Why The BMW M5 Touring Is the Performance Wagon Enthusiasts Have Been Waiting For

Somewhere between a practical family hauler and an Autobahn-bred sports sedan lies a rare and wonderful beast, the performance sport wagon. And while it might seem like a relic from another era, BMW’s 2025 M5 Touring makes a convincing case that this particular species isn’t extinct just yet.

I met the newest M longroof in the mountains of North Carolina, where the Tail of the Dragon winds its way through 318 curves in just 11 miles. It’s the kind of road that’ll shake loose any chassis, challenge any transmission, and absolutely punish the brakes if you’re not paying attention. The kind of place where driver and machine either bond or part ways.

The M5 Touring, thankfully, is the bonding type.

The Last of a Rare Breed

Let’s be honest. Wagons are endangered. In the U.S., they’ve been outflanked by SUVs and crossovers for years. And on paper, it’s hard to argue with the SUV’s value proposition: tall seating position, big cargo space, road presence. So why does the BMW M5 Touring still matter?

Because it drives like no SUV can.

Under the hood, there’s a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 paired with an electric motor, good for a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough grunt to fling this wagon to 60 in a shade over three seconds. BMW’s xDrive system keeps things planted, even when the pavement gets patchy, and the adaptive M suspension reads the road like braille, absorbing the worst while tightening up at speed.

Through the Dragon’s switchbacks, the Touring never flinched. It’s big, nearly 5,500 pounds—but it dances surprisingly well for its size. You can feel the all-wheel-drive system shuffling power, the active roll bars resisting lean, and the rear steering tucking the tail in tight bends. The end result is a car that handles like something a full segment smaller, while still offering room for luggage and three adults in comfort.

Complexity in the Cockpit

The only letdown? The controls. Like many modern BMWs, the M5 Touring suffers from a case of overengineering. The steering wheel alone is cluttered with toggles, switches, and paddles that take more than a few miles to decode. The center console isn’t much better, offering a mix of touch-sensitive panels and haptic feedback buttons that often make you wish for a simple knob or physical switch.

On a back road, this matters. When you’re focused on the drive, any hesitation, even something as simple as changing drive modes or adjusting the HVAC, can feel like an intrusion. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does break some of the car’s spell.

The Beauty of a Wagon

Still, it’s hard to overstate how much charm the M5 Touring carries. It’s a sleeper in the best sense, long, low, muscular, and purposeful without being ostentatious. Fold down the rear seats and you’ve got real utility. Keep them up and you’ve got space for gear, passengers, or a weekend’s worth of mountain road exploration.

And while the rise of the SUV makes sense for many buyers, it’s a shame more folks won’t consider this kind of car. The M5 Touring delivers the same practicality with a far better driving experience. It’s more planted, more connected, more rewarding. And thanks to its plug-in hybrid system, it can even run around town in full EV mode, something your neighbor’s V8 SUV can’t claim.

The 2025 BMW M5 Touring is a love letter to those who still believe driving matters. It’s quick, composed, luxurious, and genuinely fun, when you’re on a road like the Tail of the Dragon, it makes the whole “sports wagon” idea feel like the best-kept secret in motoring.

Yes, it’s a bit overcomplicated inside. And yes, most folks will continue defaulting to the SUV lot. But for the few who understand what makes a great car great, the M5 Touring is more than just another M badge.

It’s proof that practicality doesn’t have to come at the cost of passion. And that’s worth celebrating—even if you have to squint through a few extra buttons to do it.

On road photos by Killboy, interior photo courtesy of BMW