BMW’s knack for building dynamic, high-performance saloons has been well-documented and the M5, in particular, sits right at the top of the performance totem pole - the apex predator if you will. 

Respectively, each model needs to push the envelope on all fronts that much further, and the current F90 M5 Competition is no exception to this rule. Initially launched in 2018, the model has been given a few cosmetic tweaks, which include new headlights, front valance and 3D-effect tail light clusters. It’s these incremental, ornamental updates that manage to bring the M5 bang-up-to-date with its prime rival, the Merc AMG E63 S, which quite recently also went under the knife.

Panning back to the M5 Competition, however, it is quite understandable why every generation of the model is released to much pomp and ceremony. It is, without a doubt, the benchmark super-saloon and this can be attributed to its ability to meld on one end; space, comfort and refinement befitting a modern premium saloon. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, you have performance and grunt to give a few pesky sports car drivers something to ponder over as you show them a clean pair of heels. All. The. Time!

More on the performance aspects a tad later, though. What truly piqued my interest is the practicality of the thing. Yes, I know, it's a sizable sedan, but it was while trying to pack my kids' playing paraphernalia for a day at the park, which included a plastic scooter, a stroller and some bits and bobs that I really appreciated the M5's boot space. This wouldn't be of significant value were it not for the fact that I had initially tried to fit all these in a city car that was also in for testing at the time. I mean, I was going to drive all of three kilometres each way, so doing it in a V8 powered super-saloon sounded a bit silly at the time. 

Alas, I ended up opting for the burly V8 and, in hindsight, I was actually glad I did. You see, the M5 also does the mundane, daily drudge travels with the utmost aplomb. In its default comfort settings, the suspension remains compliant in the way it goes down the road that you simply become oblivious to its performance repertoire. Everything is well-judged with the engine remaining ever so docile, the gearbox mashing into the next ratio imperceptibly, while the suspension remains relatively compliant despite the low-profile tyres and sporty suspension.