BMW M5

Design & Quality

Step inside and it’s another world. Nappa leather mixed with carbon trim makes the cabin feel sporty yet luxurious. The curved display running iDrive 8.5 is bright enough for our harsh KSA sunlight, and the quality of the seats really stood out during long drives. They’re supportive, plush, and honestly better than what I’ve sat in with AMG rivals. Everything feels solid, no rattles, no cheap plastics. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system turned on a drive from the city. Overall, in terms of space, it works for executives or families alike.

Front Seat

The front M seats are a joy. With 18-way adjustments, I could fine-tune them until it felt like the car was built around my complete comfort. The ventilated function was a blessing during city afternoons, and the bolsters hugged me well when pushing it on curvy roads. Memory settings made switching drivers painless.

Electronic Parking Brake

A small but handy detail, the electronic brake with auto-hold made city traffic so much easier. On slopes, it worked flawlessly, no rollback, no stress.

Rear Seat

The rear seats are practical and comfy enough for two adults on long trips. Legroom (around 900 mm) is fine, and rear AC vents worked well in keeping passengers cool. The optional sunshades were a saviour in the midday sun. Families will appreciate the stain-resistant upholstery,  and sand and dust will brush off easily.

AC Vents

The tri-zone climate control deserves a shout. It cooled the cabin quickly, even after leaving the car parked under the hot sun. The voice control was surprisingly responsive, too.

Storage Options

Plenty of thoughtful storage: door pockets for large bottles, a deep centre console, and hidden under-floor boot space. I had no problem fitting camping gear, groceries, and luggage all at once.

Armrest

Both front and rear armrests feel nicely padded and practical, with cupholders that didn’t rattle bottles even on bumpy roads.

Charging Options

The cabin has USB-A, USB-C, a 12V socket, and a wireless charging pad, keeping everyone’s devices alive on long trips. The pad didn’t overheat phones even in KSA’s summer heat, which was a big plus.

Boot Space

The boot comes with 520 litres, expanding with seats folded. Smaller but key features like the tie-downs and a retractable cover help you keep the luggage organised when you load it with shopping materials or your sports gear.

• 7 airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Head Up Display with Road Sign Recognition

• TPMS
• ISOFIX
• Smart brake support

The BMW M5’s imposing road presence undoubtedly attracts attention and is a real head-turner. The size alone (5,096 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, 1,518 mm high, with a 3,006 mm wheelbase) makes it feel more like a passion statement than a car.

At 2,445 kgs, it’s heavy, but that weight translates to stability when cruising highways here in KSA. With 140 mm of clearance, it wouldn’t scrape on city bumps or speed humps. As expected, it wasn’t a surprise to notice the attention to detail, like carbon fibre components, aerodynamic curves, and a drag coefficient of just 0.29.

At night, the new beautiful Glow kidney grille clearly makes quite an impression; it is distinctive and unique, coupled with the adaptive LED matrix headlights, and you’ve got presence, safety, and style all rolled into one, something BMW cars are known for; they never fail to make an impact. 

Front

Standing in front of it, the first thing you’ll notice is that glowing kidney grille. It looks bold, futuristic, and unmistakably BMW. The razor-sharp LED headlights don’t just look cool; they throw a wide, clean beam that makes late-night desert runs less stressful. The fog lamps proved useful during evenings, while the curved hood with its power bump makes it clear there’s something serious under there. I liked how the front bumper’s M-specific splitter gives confidence even when taking it onto slightly rougher patches; it’s low, but not fragile. There’s also a ton of hidden tech packed superbly: cameras, sensors, adaptive grille shutters, all working in the background, making city driving smoother without taking away from the design.

Side

From the side, the M5’s profile is pure business. The long wheelbase (3,006 mm) gives it a stretched, stable stance, while the flowing lines enhance the elegance. The 20/21-inch alloys fill the arches perfectly, giving it that road-hugging look. Carbon mirror caps and subtle side skirts add a sporty flair, but what I liked most were the flush door handles; they make the car feel more modern and aerodynamic. Driving through narrow city streets, the mirrors with chrome detailing look remarkable, while the side skirts keep dust from kicking up onto the paintwork.

