Credit or blame the younger generation, but the propensity for wagons is on the rise.
Once a staple for large families from the mid-1950s to the ‘70s, the station wagon was an original family hauler, a vehicle with three areas for passengers, even though some of them had a third row with no seating and were used more as a storage area.
Oddly from our standpoint, multiple luxury brands are now offering a wagon, while mainstream auto makers have mostly avoided the trend and remain focused on coming up with new crossover SUVs. Although previously no fan of the wagon, we just spent a week with the 2026 BMW M5 Touring and its overall appeal gradually won us over.
BMW isn’t the only manufacturer who thinks adding a wagon to the lineup is a good idea. Other luxury automakers – Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Volvo – are all producing a wagon similar in style to the M5 Touring and selling them primarily to Millennials and Gen Z folks, who are drawn to the style, utility and luxury.
At this point, one primary obstacle limiting the popularity of the modern-day wagon is cost. Most people would gasp at the sticker shock. The M5 Touring starts at around an astonishingly $124,000 and the ceiling can rise to around $145,000.
BMW only offers the Touring wagon as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). That helps increase the value, thanks to the 25 miles of electric range that could be ideal for someone with a short work commute. However, we were stunned to learn the M5 Touring only gets only 11-17 mpg, numbers that are far below its competitors.
Typically, PHEVs are more fuel efficient than traditional gas-powered cars, sometimes reducing the yearly gas consumption by $1,300. Hampering the Touring wagon fuel economy is its weight, a whopping 5,530 pounds.
Where the M5 Touring excels is performance – this is one extremely fast wagon. It utilizes an electric motor that combines with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter, V8 to produce 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. It offers excellent acceleration, going 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
Excessive weight is a negative when driving the wagon. It can be a factor when taking a sharp corner or navigating along a challenging country road. But the tradeoff is the speed allows the wagon to effortlessly move through mountainous terrain and make climbing a steep grade no obstacle.
Standard driver safety features are numerous and include front collision warning; lane departure warning; blind spot detection; automatic emergency braking; adaptive cruise control; lane keeping assist; and pedestrian and cyclist detection.
AT A GLANCE – 2026 BMW M5 Touring
- Performance: electric motor, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter, V8, 717 horsepower
- Mileage estimate: 11-17 mpg
- Price estimate: $123,900 to $145,000
- Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles; Drivetrain: 4 years/50,000 miles; Roadside Assistance: 4 years/unlimited; Corrosion: 12 years/unlimited; Battery: 8 years/100,000
Another overall strength is the interior makeup. There’s considerable technology, starting with a curved display and a large dashboard that includes a 12.3-inch digital driver display and quick responding 14.9-inch touchscreen. Standard features include a panoramic glass sunroof, leather upholstery with two-tone options, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bowers & Wilkins stereo, and more.
Unlike many vehicles, the wagon’s voice control is exceedingly responsive, obeying commands like turning on and off the display and changing the temperature. This is a good thing because other functions are concealed in the screen menu and take away from a driver’s road concentration.
The front seats are spacious and the Merino leather chairs provide great comfort. The back seat is roomy as well for people of all ages. The cargo space is 27.2 cubic feet behind the second row and expands to 58 cubes with the rear seats down.
If the excessive cost is not an issue, the 2026 BMW M5 Touring is a wagon that warrants some attention. It delivers excellent performance, is very tech focused, and the ride is comfortable.
Weidel on Wheels is featured regularly on www.tahoeskiworld.com. Auto writer Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel.bsky.social
