BMW i5 eDrive40 First Drive Review

Authenticity. Authenticity is the only thing that sets you apart from the rest of the pack. You need to be who you really are in order to achieve that. Unfortunately, not everyone loves your kind of authenticity. Some may find it offensive while others, well, may fall deeply in love in yours.

And that's exactly like the all-new all-electric BMW i5.

The BMW i5 sports muscular proportions all around, giving it ample presence on the road

Sounds like a game plan

See, more often than not, most electric vehicles (EVs) need to be taken with a pinch of salt. And that's because their steering is often numb, drive is often predictably boring and styling is often crappy.

But not quite the BMW i5. There is a sense of elegance to it, as if it was created to be a car model. Then there is that dynamic disposition about it when you're behind the wheel, as if some spell of engineering wizardry has blessed it. Magically, everything you've come to know and expect from a BMW - driving dynamics, elegant styling, premium touches - are all still apparent in the BMW i5 premium electric sedan.

From the driver-centric cabin and talkative steering to the taut suspension and tight handling, there is a lot to like about this car. Whether you're on the straights or around long sweeping bends, there is never a time when you find yourself doubting the car, which in more ways than one is more authentic than the rest of its peers like Mercedes and Tesla. 

The BMW i5 holds its own really well and has ample pace to keep the keen driver entertained

The numbers game

Of course, this has something to do with the 81.2kWh battery feeding the electric motor that allows some 335bhp and 430Nm of torque to be sent to the rear wheels from the word go. This, obviously, helps the car get from zero to 100km/h in just six seconds - a timing that feels much faster in real-world driving than it does on paper. 

But more than just the numbers and drivability is the experience of being behind the i5. It's not a special feeling, to be honest, and it's not quite as desirable as the BMW i7 M70 that I tested as well. Still, somehow, it's the sort of car that has the ability to put a smile of pride on your face. 

From the time you walk to the car and start it, to the time you park and walk away from it, the BMW i5 is able to connect with you in an authentic way that no other cars can. Of course, this is just me and there is always that argument that I'm just being biased. Truth is, between the fight of brain and heart, authenticity always dies - and no way am I going to let bias ruin that.

From steering wheel and seat covers to door panels and dashboard, everything is made from vegan material with the i5

The honest ways

Of course, by now, you'd already know that I'm half drunk writing this for you, and you should also know that, by now, I like this car as much as I like my second daughter. And, mind you, that's saying a lot. Three girls are a handful, but not quite as bad when you have a three-year-old missing you hard enough to cry when you give her a video call.

Which is to say these rare moments mean a lot to me, as they should. It's the prideful moment when you know you must have done something right in a life where you've done ample wrongs. 

That's just like BMW making whatever mistakes it has done with its cars and perfecting it with the i5 - enough to make a critic wannabe like me appreciate the brand. I mean, the carmaker even went to lengths to make the cabin vegan-friendly. From the seat covers and door panels to the steering wheel wrap and dashboard, everything in the cabin is sustainable.

The BMW i5 isn't just a pretty face - it's also a functional car for the family man

The fun ways

And that's not the end of it. Drivers can now enjoy playing games, watching TV or catching their favourite YouTube channels in the car while waiting for their cars to be charged.

It is quite possibly the most ridiculous feature you've ever heard in a car, but once you hear the reasoning, everything starts making sense. And that's one of the many ways to put things into perspective - in case you couldn't quite understand what I was saying about the BMW i5 having the ability to put a smile on your face - it's the wholesome experience that makes this car such an appealing product.

It's functional with the 490-litre luggage capacity, yes, and it has an extra wheelbase of 20mm at the back, which allows for better legroom, but these are small wins compared to the entire impression you're getting as an owner.

The BMW i5 is an authentic car that's easy to drive and love

The real ways

The BMW i5 eDrive40 that you see here on this page is already in Singapore and it will set you back over $400K, inclusive of COE. Are you getting a lot of car for the price you're paying? Yes, you are. Is it overpriced? Yes, it is.

But is it also authentic enough for most people to fall in love with it? Yes, yes, that goes without saying.