Power Base
The M5's is the outdoor-focused mid-wheel drive base in Permobil's range. An inch longer, and two wider than the M3, it is not quite as compact - but mid-wheel drive still allows for precision turning, aided by the exceptional low-end torque that lets you pivot like a pro.
Outdoors is where the M5 truly excels, with uprated Flexlink Pro independent drive wheel suspension. This keeps all six wheels on the ground and provides a level of smoothness to your ride above the M3's performance, letting you tackle more adventurous terrain with confidence. The suspension helps ensure you maintain your positioning in the seat, allowing you to feel more secure and reducing fatigue as you drive. Uniquely, Permobil chairs maintain full suspension at any seating position (including with lift and tilt activated), unlike other powerchairs which may lock the suspension out at certain seating positions.
The M5 comes with a 7.5 mph top speed as standard, as well as larger 70 Ah batteries for an impressive 20 mile range. The aggressive tread to the tyres provides additional traction, but if you love off-roading, even chunkier snow/mud tyres are available that are capable of handling Swedish winters - so the relatively mild climate of South East England is a breeze by comparison.
If using special controls, we would recommend the ESP module (gyro), which maintains straight-line driving without the need for constant corrections to your course, making for a more relaxing driving experience.
Seating
As with all Permobil powerchairs, the Permobil M5 Corpus Powerchair features the Corpus seating system, which we can completely customise to meet your comfort, support and function requirements. The seat will be tailor made to your exact size, with a wide array of backrests and cushions (including third-party ones) available to provide the ultimate comfort for you. Roho's air cushions and backrests are a popular upgrade for those that require higher levels of pressure relief, and positioning options such as headrests, lateral supports, hip guides and more can be fitted. This results in a seat bespoke made to precisely fit you, and which can be adjusted in the future should your requirements change.
The power seating functions available on the Corpus seat are at a level beyond that found on other manufacturers' powerchairs. They are completely customisable, with three memory positions available as standard for optimal pressure relief and relaxation. The power recline goes back to a full 180°, lying you completely flat - most powerchairs of this level don't recline anywhere close to flat, and even those with "lie-flat" recline tend to go to around 175° at most. Bio-mechanical anti-shear and a close pivot point ensure your positioning accessories (such as the headrest) support you consistently all the way back, and helps to reduce friction. The power tilt is an impressive 50° for optimum pressure relief - when tilt, recline and power elevating leg rests are combined they are an ideal treatment for oedema, raising your legs above the heart.
The Active Height seat riser lets you remain active whilst elevated up to 14 inches - more than the 12 inches on most risers, including the M3. You can drive at a good walking pace of 3.2 mph whilst fully elevated - and with full suspension - ensuring you never sacrifice comfort for function. The riser lets you meet people eye to eye, reducing the need to look up all the time.
Active Reach is a feature unique to Permobil chairs - it's not found on seating systems from other manufacturers such as Invacare or Sunrise Medical. A combination of anterior (forward) tilt and the seat riser, it lets you interact with the environment around you, putting the world within your reach. With this, you can reach beyond obstructions, into high cabinets, or even just be assisted with forward transfers.
Controls
R-Net controls come as standard, and we strongly recommend upgrading to the high-definition LCD joystick for clear control of your powerchair, as well as memorising your favourite seating positions. This highly customisable control system is individually programmed by our specialists to match your requirements, with personalised seating functions and drive profiles.
Like all Permobil powerchairs, the M5 is the ideal base for those with special control requirements, with numerous options available - such as chin or head controls, or switch boxes for quick access to seat functions. Bluetooth and Infrared allow you to interact with your environment, whether that be operating your TV, linking with a tablet or controlling remote doors and lights.
Appearance
Permobil have long set the standard for sleek and stylish powerchairs, and the M5 is a stunning example. With its clean matt black appearance, your choice of several accent colours (including metallics and hydrographics) and two upholstery finishes, you can personalise your chair to ensure it turns heads. It's no surprise that other manufacturers have started to style their chairs in a similar way to Permobil - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
Both the M5 and the Corpus seating system have a clean design, with adjustments, actuators and cabling hidden discreetly away. Tellingly, Permobil provide photos of the rear view of their powerchairs - some other manufacturers don't as they're so cluttered with cables and bolts!
Our Verdict
Permobil powerchairs have a reputation for being expensive, yet this is somewhat undeserved. The closest competitor to the M5 are Quickie's Q700 M and Dietz's Sango Advanced. Otherwise, the Magic 360 is a more off-road capable model that remains versatile enough for indoor use, although the seating is not as sophisticated.
We cannot recommend Corpus seating highly enough - its versatility allows us to provide you with the comfort and fit you require both now, and in the future. Beyond that, it has powered seating options that are only found on competitors' top-level (and significantly more expensive) products. Even then, the Corpus seat offers features like Active Reach anterior tilt that aren't available elsewhere.
If you're looking for a mid-wheel drive powerchair with a focus on outdoor performance, and the best seating available, the M5 is our pick.
