Had my M5T for about 3 weeks now. Put close to 350 miles and have a good sense of how it compares to my 2020 F95 X5MC which I absolutely loved for the past 5 years. I was very hesitant to make the switch simply because my X5M was the perfect do it all car for me and my family with two kids. Here are my initial thoughts so far. I'll update this thread once break in is done and I can really drive it like i normally would but right now I am loving this thing.
Interior Space
Size wise its not that different. The X5M has a bit more headroom and slightly wider but overall we don't feel cramped in the M5 one bit. Same with the trunk. I can still fit the usual multiple lawn chairs for my kids sporting events just like did before. The M5 is a BIG car so not surprised here. The one thing the M5 lacks in comparison is storage space. The center console is small, the door pockets are about half the size that was in the X5M. No back seat storage pocket or in the rear seat armrest.
Interior Quality
I'll start by saying my X5M was fully loaded with full leather so that is what i'm rating the M5 against so its no surprise that there are short comings in the M5. The leather doesn't seem as good quality, no leather on the dash or upper/lower door panels. Use of more cheap plastics here and there. No soft close doors. Overall the only thing that bugs me the most is the cheap cover where the side mirrors are, B pillar plastic and the lack of soft close doors. Not having rear door comfort access didn't bother as much as I thought since I have it set that the car unlocks automatically as i approach it. Where I lost in premium look and feel I gained in modern tech. The interior just looks like its 10 years into the future compared to my F95. Another thing worth noting is that while my X5M looked and felt more premium it had a good amount of rattles that I had to chase down. So far the M5 feels really solid and zero creaks to report.
Ride Quality
I don't know how BMW did it but the M5 handles BETTER than my X5M which was lowered on MSS suspension but at the same time have better ride quality. Enough that even my wife and son commented how smooth the M5 felt. Both cars were running the same exact wheel/tire sizes as well. Its night and day difference in this area and i'm very happy with how the M5 handles. Its the perfect daily for me. Firm but not harsh. I do wish the car was .75-1" lower for aesthetics but the stock suspension rides so good i don't want to mess with it and start introducing clunks or bottoming out usually with aftermarket stuff. If someone came out with a good coil-over system with axle lift I would seriously consider that option.
Misc/Performance
I can't really comment on power yet since i'm still in running in period with the M5 but i can tell this thing could move. Acceleration just seem so effortless. I don't even have to kick down a gear and this thing just picks up and goes. I can't imagine when its fully broken in when I try going WOT. One thing to note is I have the Eventuri intake on my X5M and also the M5 and they sound completely different. I'm guessing its a S63 vs S68 thing. The S63 has a louder bassier intake tone where as the S68 has a higher pitch whistle when you let off. The S63 sounds much better here.
Also the transmission feels very different between the two. The X5M is very smooth. Almost too smooth like a normal non performance car smooth where as the M5 has a more rougher feel. It just has an extra thump during gear changes that the X5M didn't have. Not a bad thing as I think BMW engineered it in to make it feel more 'sporty' but just an observation
One thing I wish the M5 had was a larger fuel tank. I’m not sure if it’s due breaking in the engine etc… but I’m only getting 240-260 miles per fillup. Thats significantly less than my X5M that usually gets 300-350mpg
The B&O system is def better in the X5M. I don't listen to music very loud so the M5 system is adequate enough for me but i do notice a more 'tinny' sound when the bass hits. Not sure if something is rattling or what. Need to investigate. The sound in the X5M just sounded fuller and well rounded.
I love the dual nature of the M5 where I can use full EV mode to cruise out of my garage in complete silence but then also fire up the V8 on the demand when I want to have some fun. I've been driving in ICE mode 99% of the time since i want to run in the engine but once that is done i'll start using the EV only function more for those quick around town kid drop offs. I think its awesome that BMW gave us this option.
Lots of plans for this car and most of it is already installed. Waiting to install the PSI X pipe along with secondary IRL downpipes to address the exhaust sound. More goodies on the way
All in all I'm a huge fan of the M5 Touring. It has big shoes to fill because my F95 X5M was such an amazing machine. If I didn't have either car and both the X5M and M5 just came out it would be touch decision for me. At the end i wanted to try something new and didn't want to get into another X5M since I had mine for 5 years already. You really can't go wrong with either one. There's a lot to like about both platforms. X5M is alittle bigger and has a better interior. If you have small kids that still require a stroller then that might be the better car. The M5 is faster, handles better and also more comfortable for everyday use. The EV capability is great for those short trips around town where you would never bring an ICE engine up to temp before you get to your destination. The interior while materials are lacking in comparison gives an overall futuristic vibe that i'm digging at the moment.
Thanks for reading
Alan
**Update 4/13/26**
Took the family on a 600 mile road trip last week so have a better gauge on likes and dislikes of this M5 Touring. 4 of us with two kids in the back between the ages of 10-13.
Positives
Power - even at 80% throttle this thing is a rocket ship. Usually 8th gear in my X5M doesn't offer any bit of acceleration. Once you dip the pedal even slightly it would drop out of 8th into lower gears but not this car. Even in 8th it has enough power to cruise and accelerate without the need to drop gears. When it does drop gear it just picks up speed effortlessly. Even my wife made a comment that this car feels faster than your previous. Tried using the 'Boost' feature once which seems like a cool gimmick.
Ride quality - This one is a pro and con. While the car rides really smooth over most roads compared to my X5M its also a busy ride when going over uneven pavement. It does the 1, 2 bump thing great. its the 3-4-5 consecutive bumps where you can see the passengers in the back start to bounce around. 90% of the time the ride is great and a much better daily driver than my X5M was.
Head turner - This thing attracts a lot of attention. Maybe its a Touring thing but I've had so many thumbs up or people pointing at the car during my road trip.
Headlights - I actually find the headlights on the M5 to be better than the lasers on my X5M. I was fully expecting it to be worse based on some peoples feedback but was surprised its actually better.
Negatives
Rear seat comfort - My kids doesn't seem to like how reclined the rear seats are. They prefer the more upright position in the X5M. Wish BMW made the seat recline adjustable.
Unbelievably cheap plastic trims in the boot - just the act of taking on and off the cargo cover managed to scratch the cheap plastic in the rear. Never had that happen in 5 years of ownership with my X5M. Both cars had plastic in the trunk but the material in the M5 is just lower quality.
Gas mileage - I managed to milk 300 miles per tank during my road trip but usually i only get 250-260 per fill up. I find myself going to the gas station more often than my X5M for sure.
Exhaust sound or lack of it - I had secondary catless downpipes and PSI X pipe installed prior to the trip. While it sounds great and 1000% better when i'm revving the engine stationary with the windows open, it barely hear anything when i'm actually driving. I hear the burbles rumbling back there when i let off the gas (which i'm not a fan of on any car) but i don't hear any exhaust symphony at all. I seems like you need to have an obnoxiously loud system for you to have any chance of hearing it while driving. The exhaust tone in my X5M with just xpipe and akra was WAY better.
First issue with the car - Rear driverside window switch doesn't work. I can control the window from the drivers switch but just not from the back. I suspect its a faulty switch. I'm not keen on having the dealer take apart the door so I might try to tackle this one myself given the part is inexpensive.
Overall this works as a family car. For the driver, the M5T is a better car due to its capabilities. The handling, the power its just intoxicating. For the family the X5M is the better choice. I can tell my kids miss the X5M. It had more interior storage space for their stuff, better upright seating position allowing them to see out the window.