BMW M5 interior

Get in and you’re treated to a classically pedigree driving position and typically outstanding sports seats. You can't sit quite as touring-car low as in the previous M5, because you are sitting on top of the battery pack, but you're not exactly perched. And anyway, the ultra-low seating position you get in BMWs is quite a recent thing – the E60 5 Series was more upright.

Most of the surroundings are the same as that of any new 5 Series, though. That is to say not as high-quality or measured, let alone easy to use, as the previous generation. Although the big curved screen isn't short visual pizzazz, much of the remaining switchgear has clearly been downgraded.

For years, BMW resisted the trend for flat-bottom steering wheels, but it has finally caved. Thankfully, it's still mostly round, and it retains the usual red M1 and M2 buttons that let you quickly dial up your favourite setting configurations.

Illya Verpraet

Road Tester

M division must agree that some settings shouldn't require a menu trawl, because the centre console has gained a couple more buttons that give you direct access to the driving-mode configuration, the hybrid modes, the M modes and the stability control.

The new 5 Series, whether M5 or 520i, is also surprisingly tight in the back for leg room, and while the boot floor isn't as high as in plug-in hybrid Mercedes models, the luggage space is weirdly narrow.