10 Sports Sedan Alternatives To The Incredible BMW M5

Ever since BMW put a sporty engine in their original E12 5-Series to create the M535i, the sports sedan world has exploded in popularity with almost innumerable amount of models with all sorts of performance figures.

The M5 is currently in its sixth generation and is the second model to feature turbochargers. Throughout its production run, the M5 has featured straight-six engines, V8s, and even a screaming V10. The best M5 model is by far the E39 generation which still has one of the best chassis ever made for any car in the history of the automobile. Many automakers – including BMW themselves – are still trying to emulate the E39’s handling and control, with the closest competitors being the short-lived Chevrolet SS and the current Lucid Air (according to contemporary motoring journalists).

While many manufacturers make sports sedans to rival the BMW M5, it remains the best in the business. In case the M5 isn’t quite to everyone’s liking, here are ten alternatives that come mighty close to its level of satisfaction.

10/10 Porsche Panamera Turbo S

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S is a fantastic sports sedan from the German manufacturer of the best sports car on the planet. Originally designed to be the 4-door equivalent to the brilliant 911, the Panamera has become a model line on its own.

The top-spec Panamera Turbo S is a worthy competitor to the BMW M5 but focused more on the luxury aspect of the sports sedan. The Turbo S e-Hybrid makes a lot more power but is weighed down with batteries. Still, the Panamera is a great choice with an almost unparalleled build quality.

9/10 Mercedes-Benz E63S AMG

The Mercedes-Benz E63S AMG is the BMW M5’s biggest rival in terms of performance, luxury, and outright speed. The E63 features the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 used in many other AMG applications but is in this case boosted to 604 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque.

The M5 and E63 are often reviewed together due to their similarities, but the M5 is simply the better driver’s car. Sure, the E63 may have more impressive technology and a throatier exhaust noise, but the M5 still beats it in a straight line and around racetracks.

8/10 Audi RS7

The Audi RS7 is the RS6’s slightly less practical, but prettier sibling. Where the RS6 has enough space in the trunk for a bunch of suitcases, the RS7 is sleek and angular with a full-width lightbar on the back.

Other than the different rear styling, the two high-performance Audis are identical. Both have the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the Porsche Panamera, which sends 600 hp to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic.

7/10 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo

The modern Maserati Quattroporte was a model rarely mentioned, but instantly became the talk of the town when Poseidon’s Trident announced the Trofeo model – a Ferrari V8-engined sedan to rival the M5. The Ferrari engine in question is nearly the same one used in the F8 Tributo.

The Quattroporte Trofeo produces 572 hp and sends the prize Italian ponies to the rear wheels via an 8-speed transmission. This setup is being used in both the Ghibli and Levante – with the latter featuring all-wheel-drive.

Related: Why The 2022 Maserati Quattroporte Is An Awesome Luxury Sedan

6/10 Audi RS e-tron GT

The Audi RS e-tron GT is the slightly cheaper, slightly slower version of the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Where the Porsche makes 751 hp, the RS e-tron GT only produces 637 hp. The styling may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it has grown on the automotive community.

The RS e-tron GT has some pretty weird handling in the sense that it almost feels like a gasoline car. As Chris Harris found out, the GT likes going around corners. This is a great first step into making electric cars fun, but unfortunately, the steering has much to be desired in terms of feedback.

5/10 Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is the origin of the modern electric car and showed that electric cars are viable. The Model S Plaid just reiterates that point by breaking most racetrack records and obliterating production car drag times.

The Model S Plaid had three motors for a combined 1,020 hp and a 0-60 time of under 2 seconds – in test conditions. The actual time is around 2.3 to 2.5 seconds. Still, mighty impressive for a 4,900 lbs vehicle.

4/10 Lucid Air Touring

The Lucid Air is a car from a relatively new automotive company, made up of some of the best people in the industry – including a lot of ex-Tesla staff. Heck, the CEO and Chief Project Manager for the Air was the man who designed and engineered most of the Model S!

As a result of all this expertise, the Lucid Air is one of the best electric cars on the market. It is a mixture of the Model S and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It also happens to produce over 1,000 hp in two trims, with the least powerful one of the two producing an M5-rivalling 620 hp.

3/10 Jaguar XE SV Project 8

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is currently the smallest and most powerful car the British brand has ever made. Jaguar’s Special Vehicles division took the XE sedan and stuffed the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 into the front and gave it an all-wheel-drive. The result is one of the coolest and best-looking sedans ever.

The XE SV produces 592 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque going through an 8-speed automatic. Nearly every panel of the XE was replaced with a new one to fit around the re-engineered frame, with only the front doors remaining from the stock car. To make sure it is noticeable, the XE SV has a huge wing on the back.

Related: Here’s What Made The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 So Special

2/10 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is an utterly ridiculous piece of American engineering, but one which beats the likes of the BMW M5 in enjoyment. The M5 is very much builtcoldly and clinicallyr which features a lot of math, while the Cadillac is a 668 hp supercharged V8 built around a sports sedan.

Granted, the part which adds an infinite amount of satisfaction to the CT5-V Blackwing is the standard manual gearbox. Since the Caddy is built on the Camaro’s platform, it inherits the exemplary handling characteristics, but can still turn into a typical American hooligan.

1/10 Alpina B5

The Alpina B5 is basically a BMW M550i that was completely revamped inside and out – from the engine and suspension to the lush interior and blue dials. It is softer, more comfortable, and very nearly produces the same amount of power.

Unlike the M5, the Alpina uses a non-M engine for their B5, but with upgraded internals and bigger turbos. Interestingly, the B5 has a top speed of 205 mph – higher than the M5 by 15 mph. The Alpina B5 is probably the biggest threat to the M5 – even though it is an alternate version of the same model.