS F.

The M5 is available in two trims which are the Standard and the ‘Competition’. The standard trim which is priced at $104,695 offers a plethora of features that are expected from an ‘M’ car and certainly packs the power and punch to give its rivals some serious competition.

The trim with the ‘Competition’ badge on the other hand costs around $7,000 more and offers even more features compared to the standard trim. The ‘Competition’ trim’s major offering is the track-tuned powertrain which pumps a bit more power than what you would receive in the standard one. The standard trim proves to offer a bit more practicality for it to be used as a daily driver while the ‘Competition’ one means straight-up business.

Which Trim should you buy?

Considering the price difference between the two trims, the Standard variant seems to be the preferred choice for many as it can multitask as a daily driver as well as a weekend thrill-seeking machine without a fuss while the Competition, on top of being an expensive option, is a very serious machine when it comes to performance and may prove less practical.

Hosting the same engine, the M5 Competition’s track-tuned powertrain unit might have a few extra horses, but it doesn’t fit in well as a commuter car which many of the potential customers expect a 2019 M5 to be.

‘M’ cars have always been serious machines that pack enough power to help you with your dopamine needs. The M5 car has always been an integral and famous part of the ‘M’ fleet as it has been one of the most favored M cars of all time. The powertrain unit that the 2019 BMW M5 hosts is a 4.4 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque. And if this isn’t enough, the ‘Competition’ trim will provide you with a few extra horsepowers at 617 horsepower and an even better top speed.

The powertrain is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox which is a pretty clever one and helps smoothen out the power output or sharpen it up based on the driving mode that you have opted for. The drivetrain setup is an AWD drivetrain unit with an RWD mode selector that shifts all the torque and power output to the rear wheels helping you to brush up your drifting skills at the track.

The 2019 BMW M5 has the quickest 0-60 mph timing at just 2.8 seconds all thanks to the brilliant engineering practices and research that went into developing the whole powertrain assembly. It can cover a quarter-mile in just 10.9 seconds and has a top speed of 163 miles per hour. 

The M5’s top speed might seem lesser than its rivals but that’s just for the standard variant. The ‘Competition’ trim helps increase the top speed to some extent. Considering the fact that all this power and torque can’t be put into use on the roads, the fact that the M5 has a slightly lesser top speed figure shouldn’t bother you at all considering the tarmac-shattering acceleration and quarter-mile figures.

The 2019 Porsche Panamera Turbo is the closest vehicle there is to the BMW in the 0-60 mph run taking 2.9 seconds and it powers through the mid-range to emerge victorious in the quarter-mile sprint clocking 10.8 seconds. While the 2019 Mercedes-AMG E63S is the most powerful and torquey in the segment producing, 603hp and 627lb.-ft, respectively, it falls short in the acceleration but still manages to be considerably quicker than the least powerful Lexus GS-F.

How well does the 2019 BMW M5 handle?

The BMW M5 is arguably the best handling sedan in the segment with the closest competitor being the Porsche Panamera Turbo. The driving modes onboard the M5 aids the power and handling configurations depending on the type of driving experience that you need from your sport sedan.

The M5 does exceptionally well in the corners as it perfectly grips along the tarmac no matter how hard you thrash it around a corner and its likability further extends by its ability to keep body roll in check at all times. BMW M cars have always been revered for their steering geometry and feel and the M5 is no different either. The steering wheel transmits the right amount of feel and feedback of what’s going on with the wheels enabling the driver to have an exciting and powerful driving experience every time they are behind the wheel.

The M5’s dual nature of being able to offer a power-packed experience as well as ease of driving for your daily commutes helps it to become one of the most preferred performance-based sedans in the segment.

Braking Performance

The 2016 BMW M5 is one of the lightest cars in the segment with one of the largest brakes. This helps it to stop down as easily as picking up pace. The front rotors are 15.6 inches in diameter while the rear rotors are 15 inches. Having a curb weight of 4370 lbs. along with the powerful brakes help the M5 decelerate from 60-0 miles per hour within 100 feet. This is an exceptional feat for the M5 and is certainly the product of the best driving dynamics, weight distribution, brakes, and obviously, electronic braking aids such as ABS and Traction Control.

