Verdict
The BMW M5 is now in its fifth generation and shows no sign of slowing down. The engine might have shrunk, but power is now even more impressive. Need to get to that meeting quickly? Look no further.

Expert rating: 4.4

Pros
• Huge performance
• Sumptuous interior space
• Relatively economical

Cons
• It's a big, heavy car
• High cost of ownership
• Too quick for UK roads?

1. Exterior: 4/5
Like its ancestors, the latest BMW M5 receives a subtle but comprehensive makeover to transform it from business exec to autobahn bruiser. There's a deeper front apron, a bulge in the bonnet hinting at an oversized engine and the rear bumper is sculpted around quad tailpipes. It sits squat on spidery alloy wheels, which do little to hide drilled brake discs big enough to stop a train.

2. Interior: 4/5
The huge seats don't seem fitting with a car so focused on high performance. But this is a car designed to cover huge distances, and despite their size they provide just enough support in bends. The dashboard is a clear evolution of BMW's past models; clear and functional dials are allied with well thought out displays.

3. Practicality: 5/5
The M5 will seat five and has a 520-litre boot. There's ample head and leg room for occupants of all sizes and it's very comfortable. Parking sensors are standard; a birds-eye view is also available, using cameras dotted around the car to show you obstacles and help with tricky junctions.

4. Ride and handling: 5/5
The M5 is a consummate all-rounder. Choose the suspension and steering comfort setting and it's an everyday saloon. Switch into sport plus mode and you can corner hard enough to make your neck hurt. Turn off the traction control and the M5 will happily drift. In all these situations the M5 shrinks around you, hiding its size and weight admirably. Only on track do the brakes get visibly hot after a few laps trying to defy physics. The seven-speed automatic double-clutch gearbox deserves a special mention thanks to its sublime changes.

5. Performance: 5/5
The first ever turbocharged M5 has caused some controversy but the benefits of are clear - despite the smaller 4.4-litre V8 engine, power has reached 552bhp, with 502lb/ft of pulling power. This is much more torque than before, yet practically all of it arrives at just 1,500rpm, compared with more than 6,000rpm in the last car - drastically altering the way it feels from behind the wheel. Zero to 62mph takes just 4.4 seconds, yet it's also much cheaper to run than the last model.

---

---

6. Running costs: 3/5
This M5 is 30 per cent more efficient than the last one; its average fuel consumption is up from 19.6 to 28.5mpg, while its emissions fall from 344 to 232g/km of CO2. Expensive perishables including Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and enhanced braking components will be expensive, but this is comparable to its competitors.

7. Reliability: 4/5
With so much new technology it's hard to assess the M5's reliability already, but it feels like a typically solid and well-engineered BMW product. A slightly different version of its 4.4-litre engine has been reliably fitted in the X5 M and X6 M since 2009, while the new 5 Series is proving dependable with new customers.

8. Safety: 5/5
There are more electronic safety systems than you can shake a stick at. Anti-lock brakes, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control, Brake Assistant, Brake Fade Compensation, Brake Drying function and Start-off Assistant. The standard 5 Series has obtained a top five-star rating after being crash tested by Euro NCAP, with a 100 per cent score for Safety Assist and 95 per cent for Adult Occupant protection.

9. Equipment: 4/5
Standard M5 equipment highlights include sports seats with driver memory, Merino leather upholstery, BMW Professional sat-nav with a 10.2-inch screen, M specific Head-up Display, Variable Damper Control (VDC), Adaptive Xenon headlights, 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels and cruise control.

10. Why buy? 5/5
The M5 is one of the most effortless cars to drive fast we've ever tested, with a stonking engine and sharp gear shift. It's a fun process too, despite its considerable size and weight. The real limiting factor of the M5 is always the speed limit, but at lower velocities the cabin is hardly a bad place to spend time.