BMW Updates the 5 Series and Pushes the M5 to 708bhp

The BMW 5 Series has been one of the defining executive saloons for decades, a benchmark that rivals consistently measure themselves against. Now, less than two years after the current generation launched, BMW is updating it significantly: a fresh exterior design, a more advanced interior, and for the top-specification M5, a power output that would have seemed extraordinary just a few years ago.

A New Face, a Bigger Screen

Externally, the update brings the 5 Series into closer alignment with BMW's incoming Neue Klasse design language. The front end is sharper and slimmer, with revised lighting and cleaner surface detailing. Inside, the existing Curved Display is replaced by a wider Panoramic iDrive setup featuring a 17.9-inch central screen, one of the largest in the executive saloon class, alongside an extended head-up display and a redesigned steering wheel. BMW's AI-powered personal assistant becomes more capable with this update, now handling more complex natural-language requests and integrating more deeply with the car's navigation system.

For most 5 Series buyers, company car drivers, executives, frequent motorway users, those cabin and technology upgrades will be the main draw. The standard of ambient lighting and materials in the updated car is as strong as anything in the segment.

M5: 708bhp, Now a PHEV

For enthusiasts, it is the M5 that commands attention. Power from the twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, combined with an electric motor, now stands at 708 horsepower, a significant jump on the already formidable 591bhp of the outgoing model. BMW is pairing this with an updated M xDrive all-wheel drive system and a larger battery for a more capable electric-only mode, useful for urban driving and company car tax purposes.

There is also an M5 Touring, a high-performance estate variant with the same 708bhp PHEV drivetrain and approximately 43 miles of pure electric range. The combination of a family estate body, that level of performance, and genuine electric-only capability is remarkable by any measure. For UK drivers who have always shown a particular appreciation for performance estates, it is likely to generate considerable interest.

The M2, meanwhile, gains its first all-wheel drive option in the new M xDrive variant, aimed at buyers who want the thrill of a compact M car without the rear-biased dynamics on wet British roads.

Drive the Current 5 Series from Bristol

The updated 5 Series and M5 are expected to reach UK showrooms in the second half of 2026. In the meantime, the current generation remains an excellent executive saloon, refined, well-equipped, and rewarding to drive in a way that not all competitors manage.

At Avant Drive, our BMW 520i M Sport is one of the most popular choices in the fleet for business travel and weekend escapes from Bristol. It makes a long motorway run feel purposeful rather than tedious, composed ride, responsive steering, a cabin that genuinely impresses passengers. Available for self-drive hire by the day, with nationwide delivery if preferred.