The closest car to rival the M5 in terms of braking performance is definitely the 2019 Porsche Panamera Turbo which has a similar curb weight and larger discs at the front measuring 16.1 inches. While its performance is not known statistically, we expect it to remain under the 100ft mark. While the 2019 Mercedes-AMG E63S and 2019 Lexus GS F weigh equally, their respective performances might be hindered due to the smaller brakes. 

Fuel economy and high-performance powertrain units seldom go hand in hand and as expected, the M5’s fuel economy are the exact figures expected from an executive sedan that can do a 0-60 mph pull in less than 3 seconds. 

It offers a combined fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon which is the lowest fuel economy figure in the segment. The fuel tank capacity is pretty adequate for a car of its caliber and helps the M5 deliver a combined range of 341.7 miles which might not be great, but the people who can afford one certainly wouldn’t mind the fuel economy.

The 2019 Porsche Panamera Turbo undoubtedly offers the best in class fuel economy and its combined average of 21 MPG backs its frugality and being equipped with the largest fuel tank of 23.7-gallons, only helps its case recording a range of 498 miles. While the 2019 Lexus GS F and Mercedes-AMG E63S are marginally efficient averaging 19 and 18 MPG, respectively. The M5 certainly could have delivered better fuel economy which is expected from it in the future versions.

‘A nice place to be in’ would certainly be an understatement when talking about the 2019 BMW M5’s interior. The interior comes in a single as well as a dual-tone layout and certainly speaks out the level of attention to detail and quality along with the luxurious touch that it offers.

The dashboard layout consists of straight lines, but the arrangement of certain components makes them appear to be flowing lines. BMW offers color options for the lather dashboard surface as well as various types of trim inlets. The dashboard is ergonomically sound with the center of the dashboard slightly tilting towards the driver’s seat and hence offering the driver ease in operating the various features onboard.

The front bucket seats come with plush Merino leather upholstery and offer 12-way power adjustability with 3-way heating and ventilation. The front row is quite spacious with the best in class shoulder room and the creature comforts make sitting in the M5 seem like something that you don’t wanna leave. The power-adjustable side bolsters help tailor the lumbar support according to your needs and there is a good amount of thigh support offered by the seats as well. Features like the leather-clad steering wheel with heating and proximity key for the doors add further to the driver’s assistance and comfort.

The rear bench seat is arranged in a 40-20-40 split seat configuration with an armrest hidden in the middle seat’s backrest. There is also a very comfortable armrest in the center console of the front row. The second row of the M5 offers an excellent amount of legroom making it completely practical if you wish to use your M5 as the family car. 

The trunk capacity on offer too is the best in class at 18.7 cu-ft. of volume. The trunk opening seems to be the widest in the segment which makes it easy to slide your cargo in and out of the trunk without much fuss.

The M5 offers the best-in-class front row as well as second-row space when it comes to legroom and certainly leads in the cargo capacity criterion. The 2019 Panamera Turbo though has a slight advantage of being a hatchback which helps it increase its cargo capacity to up to 47.3 cubic feet, however, t seats four passengers only. The Mercedes-Benz and Lexus continue to remain in the lower half of the segment due to smaller boots and inferior passenger space. 

Some of the noteworthy interior features are listed below:

• Plush Merino leather upholstery on the seats and dashboard
• Ambient lighting
• Power door locks with an auto-lock system
• Instrument panel covered bin
• Systems monitor
• Heads-up display
• Cargo space lights
• Trunk/hatch auto-latch
• Remote keyless entry

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Being one of the most important cars in the BMW fleet, the M5 hosts a plethora of infotainment features that happen to be the latest and best ones from BMW. The infotainment system is the manufacturer’s latest iDrive version which is known for its easy-to-use interface and the number of features and quirks that it carries.

The infotainment screen is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with gesture controls and other cool features. The center console doesn’t seem to be cluttered with buttons meaning that a lot of the infotainment functions can be accessed via the infotainment screen. The audio system is a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system with a 600w amplifier that provides a treat to your acoustic senses every time you play some music. The infotainment system also hosts features like SiriusXM satellite radio, SatNav, and so on.

