New 2014 BMW M5 review, test drive

Yes, the stiffer suspension and quicker steering does mean the Competition Pack M5 feels a bit more agile but that's it. Even with the suspension set on 'Sport-plus', the car never settles down. It's always moving about and keeps you on edge. You end up, at least on public roads, trying to predict what the car will do next and that kind of kills the fun. You have to work to get the car around corners smoothly rather than the car working with you to provide entertainment. Also, the rear axle struggles to put all that power down on anything less than a billiard table-smooth surface and the traction-control system works overtime and chops power viciously. The ride is quite nice though but then again, the roads were rather smooth too.

Admittedly, the harder you drive it, the better the M5 responds and what you need then is a racetrack. On public roads, the M5's limits – read that as lateral grip – are so high, it would be rather foolish to approach them.  

It's quite clear that the M5 is a mature, more luxurious super saloon designed to appeal to a wider, older crowd. Two-and-a-half pages of the three-page press-release that accompanied the facelifted car talks about LED headlamps, touch-sensitive iDrive controller, the new lane departure warning system, collision warning system and the new online entertainment option.

There's another problem. When the facelifted M5 gets to India in the second quarter of 2014, it is unlikely that BMW will offer the Competition Pack here. So, what we will get is the facelift and extra equipment wrapped around the 552.3bhp engine. It is likely that the facelifted M5 will cost a bit more than the current car as well.

For that price, you can look forward to ballistic performance mixed with four-door, five seat, big-boot practicality and for most, that will be more than enough.