Whereas the M5 does a wonderful job of grabbing headlines, if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing that’s nine-tenths as fast however extra inexpensive, in addition to extra extra snug for on a regular basis use, the M550i xDrive is likely one of the most excellent four-door sedans obtainable. 

On paper, the numbers look promising. Though not fairly as highly effective in M550i guise, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is identical as what you’d discover within the top-spec M5 Competitors. This engine churns out 523 horsepower (390kW) and 553 lb-ft of torque (750Nm), sufficient to catapult the automotive from 0–60 mph (0-96 km/h) in simply 4 seconds, all for a lot lower than an M5.

Learn: M550i And 540i xDrive Are Slower Than Advertised Say BMW, Fix Coming Soon

This being a 5-Collection, it’s nonetheless a sensible choice, with a 530-liter cargo capability and a power-operated boot lid. Inside it boasts a mixture of trendy and conventional gear, together with a digital instrument cluster, digital contact display, iDrive distant controller, and knobs and buttons, whereas the cabin may be furnished with few types of leather-based decisions. 

However suffice to say, it’s on the highway the place the M550i shines. As Tom Baker from Chasing Vehicles explains, the M550i is now what the E39 M5 as soon as was. Whereas subsequent M5s have develop into extra efficiency and track-oriented, the G30 M550i stays true to the profitable mixture of BMW traits displayed within the late ’90s and early ’00s. 

The M550i bridges the hole between a luxurious sedan and an all-out super-saloon however retains the virtually misplaced artwork of driver engagement. Being a sedan, it has the sting over similarly-powered SUVs from the BMW steady, with one thing like an X5 M50i outclassed by the M550i in that the latter ensures the motive force is an integral a part of the expertise.