The all-new BMW M5 Touring (yay for high-performance wagons!) costs just $3,175 more than its sedan sibling without any extras. That’s not saying much, but the pricing situation can be an immediate wake-up call when you realize that the new M5 costs $119,500 before taxes and fees.
But these days, there’s no point in considering brand-new internal combustion engine cars with truly powerful, unscaled powertrains and smart technology unless you’re willing to shell out at least $150,000. That’s the reality people who don’t want fully electric vehicles have to face.
Even something like the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N, which packs a 276-hp four-cylinder under the hood, costs about $35,000 before taxes and fees. Admittedly, at that price, it comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
There's no time to be sad about the state of the economy, the environment, or the world, though. We've got an M5 Touring to think about. If the price hasn't already put you off, then the curb weight might. The fast family vehicle has a curb weight of around 5,400 pounds (2,450 kg). Depending on your market and the optional equipment you choose for your M5 Touring, that figure could change.
What is certain is that BMW’s new M vehicle weighs 5,456 pounds (2,475 kg) all by itself (including fluids, such as 14 qt of oil, but not fuel). Until someone puts an M5 Touring on a scale, that’s the figure we’ll go with.
Photo: BMW
It’s just one pound (0.45 kg) heavier than the refreshed X5 M. But unlike its bigger brother, this wagon is a high-performance plug-in hybrid. That means you can drive in silence in urban areas or until you’re far enough from your home in the suburbs.
The best (or worst, it's up to you) of both worlds
There’s no denying that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have their fair share of drawbacks. The small battery alone can cost a fortune to replace if something goes wrong, and the warranty won’t cover the replacement. Insurance may be a little more expensive because your car could cost more to repair than an equivalent with an internal combustion engine only.
Not charging the battery can also be a negative because you could increase your fuel consumption for no good reason. Just plug it in for a few hours at home, at work, or when you go shopping. Make the most of that energy storage unit. It's especially necessary for a car like the M5 Touring, which only reaches its maximum output of 717 hp and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque if enough electrons are available.
Otherwise, you’re looking at a V8-powered hyperwagon that can only make 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than enough to get you to work or to have fun on your favorite racetrack, but why wouldn’t you want to show everyone that your “yacht” (that’s what BMW M jokingly called the M5 Touring on social media) can outdo some well-known sports cars? So, charge that battery!
Sorry to digress. I know you’re not here for a lecture on how to be a responsible plug-in hybrid owner. But I had to say it. Who knows, maybe some future owner will heed my recommendation and save a couple bucks at the pump or themselves from an embarrassing situation after a quick, fast, short run through a red light.
Photo: BMW Individual Visualizer
I spent an unhealthy amount of time looking at the many colors available to potential buyers through BMW's Individual program, which is a huge collection of shades, tones, and tints. Unfortunately, they are an expensive optional extra.
Ordering an uncommon paint job for your M5 Touring could also result in a delay in delivery or, in extreme cases, even an outright rejection by the factory. It is rare for BMW to ask customers to choose another color, but it can happen.
The apple of my eye
Green is not my favorite color. I'm more of a China Blue or Snapper Rocks Blue kind of person. However, I will admit that a paint job that perfectly mimics the look of a healthy, delicious apple gets my attention.
Frozen Tampa Bay Green Metallic is the first one that caught my eye from the entire Individual palette. It makes the M5 Touring special, sporty and elegant. It transforms the station wagon into the perfect vehicle for a successful doctor, a dentist or a very friendly dad. It is also the BMW color featured on the launch version of the new M3, also known as the G80 LCI.
Photo: BMW Individual Visualizer
We did some digging and found an M4 finished in Frozen Tampa Bay Green Metallic. A Reddit user uploaded some photos showing the coupe in a parking lot.
Since it is a matte paint, it is important to remember that scratches may be more difficult and expensive to repair. You cannot polish it. But I think it is worth the risk. It simply looks spectacular on this big, muscular and somewhat “green” vehicle. It really suits him.
Just a couple more options
Our second pick may not surprise you, but it's a spectacular paint job. The Borusan Turkish Blue on the M5 Touring looks like the image I'd put next to the word “vivacious” in the dictionary. It makes high performance Hybrid electric vehicle appear cheerful and playful without hindering its aggressive design.
Our third and final M5 Touring color of choice is Liquid Copper. I imagine it won’t be to everyone’s taste. However, it is a special color. Purple Silk Metallic was a strong contender, but that shade doesn’t help BMW’s monster of a wagon show off its angles and curves to the outside world as well as Liquid Copper does.
Photo: BMW Individual Visualizer
Don’t worry, it’s not brown. It’s not even like Lexus’s rose gold Copper Crest. It’s a kind of darkened, softened gold. Its best feature is that it’s uncommon. It’s rare to see cars finished in cool colors these days, but finding a vehicle finished in such a gorgeous color is even harder.
Imagine. It’s fall and you have to take your kid to his or her first day of school. You’d be the coolest dad in the group! Who else would drive an M5 Touring that looks like it came straight out of Forza, right? You could even outshine the parents who choose to drive their kids in a luxury Rolls-Royce or McLaren.
Alas, other beautiful shades, tones and tints are well suited to the Bavarian high-performance family station wagon; that’s true. However, these are our picks. These colors are the ones I would recommend to friends and family if they suddenly decided to buy a vehicle unlike any other, a vehicle that should satisfy your every automotive desire, apart from going off-road.
Regardless of your preference, keep in mind that a custom paint job will likely set you back between $4,250 and $5,500 for a beautiful, unique exterior color. I personally disagree with this practice, but ultimately, automakers are for-profit entities. They have to make money one way or another.
Just stay away from the various shades of black and gray. The world has enough boring cars. M cars need to look the part.