2022 BMW M5 CS PVOTY Review: Four-Door Monster

Pros

• Ferocious engine
• Rowdy handling
• Performance and practicality in one

Cons

• Ridiculous number of settings
• Test vehicle used wrong tires
• Seats uncomfortable for some

The new BMW M5 CS—for Competition Sport—immediately caught our attention, thanks to the visually stunning combination of its $5,000 Frozen Deep Green Metallic paint and its bronze wheels and grille surround. And once on the move, it was quickly established BMW had delivered the most thrilling M5 in years. 

The S63 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 makes 627 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque. Peak torque is the same as the regular M5 Competition’s, but the CS’ maximum power betters the Comp’s by 10 and the standard M5’s by 27. Snap the throttle open and hang on as monstrous acceleration takes hold, pushing the CS to triple-digit speeds few other PVOTY contenders could match on the faster parts of our evaluation circuits. 

But this isn’t merely a straight-line superstar. It benefits from the M5 Comp’s chassis changes, including stiffer engine mounts, a 0.2-inch-lower ride height, more negative front camber, and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar and toe-link ball-joint mounts, plus revised suspension geometry due to its lower weight. Our scales said the M5 CS weighs 4,089 pounds, about 200 fewer than the Competition. The savings come from adopting carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic for the hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, and engine cover. This M5 also has less sound deadening, and the upgrades add up to a blistering experience on any road.

“Hot damn, this thing is capital-R Rowdy,” features editor Scott Evans said. “Everything about it feels fast; it lunges from corner to corner like the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The power is manic. The steering is super-sharp, with less dulling from the AWD system than I feared. I barely had to move the wheel for the tightest corners.” All our drivers also noted how the M5 CS’ sharp dynamics make it feel half its size. It only failed to make the finalist cut for two reasons.

The first is an eternal topic of argu—er, cordial debate at MT HQ: How much adjustability is too much? “All M cars suffer from having too many modes and settings,” features editor Christian Seabaugh said. “You need a calculator to figure out how many combinations of engine, chassis, steering, AWD, transmission, and traction control settings are available. Just give me one good mode each for sport, track, and road. I don’t need this other nonsense.” Deputy editor Alex Stoklosa agreed. “How the #$&! do I set up this car properly?” he griped. “Is the car ‘better’ when the dampers are soft but the throttle response is hyperaggressive? And ‘better’ compared to what, exactly? Who knows!”

The other reason wasn’t BMW’s fault. You’d ideally option your M5 CS with the no-cost Pirelli P Zero Corsa ultra-high-performance tires, but supply issues meant BMW could only send the car with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The PS 4S is a fine chunk of rubber, but the M5 CS needs the Corsas’ extra-gooey grip to feel less skittish and more settled. Not that it behaved erratically, but we didn’t experience the car at its best, and other contenders inched (barely) ahead as our evaluations wore on. We’re dying to try it on the proper tires, but, regardless, the M5 CS represents a massive accomplishment. It’s easily one of the best BMWs of the modern era.

2022 BMW M5 CS Specifications
Base Price/As tested
$143,995/$148,995
Power (SAE net)
627 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
553 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph
2.6 sec
Quarter-mile
10.7 sec @ 129.7 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph
101 ft
Lateral Acceleration
1.04 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight
23.2 sec @ 0.92 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb
15/21/17 mpg
Vehicle Layout
Front-engine, AWD, 4-pass, 4-door sedan
Engine, Transmission
4.4L Twin-turbo direct-injected DOHC 32-valve 90-degree V-8, 8-speed automatic
Curb Weight (F/R DIST)
4,089 lb (56/44%)
Wheelbase
117.4 in
Length x Width x Height
196.4 x 74.9 x 57.8 in
On Sale
Now