The 2025 BMW M5 Touring Review

Built to Thrill: The 2025 BMW M5 Touring Has Officially Launched in SA

The arrival of the M5 Touring in South Africa follows the local success of the M5 Sedan, bringing with it both exclusivity and excitement for BMW’s performance customers. 

BMW South Africa's General Manager for Sales and Distribution, Renier Beneke, explains in the BMW Press Club article, “The BMW M5 Touring follows the successful market introduction of the BMW M5 Sedan in South Africa last year. First revealed at the popular BMW M Fest in October 2024, the Sedan was bestowed Performance Car of the Year honours (and placed third overall) in the 2025 Old Mutual Insure South African Car of the Year. The addition of the Touring derivative to our arsenal speaks to the overwhelming popularity of this model.”  

Priced just above the sedan variant, the Touring is set to attract enthusiasts who want the thrill of an M5 without sacrificing cargo space or versatility. 

A Close Up of The New BMW M5 Touring Finish

Exterior Updates and design

The M5 Touring retains the aggressive stance of the sedan but stretches it into a long-roof profile that emphasises practicality without losing any M swagger. Its front fascia features BMW’s signature kidney grille – blacked out for an athletic look and flanked by sharp adaptive LED headlights. 

Aerodynamic sculpting along the sides leads to pronounced rear haunches, while the back showcases an M-specific diffuser, quad exhausts, and a subtle roof spoiler. Larger air intakes and exclusive M5 Touring badging distinguish it from the standard 5 Series Touring, while optional 21-inch wheels complete the bold, road-dominating aesthetic. 

Interior Updates and Design 

Inside, the Touring blends performance-focused touches with high-end comfort. The cockpit is dominated by BMW’s curved display, a seamless integration of the 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster and the 14.9-inch central infotainment screen. 

M-specific sport seats, trimmed in Merino leather, offer both style and comfort for long journeys. Carbon-fibre trim, illuminated M badges, six upholstery options, and contrast stitching further enhance the cabin's sporting credentials.

Rear passengers benefit from 20 mm of extra legroom compared to the previous generation, and the expanded estate body offers up to 1,630 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded – making this M5 as ready for family trips as it is for a track day.  

Last but not least, the vehicle’s entry feels more like sci-fi than reality. With BMW Digital Key Plus, compatible mobile devices can lock and unlock the vehicle – you can also share these “keys” digitally with five or more people. Once you’re close enough to the car, it automatically unlocks and you’re greeted by the welcome lighting features. 

Technology

BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 system powers the infotainment, offering quick responses, over-the-air updates, and advanced navigation with augmented reality overlays. 

Key highlights include:

• Adaptive M Suspension Professional with electronically controlled dampers.
• M Servotonic steering with variable ratio.
• M Compound brakes for superior stopping power.
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and cross-traffic warning. 
• The Parking Assistant Professional system helps you park and leave a parking space, which can be monitored from the touch of your smartphone. 

Owners also get customisable M Modes for the digital display, tailoring readouts for road or track driving. 

The M5 Wagon’s Performance and Powertrain 

At the heart of it, the M5 Touring houses a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with a powerful electric motor and 18.6 kWh battery pack. Combined, they deliver a staggering 717 hp (535 kW) and 1,000 Nm of torque. 

Acceleration and Power

With BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel drive system and an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, the Touring blasts from 0-100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and can reach 305 km/h with the M Driver’s package. 

Handling vs. Heft

Weighing in at around 2,475 kg (higher-spec models), the Touring is undeniably heavy, about 40 kg more than the sedan. While the weight reduces agility around tighter bends, BMW’s suspension tuning and torque vectoring keep it planted nicely. 

Drive Modes

The plug-in hybrid system enables an electric-only range of about 70 km (WLTP), perfect for urban commutes. Driving modes like HYBRID, ELECTRIC, eCONTROL, Dynamic, and Dynamic Plus lets drivers balance efficiency, power, and brake regeneration as needed. 

Price

In South Africa, the 2025 BMW M5 Touring retails from R2,795,000 – making it roughly R30,000 more expensive than the sedan. 

The price includes:

• 2-year, unlimited km Car Warranty.
• 8-year/100,000 km battery warranty.
• 5-year/100,000 km Maintenance Plan.

Meet The Competition 

When it comes to high-performance wagons, the BMW M5 Touring sits among an elite group of rivals that have each earned their place at the top. The Audi RS Avant, Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate, and the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid are outstanding benchmarks, blending power with everyday usability.

Each of these contenders brings its own blend of performance, luxury, and practicality – proving that the M5 Touring has stepped into a segment where only the very best meet the challenge. 

Is The BMW M5 Touring a Good Car?

In short, yes but with some caveats. For drivers seeking an M5’s raw pace with added utility, it’s an exceptional package. Key strengths include:

• Powering acceleration and top speed.
• Genuine everyday usability thanks to the wagon body.
• High-end tech and driver aids. 

However, purists may miss the more visceral, naturally aspirated soundtracks of past M5s, and the car’s weight is noticeable in tight corners. Still, for most buyers, these are small trade-offs for what is essentially a supercar you can take on a weekend getaway. 

Final Thoughts

The 2025 BMW M5 Touring stands as one of the most versatile performance cars on the market. It fuses the thrill of M engineering with the practicality of a long-roof design, and its arrival in South Africa signals NMW’s commitment to offering enthusiasts more choice.

It’s fast, it’s functional, and it owns luxury – proof that you don’t need to compromise on performance to get a family-friendly package. For those who want a car that’s as at home on the school run as it is on the autobahn, the new M5 Touring may just be the ultimate answer. 

That said, performance cars aren’t just thrilling to read about – they can also be linked to a great source of tips for getting the most out of your vehicle, especially if you’re lucky enough to own one of these beauties. If not, there’s still plenty to enjoy: Explore SA’s favourite cars and discover some of the best car maintenance tips for smoother driving and learn how to maximise your vehicle’s value.