Compare the2026 BMW M5VS 2025 Tesla Model S

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the M5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model S doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The M5 has standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M5 has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M5 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The BMW M5’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Tesla Model S lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

The M5 has standard BMW Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the M5 and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The BMW M5 weighs 475 to 963 pounds more than the Tesla Model S. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model S.

There are over 69 percent more BMW dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 47 more horsepower (717 vs. 670) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 723) than the Model S’ standard electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M5 is faster than the Tesla Model S (base engine):

For better stopping power the M5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Model S:

The M5 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Model S doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The M5 has a standard Brake Assistant to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better traction, the M5 has larger tires than the Model S (F:285/40R20 & R:295/35R21 vs. F:255/45R19 & R:285/40R19). The M5’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model S (F:285/40R20 & R:295/35R21 vs. F:265/35R21 & R:295/30R21).

The M5’s 285/40R20 front and 295/35R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Model S’ standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 has standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model S.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Model S (118.3 inches vs. 116.5 inches).

The M5 Sedan handles at .98 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the M5 Sedan is quieter than the Model S Plaid (67 vs. 68 dB).

The M5 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (98 vs. 94).

The M5 Sedan has .9 inches more front headroom, 5.7 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom, 8.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Model S doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M5 offers cargo security. The Model S’ non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M5’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A Condition-Based Service Display is standard on the M5 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, brake fluid replacement, and vehicle inspections, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model S.

The M5’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The M5 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The M5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The M5’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Model S’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

The M5’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the M5 Sedan and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the M5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The M5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model S.

The M5 is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model S, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the M5 offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model S.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the M5 equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model S, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the BMW M5 empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The BMW M5 comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Tesla Model S isn’t available as a station wagon.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 BMW M5 retains 39.99% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 34.87% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model S after five years, which can save the BMW’s owner.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Tesla Model S by 44% during 2024.