BMW's new M5 super sedan might seem sedate to the casual car observer. But in-the-know Beemer aficionados are blown away by the M5. They realize they are in the presence of one of the baddest sedans ever built. The M5 stands apart from a regular 5 series because of larger wheels, a sly side air vent and a sportier grill -- oh yeah, and that iconic blue-and-red M badge. A little goes a long way for people who care about cars.
In keeping with the exterior, the M5's interior is fairly flash free. But a few touches make all the difference. If you're buying an M5, shell out for the full leather upholstery, which extends to the ceiling! Itís wonderfully excessive and hilariously unnecessary -- so get it. Other must-haves include front seats with "active width adjustment" -- the seats literally wrap around passengers -- and the $1,000 heads-up display, with its rad F-16 fighter feel. Obtrusive pop-out cup holders and a fairly useless center cubbyhole are downers, and the iDrive joystick literally rattled out of our hand when it reached the end of its rotation.
If BMW is the ultimate driving machine, is the M5 the ultimate BMW? While M3 and M6 owners might disagree, the M5 has a singularly brawny, muscular rep because of its anti-sports car cladding. To get a real sense of its potency, the 500-horse V-10 M5 has nearly two-and-a-half times the horsepower of the similarly sized 525i. It hits 60 in less than five seconds -- not bad for a four-door luxury sedan. Shifting is another story. We mostly engaged the F1 style paddle shifters, and even though you can dial the transmission up from "relaxed" to "sporty," the M5 could be too deliberate in the lower gears. In bumper-to-bumper L.A. traffic, driving the M5 felt like taking Cujo for a walk with dental floss for a leash. Bottom line: This is one car that needs serious room to roam.
The M5's a mix of sophistication and power. What gal doesn't like that?
