Not your father’s station wagon
Story by Dwain Hebda // Images Provided
For some time now, BMW has been redefining the family station wagon from its formerly pedestrian image to something, well, cool. Not that most American motorists knew that firsthand, as the sleek and powerful machines were never made available here in the states.
“The last M5 Touring to be produced was in 2010, and there were only about 1,000 of them made,” Daniel Schwartz, client adviser for ONYX Automotive, said. “A few years ago, BMW released models that were European-only and it created a spark in a lot of American enthusiasts who had a strong desire to see those models make it over here, which they never did.”
Given that, the news of the legendary German automaker finally bringing a wagon to replace the popular (yet discontinued) 3 Series, which disappeared from the market pre-COVID, was welcomed. To see the replacement―a near-twin of the performance-heavy M5 sports sedan―sent auto connoisseurs into ribald celebration, Schwartz noted.
“I think there’s a lot of pent-up demand for that BMW model over here, and I think BMW took notice of that,” he said. “We are expecting to see our first one, which is spoken for, probably early summer, and there is a lot of demand for more already. The orders are going to be filled really quickly, so if anyone’s considering one, I would highly recommend to start the conversation as soon as possible.”
The buzz over this 2025 jewel appears to be well-founded. The M5 Touring will deliver the best of the sedan with extra cargo space to boot, thanks to a plug-in hybrid powertrain that delivers 717 horsepower and covers 0 to 60 in a trim 3.2 seconds. The company pairs that juice with an all-wheel drive system that is particularly welcome news to those dealing with snow-and-ice-prone Midwestern driving conditions.
“The M5 comes standard with an all-wheel drive system that has adaptive differential,” Schwartz said. “It will apply power to whichever wheel needs it in case there is slippage. The cool thing with this system is you can change it to two-wheel drive, too. There are a lot of track enthusiasts who want a rear-wheel drive vehicle for when they’re going around the track.”
Churning out those impressive numbers in power and acceleration are the same twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and electric motor that power the sedan. Equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, rear-biased all-wheel drive, adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering, rear spoiler, and huge brakes, it’s the wagon that identifies as a performance car.
“‘Fast’ doesn’t quite do the M5 justice,” wrote Kurt Niebuhr in a recent review for Edmunds. “It’s actually difficult to put into words what it feels like when you really lay into the M5 Touring. Yeah, it’s fast. But it’s faster than that. Acceleration is so effortless, especially at moderately high speeds, like 50 to 100 mph, that it’s almost disorienting.”
While the vehicle delivers the kind of muscle one would expect from the engineering wizards at BMW, arguably the most impressive powertrain achievement is the eDrive system, which allows for up to 25 miles on all-electric mode. And not just any putt-putt either; the electric motor delivers instant power and maximizes acceleration by seamlessly interacting with the 4.4-liter V-8.
“It’s a great way to blend electric and petrol engines together,” Schwartz said. “The two engines in combination really give you the best of both worlds. You get the instant torque of the electric motor and then you get the high-end performance of the gas motor, and when you combine them, it’s really a beautiful marriage.”
Even the interior appointments hearken to the M5 Touring’s racier pedigree. Leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting, a concert-hall sound system, and plenty of digital displays all combine to wrap occupants in comfort and amenities, upgradable to Merino leather or the Executive option package, which offers nearly every high-end feature imaginable.
“There’s a lot more modern technology with a panoramic screen, and yet it’s a little more minimalistic, too,” Schwartz said. “Instead of having dials cluttered all over the dash, BMW opted for a sleeker and more streamlined operating system. Being a Touring model, it also has that big panoramic moon roof, so when you have that opened up, it lets in a lot of natural light that adds a more welcoming touch.”
The M5 Touring is so engaging to drive, it’s easy to forget the utility of its rear cargo space. The luggage area offers 18 cubic feet of stowage, which yawns open to 58 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded down.
The external design of the vehicle is equally stunning, with flared wheel arches and widened quarter panels that provide a sleek profile. The M5 Touring roars through quad exhausts framed by a two-section diffuser out back, while the available BMW Iconic Glow Kidney Grill, contour lights, and double light signature front headlights announce the car’s approach with an elegant flourish.
With a starting MSRP of $121,500, per BMWusa.com, the M5 Touring doesn’t come cheap, but compares favorably in price to other models in its class. Schwartz said that, given the cargo space, the M5 is more than just a prestige vehicle, capable of handling the everyday chores of family life.
“It’s a great-sized vehicle and it does offer a few more practical features,” he said. “With a Touring model, there’s a little more cargo space than a typical sedan—enough space to throw in some car seats or golf bags and go to the driving range, or even fit a compact bike in the back. For all of the high-tech and high-performance you get, it’s designed to be a good, all-around practical vehicle.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