Alloy Wheels

Those 20/21-inch M alloys aren’t just for show. I pushed them through city potholes, sand patches outside the city, and long stretches of smooth highway. They felt sturdy and planted. The mixed performance tires gripped surprisingly well on sandy detours, not full off-road, but enough for light trails. The black finish held up well even after a weekend out by the dunes, and the design complements the aggressive stance. For a car this powerful, you need wheels that inspire confidence, and these did, quite literally. 

Rear

The rear design is where the M5 flexes its muscle. Sleek LED taillights stretch wide, and the quad exhaust tips immediately tell you this isn’t just another luxury sedan. The subtle spoiler pushes sportiness without being over the top. The Carbon fibre details toughen the appearance, while chrome highlights keep it premium. On the highway, the diffuser and exhausts give the car an incredible and typical BMW presence, unmistakably that stylish vibe of a high-end car.

Colors

BMW offers the M5 in a solid palette. For our kingdom roads, Marina Bay Blue and Frozen Pure Grey are the ones that suit better; they hide dust and still stand out in traffic. Our test car was Black Sapphire, and while it looked sleek, it demanded frequent washes. For practicality and show-stopping looks, Frozen shades are the sweet spot.

City Performance

Driving the M5 in city traffic is like having a beast on a leash. The 727 hp V8 hybrid packs more power than you’ll ever need in the city, but it’s surprisingly manageable. In electric mode, it glides silently, perfect for creeping through crowded lots. I averaged 8 km/L overall, but the 67 km electric-only range meant I often did short work trips without burning fuel. The turning radius was impressive, not bad for a car this wide. Parking, though, needed patience in narrow, congested and tighter streets.

Highway Performance

On the highways, a powerful car like the M5 comes alive and thrives for that exhilarating performance. With 727 hp and 1,000 Nm, it just makes the highways a breeze. Overtakes are effortless, blink and you’re past. I hit 250 km/h on a private stretch, and it stayed rock solid, and interesting enough, you won’t feel it. Adaptive cruise control took over on the long haul to intercity trips, reducing fatigue. Wind noise? Almost none, thanks to the slick aerodynamics; frankly, such a high-end car always has great NVH. The hybrid system blends petrol and electric seamlessly, with only a slight lag in full EV mode on inclines.

Ride and Handling

If I say the adaptive suspension is magic, it certainly won’t be an overstatement. Over gravel, speed bumps, or highway expansion joints, it takes everything up without ever feeling disconnected. You’ll have to appreciate the sharp handling, which is noteworthy for a car this size. On winding or some twisty roads, it felt more like a sports coupe than a sedan. Ground clearance (140 mm) was enough for light off-road detours near the city without worrying about scrapes. The steering was light in the city but weighted up nicely when I pushed harder. Compared to the AMG E63, the M5 feels more composed and balanced, less raw, more refined.

• Curved display with iDrive 8.5

• 12.3-inch digital cluster

• 20/21-inch M alloys

• Merino leather seats with Ventilation

• Tri-zone AC
• Bowers & Wilkins audio
• Keyless entry
• M Drive modes

• Ambient lighting

Hybrid PHEV

At SAR 612,530, you get a monster: 4.4L V8 paired with an electric motor (727 hp, 1,000 Nm) and an 8-speed auto. The 67 km electric-only range is genuinely useful for city commutes, while long highway runs still deliver that classic M power. Features like iDrive 8.5, ambient lighting, adaptive suspension, and the Bowers & Wilkins audio make it feel every bit worth the price.

The BMW M5 is nothing but feels like the best-engineered car out there, and the German brands always shine a lot, any true automobile aficionado finds this car just lovely in so many areas. Behind the wheel, it blends sheer force with everyday refinement in a way few sedans manage.

The PHEV setup gives you brutal acceleration, that 0–100 in 3.5 seconds never gets old (for the speed lover!),  but also the ability to cruise silently on electric power through city streets. Out on the highway, it’s stable and composed at speed, with enough comfort to make long runs effortlessly. Even on light desert stretches, the adaptive suspension and precise steering keep it confident. Inside, the tech is intuitive, the luxury unmistakable, and the practicality a pleasant surprise for something this fast.

At SAR 612,530, it even undercuts rivals while offering more usable performance. If you want one car that can thrill, relax, and adapt to Saudi life, this M5 does it all with ease, worthy of the price you pay. With every BMW, doesn’t it? 

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