Around here, 2026 may be remembered as the year vehicle buyers of all stripes and budgets stopped thinking of hybrid propulsion systems as underpowered and boring.
Exhibit A is the BMW HEV M5 Touring. Last year it won a Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems award with the BMW M5 sport sedan. This year, the propulsion system propels a calm-looking, family vehicle that American Boomers might call a station wagon, but just a few minutes behind the wheel is mind-blowing.
“Station wagons aren’t the sort of thing that have a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 producing 577 hp supplemented by an electric motor integrated with an 8-speed transmission with a total output of 717 hp,” commented juror Gary Vasilash.
This M5, which also makes 738 lb-ft of torque, delivers thrilling 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds.
Folks, we’ve come a long way from the first 97-hp Toyota Prius with a 13-second 0-60 time.
Dual personality
WardsAuto jurors gushed about the intoxicating, snarling, baritone rumble the M5 Touring V-8 makes when you stomp on the pedal, but they also liked how pleasant the car was to run errands.
Unlike the high-powered Porsche 911 and Corvette hybrids on this year’s list, the M5 is a plug-in hybrid, another thing that isn’t usually associated with high performance, but nobody is complaining. The 14.8-kWh lithium-ion battery mounted beneath the cargo floor allows all-electric range up to 24 miles according to the EPA and it does not take up a lot of interior room.
“If you fold down the 2nd row seat there is 67 cubic feet of cargo capacity so you can take it to Costco and load up,” commented juror Vasilash.
‘Insane in the most glorious way’
“In a twist on the old phrase, the BMW M5 Touring hybrid is a sheep in wolf’s clothing,” said juror Bob Gritzinger. “It’s a dramatic take on a hybrid powertrain. It’s a super powerful ‘wolf’ when you step into it, with adrenaline-inducing BMW V-8 power and glorious exhaust note. But it’s also a ‘sheep,’ operating solely on electric power, whether around town or sailing silently along at freeway speed.”
“This M5 is truly insane in the most glorious way,” chimed in juror Robin Warner. “I expected a bonkers hot rod of a sport wagon with mega straight-line speed and endless pull. BMW delivered exactly that. But I did not expect to also enjoy a tranquil quiet drive when I asked for one.”
“If you start with a full battery pack, this same wagon will silently mosey you down the road with calm and aplomb,” Warner added.
One of the things jurors agreed upon last year and this year is that the BMW M5 Touring’s plug-in-hybrid propulsion system’s power and torque ratings were not the most important thing, or this 5,500-pound vehicle’s acceleration. It is how quickly the hardware stops feeling like a collection of parts. This unified response is what really turns an engineering specification into an experience.
This superior engineering is why BMW’s M Hybrid system is a recurring Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winner. The core powertrain earned recognition in the M5 sedan, and for 2026 the M5 Touring proves the formula is not a one-body-style configuration.
Electric motor plays central role
While the big V-8 is a key player, jurors agree the electric motor is central to that achievement. It fills the power gaps before the V-8’s turbochargers reach full stride, sharpens initial response and helps make the immense combined output feel accessible rather than peaky.
Some critics may dismiss the BMW M5 Touring as just another German hot rod, but WardsAuto jurors believe BMW has created a breakthrough by making the electric and combustion sides feel inseparable.
All jurors noted that when the driver presses the accelerator the M5 Touring does not pause to negotiate among its power sources. Also, the xDrive all-wheel-drive system controls the combined torque across both axles, supplying traction without erasing the rear-biased character enthusiasts expect.
Simply put, the BMW M5 is one of the year’s best in a new form — a wagon with utility that broadens its mission, without diluting its identity.