Connectivity features onboard include Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth phone, audio connectivity, and 4G WiFi internet access hotspot.

Some of the noteworthy infotainment features are listed below:

• Infotainment system voice command and gesture control
• SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite with seek-scan
• 16 speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system
• Apple CarPlay 
• Speed sensitive volume control
• AM/FM radio
• Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity
• Auxiliary audio input jack
• Steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls
• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with touchpad controller
• 4G WiFi internet access hotspot

The M5 is arguably the best-looking car in the BMW fleet as it flaunts its executive sedan look with a sporty flair and certainly is a treat to look at with its right proportions. 

The M5 is a light car considering its caliber with a curb weight of 4370 lbs. BMW has done a number of weight-saving measures including a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof. The chrome delete treatment on the M5 compared to the regular 5 series sedan adds to a much more aggressive and sinister look with the blacked-out kidney grilles and sharp-looking LED daytime running lights. The 19-inch wheels certainly complement the aesthetics of the exterior and opting for the ‘Competition’ trim will fetch you 20-inch bi-color wheels as well.

The sideline, height, width, and length suggest that it is a capable executive sedan with a lot of space inside. The LED tail lamps add to the M5’s charm as well.

The BMW M5 has the largest wheelbase in the segment with one of the smallest dimensions in terms of length measuring 117.4 inches, followed by the Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Lexus each sporting a wheelbase of 116.1, 115.7, and 112.2 inches, respectively. In this way, BMW has managed to get the packaging of components inside right without spoiling the aesthetic appeal of the M5. The Mercedes-AMG, however, sports the lowest ground clearance of 5 inches.

Some of the noteworthy exterior features are listed below:

• Automatic on/off LED projector headlights
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
• Heated outside rearview mirrors with turn indicators
• Fixed rear window with defroster
• Power open and close trunk rear cargo access
• Black kidney grille treatment

Just like its high-performance characteristics and plush interior, the M5 isn’t short of safety aids or systems. There are no official safety ratings of the 2019 BMW M5 as per NHTSA and IIHS records, but being a product of the BMW brand, it is certainly going to be one of the safest cars out there.

Along with its exceptional build quality that conveys its safe structural integrity, the M5 also hosts a number of safety features that help it become one of the safest cars out there. These safety features include aids such as a Blind spot monitoring system, Lane departure warning, lane keep assist as well as low tire pressure monitoring system.

Some of the standout safety features are listed below:

• Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Side Impact Beams
• Blindspot warning system
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning

2019 BMW M5 vs. 2019 Mercedes-AMG E63 S

The Mercedes-AMG vs. BMW ‘M’ rivalry has been a pretty dominant one in automotive history for a long time due to the technical and motorsport prowess that the manufacturers hold. The M5 is supposedly the closest opponent to the E63 S but seems to have some advantage on its side when it comes to pricing, performance, interior space, and cargo capacity.

2019 BMW M5 vs. 2019 Porsche Panamera Turbo

The Panamera Turbo arguably seems to be the toughest rival for the M5 as it is astonishingly close to the M5 in various aspects including engine performance, cargo capacity, interior, and infotainment features. But the BMW M5 has a huge advantage in pricing as it is priced at $104,695 while the Panamera Turbo retails for $152,750. Almost a $50,000 price difference!

2019 BMW M5 vs. 2019 Lexus GS F

The Lexus GS F proves to be the cheaper alternative in the high-performance midsize sedan class as it is priced below the $100k mark and brings along some of its Japanese engineering prowess to the segment. But when it comes to key aspects such as performance, space, and features onboard, the Lexus GS F’s spec sheets prove that it can’t stand shoulder to shoulder with the M5.

The ‘M’ badge has been one of the most revered and attractive badges in the industry and the 2019 BMW M5 has it all to be honing the badge. It’s got the right proportions when it comes to power, interior space, exterior dimensions, and cargo capacity and definitely proves to be the best value for money car in its class without a doubt.