The 2025 BMW M5
proves how important body positivity is. Easily one of the most polarizing performance car debuts of the last decade, the 5,400-lb PHEV BMW M5 fell victim to fat shaming the moment it was announced.
To combat this reputation, BMW did countless press runs to prove it drives fast, and even
flew the M5 via helicopter over Dubai
. And yet, the stigma remains: the new M5’s curb weight makes it too fat to be a good sports sedan. It weighs over 1,000 lbs more than the outgoing M5 and as much as two brand-new Subaru BRZ sports cars on top of each other. And its added pounds mostly come down to the M5’s new plug-in hybrid powertrain.
For the new-generation M5,
BMW decided to use the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 but pair it with an electric motor
. The reason for that is simple: Europe is cracking down hard on high-emissions cars and the hybrid drivetrain helps a lot there.
Offsetting the extra belly fat in the M5 from all the electric components is – in traditional BMW style – loads of power and high-tech features to make the car feel lighter and nimbler than it really is. The 2025 M5 sends 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive AWD system. It also gets adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering, and massive ventilated brake rotors. But is that all enough to make it faster than other German performance cars for the same money?
To find out, YouTube channel Carwow decided to pit the new M5 against Audi and Mercedes-AMG’s competitors in a series of drag races.
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2025 BMW M5
Starting Price (MSRP)
$123,275
Engine/Motor
4.4-liter Twin-Turbo Hybrid V8
Horsepower
717 HP
Torque
738 LB-FT
Drivetrain
AWD
0-60 MPH
3.4 Seconds (Claimed)
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2024 Audi RS6 Performance
Starting Price (MSRP)
$159,695
Engine/Motor
4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8
Horsepower
621 hp
Torque
627 lb-ft
Drivetrain
AWD
0-60 MPH
2.9 Seconds
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2021 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S
Starting Price (MSRP)
$162,950
Engine/Motor
4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8
Horsepower
630 HP
Torque
664 LB-FT
Drivetrain
AWD
0-60 MPH
2.6 Seconds
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Right now, Audi’s fastest combustion-engined four-door is the RS6 Performance, so Carwow brought it out to compete against the hybrid M5 – alongside the equally powerful Mercedes-AMG:
the 630-hp GT 63 S sedan
. Notably, both of these cars are significantly more expensive than the M5, despite boasting less power.
According to the video, the tested M5 weighs a staggering 800 lbs more than the Audi RS6 and 662 lbs more than the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S. With such a massive weight difference, about 100 hp more in the M5 suddenly doesn’t seem like all that much of an advantage – if any.
The Race
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Drag Race Results
Model
Best 1/4 Mile Time
BMW M5
11.3 Seconds
Audi RS6 Performance
11.4 Seconds
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S
11.4 Seconds
With all three cars being AWD, all the drag races were pretty consistent. Surprisingly, the Audi’s and AMG’s weight advantage didn’t really give them any sort of advantage in the launch, thanks to the M5’s fierce and immediate torque right off the line. Not only will 738 lb-ft put even the craziest muscle car to shame, but thanks to its hybrid system, it happens in an instant. The only thing stopping the M5 from a 10-second (or lower) 1/4 mile time is British weather and, of course, its hefty weight.
In a rolling race, the M5’s horsepower advantage shines all the same. It was slightly faster than the AMG and left the RS6 in the dust.
Mercedes-AMG Has Another Ace Up Its Sleeve
Being such a close call between the AMG and the M5 begs the question of what would happen if the M5 were to go against the GT 63’s ultimate trim:
the 830-hp and 1032 lb-ft S E Performance
. This monster easily goes toe-to-toe with the likes of
the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Lucid Air Sapphire
, yet comparing it to the $123k M5 seems unfair given its $194,900 starting price.
In fact, if we look at the M5’s pricing, despite its tanky build, it’s easily the fastest hybrid sedan for the money. And that’s saying something.
The M5 Has Incredible Braking Power
Carwow
Icing on the cake, the M5’s brakes are amazing. Despite the impossible-to-ignore weight difference between the M5 and the other two Germans, the M5 stops on a dime – pretty much on par with the RS6 Performance and AMG GT 63 S. With an 800-lb advantage, the RS6 is clearly going to be easier on the brakes, so it takes the win there. What’s most surprising is that the M5 stopped better than the AMG in both tests, and the M5 has an extra weight equivalent to a fully-grown adult Grizzly bear sitting in the passenger seat.
Source: BMW.
