Recently, I visited The Bridge IX, an invite-only car show on Long Island known for its stunning ocean views and seven-figure collector cars. To make the long trip to the tip of Long Island, I requisitioned a 2025 BMW M5 — a vehicle widely seen as the best BMW has to offer.
On paper, an M5 might be the ideal vehicle for the journey. Sporty enough to keep things exciting, luxurious enough not to look out of place, and comfortable enough not to destroy my spine during the multi-hour excursion. But people don’t travel on paper, so here’s how it actually performed on the road.
Why the M5?
To say the Bridge is pretty prestigious is an understatement. It’s a highly exclusive car show held in one of the most affluent areas in the United States. You can’t just show up in any old banger; you absolutely need some kind of statement piece you can leave in the designated parking field before getting on a shuttle to the actual event. It also has to comfortably get me from close to Albany, NY, all the way to the tip of the Hamptons. That’s close to 250 miles, and around five hours of driving when you account for traffic.
On paper, the BMW M5 is perfect for this. It has a professional, yet sporty profile. It has enough performance to keep things entertaining. It has a luxury touch which should up the comfort. And most of all, it’s recognizable. Since making its debut over 40 years ago, the M5 has established itself as the king of the “Sports Sedans.” It’s functional enough to take the kids to school in, and fast enough to make the drive home afterwards a bit of a thrill ride.
Expect some initial disappointment
I try not to look at other reviews before testing a vehicle, as it helps to go into things with a clear and open mind. However, there are plenty of complaints flying around about the 2025 M5’s weight. Hybrids have batteries, and batteries are heavy, so there was always going to be a bit of extra heft with the new vehicle. After driving it, I can say those complaints do have validity, and you can feel those extra pounds. However, the additional power and superior balance do mitigate that somewhat. Once you actually configure the vehicle correctly.
“Out of the box” the M5 is quiet, unless you’re pressing the accelerator flat to the floor. There’s notable lag, it’s a few seconds between you getting your foot down and anything happening. The fuel economy is modest, despite the vehicle doing everything it can to sit at around 2,000 RPM and, as a result, stay in seventh or eighth gear at highway speeds. It has a “sport” mode (as opposed to “road” mode), but this doesn’t really change a lot without further adjustments.
However, the right tweaks take the performance to the next level
To make the M5 exciting, you need to do a little tinkering. On the steering wheel, you’ll see an “M1” button and an “M2” button. These modes are pre-set, can be customized, and are what actually make a difference. M2 makes everything performance-focused, but it will turn your traction control off by default. So be careful when initially hitting that particular button.
On the center console, you can alter the “M” modes and the standard driving mode. Logically, you’d optimize the “standard” mode for fuel economy and comfort, make “M1” your on-road performance mode (pop all of the settings in “Sport Plus” but leave the traction control and other assistance systems on), and make “M2” the “track mode” (same as M1 but with no assistance systems). But in reality, you’re free to use any combination of the above and save that to any of the three slots.
The sport plus setting definitely improves throttle response and gear selection, the lag disappears, and acceleration is noticeably improved. The M5 transforms to a highly enjoyable driving experience — basically what you’d expect from a “proper M.” Sport steering is also notably firmer than the standard setting.
The suspension settings lean towards a firm setup, whether in “comfort” or “sport” mode. This provides excellent control and feedback on twisty roads, though it can feel a bit firm on long highway stretches.
It may not be the best thing for a long road trip
While the M5 excels in sport-focused driving, some aspects reflect that focus. The seats are supportive with a pseudo-bucket design, and while they offer heating and cooling, they lack some luxury features like massage functions. Fuel economy has improved compared to previous models but remains moderate. The infotainment system is solid, but the cruise control/self-driving system isn’t even the best one BMW offers — never mind the best on the road.
So unless you’re driving down some particularly entertaining roads or have a track to stop at during your journey, you’re probably better off picking something else for a road trip. Last year, I made the trip in a Lincoln Aviator and had a far more comfortable experience. (Of course, if your road trip takes you down the Pacific Coast Highway — that’s a much different story than Long Island highways.)
Overall, the 2025 BMW M5 feels like a transitional vehicle. Something new, that has yet to be perfected. All of the parts are there, but some refinement is needed to turn it into the kind of exceptional car you expect an M5 to be. Instead of saying “look at me,” it’s a bit closer to “watch this space.”
