GTA 5 is incredible. It fixes every problem I've had with the series.

Loading Times: Except for when you switch characters, gone.

World Unlock: Drive anywhere, right from the beginning.

Side Quests: Optional. You want to hang out with another character, YOU call THEM! They've also integrated the RDR-type random missions, where you can stop a purse snatcher or so on.

Getting Lost: No longer a problem. Drive as far as you want, then switch characters, the one you got lost will find his way back. Really keeps the game moving.

Car Damage: It's really really hard to damage your car as to be undrivable. Vehicles are far less likely to explode. Also, each character has a vehicle or set of vehicles that is owned by them, so when you switch characters or finish a mission, most of the time one of your cars will be waiting there, saving some time as usually you'd have to stand in the middle of the road and threaten someone to get out of their car.

Cops: There are fewer cops on the street for you to accidentally tap and start some kind of shootout on accident. They're still pains when you do instigate them, but they have view things on the radar so where you can see where they're looking for you, which gives car chases an almost Assassin's Creed feel. Sometimes I find myself looking for hay bales.

Story: Rockstar has learned from RDR and realized that we do actually care about the story. I don't see this getting as emotional as RDR did, but I do care about what happens to the characters. I honestly don't remember what Nico's deal was.