New BMW M5 review, test drive

We drive a monster from the stables of BMW, the M5 and it also happens to be the fastest four-door saloon we have ever tested.

Published on Jul 18, 2012 07:37:00 PM

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As expected of a 552bhp motor, fuel efficiency isn’t too great. With wide tyres, a huge engine and a not-so-flattering kerb weight, this car feels like it can empty gas stations as you drive by them. For the record, we got 4.5kpl in the city and 7.1kpl on the highway. So, despite the 80-litre fuel tank, you’ll still be visiting fuel pumps quite often.

The new M5 is an immense engineering achievement. It’s got everything that you would expect of a super-saloon – towering performance, engaging handling and a properly comfortable cabin. Even more incredible is this 552bhp saloon’s usability – it’s armed with a comfortable chassis setup and well-mannered gearbox. There are a few shortfalls though. The cabin should look and feel a little bit more special and the engine, though more efficient than before, still has quite an appetite for the expensive stuff. Priced at Rs 98.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) it isn’t cheap, but then again, its direct rivals cost even more. Seriously, for this price, there’s little that can match the M5’s wide range of abilities.