BMW i5 eDrive40 Review

In many ways, the brand new BMW i5 isn't a particularly interesting or complicated car. 

We've already seen BMW's EV-twin formula a bunch. It started with the iX3 (based on the G01 X3), then the i4 (based on the G24 4 Series Gran Coupe), a China-only i3 (based on the G28 long wheelbase 3 Series), the i7 (based on the G70 7 Series), and the iX1 (based on the U11 X1). 

Delivering an EV version concurrent with a petrol one is certainly not new to BMW. So, of course, with the eighth generation G60 5 Series, we now also get the all-electric i5. 

Crisp surfaces and a high shoulder line lend the i5 a muscular and athletic demeanour

So, electric 5 Series then… 

Calling the i5 an electric 5 Series is, well, correct. It is. And BMW hasn't done very much to try to differentiate the two. Visually, it's going to be hard to tell the two apart from a distance (this is becoming increasingly true across BMW's EV-twinned models).

The i5 gets blue accents around some of the exterior BMW roundels to indicate its electric nature, as well as subtle i badging on the front grille, but otherwise it's pretty much a bog-standard 5er. 

As standard, the kidney grille gets BMW's Iconic Glow illumination

The M Sport variant gets a set of sleek 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels 

Well, "standard". Standard for this 8^th generation is the illuminated kidney grille, and a more muscular overall design. The overall silhouette may still be recognisably executive saloon, but the sharper creases and high shoulder line lend it a more upright and aggressive look, almost like its coiled to pounce. 

This particular car is also in M Sport trim, so you get a few sporty goodies - an M body kit, as well as 20-inch M aerodynamic wheels that actually look pretty cool. 

The increased wheelbase affords rear passengers slightly more legroom

The interaction bar adds to the high-tech ambiance of the cabin

Is the interior any different? 

When it comes to the i5's interior, it's basically identical to its petrol-powered twin. That's… mostly a very good thing. The extra length of the car translates to a tad more space at the back (the wheelbase is 20mm longer), and overall comfort is still very high. 

I like the Veganza upholstery. It’s vegan leather, but I'm certain most people couldn't tell it apart from "real" leather, so for all intents and purposes it's great - plush, high-quality, and certainly luxurious. And that sense of quality extends throughout the cabin - from the materials to the switchgear, this is a properly premium car. 

The updated OS 8.5 places important and regularly used functions at the bottom of the screen - a handy improvement to a pretty complex interface

The centre console provides two 'slots' to hold smartphones, but only one of them provides wireless charging

With this i5, you also get the Interaction Bar first seen in the i7. It's not as sleek (there's a break underneath the infotainment display that stops it from being singularly continuous), but it still looks as impressive. It's perhaps a little more form than function, but that's little to complain about. 

I will, however, complain about the steering wheel. This M sport steering wheel is too thick (true for all other M-related models as well), and I don't exactly have small hands. The fact that there are two phone holder pads in the centre console, but only one of them offers wireless charging, is also slightly confounding. 

Of note, the infotainment system now runs the updated Operating System 8.5. It is an improvement - I like that the various menus are now tiled vertically rather than horizontally, and that key controls like access to the home, climate control and Apple CarPlay features are fixed at the bottom of the screen. It takes a step towards reducing the existing complexity of the system. As a whole, it's still not the most intuitive interface to use, but any improvement is welcome. 

The steering wheel, though too thick for my liking, provides light yet accurate steering

Flick the left paddle shifter (well, the only one since there isn't an accompanying one on the right) and you get 30Nm of additional torque, for up to 10 seconds

How does it perform on the road? 

While much of the i5 may feel very obviously familiar, out on the road, one thing immediately stands out - it feels nowhere the heft of the car it actually is. 

This is an over-5m long, over-2.2 tonne car. And it never feels that way. With so much easy power on tap (335bhp and 400Nm of torque in this eDrive40 variant), coupled with quite a light steering, the car feels, well, kind of small. It also helps that its much quicker than anyone really needs their executive saloon to be - 0-100km/h takes just 6 seconds. 

However, spend a bit more time driving it and a sense of familiarity returns. The intrinsic 5 Series DNA still comes through. The car handles well, feels agile and responsive, and retains its sporty character. It may be over 400kg heavier than the equivalent 520i M Sport, but it never feels chunky. 

Driven lightly, you can get over 500km out of a single full charge

In Adaptive mode, the car will adjust the level of regeneration based on the driving situation

This dynamic capability is helped by a fantastically-sorted chassis. It may have the M Sport dampers, but ride quality is still excellent. The car rides over bumps in a well-controlled manner - comfortable, but not loose or disconnected. And driven lightly, it is a very serene car. Quiet, comfortable, effortless to drive, it's exactly the sort of executive saloon you want to be getting around in. 

Speaking of getting around, the i5 has an 81.2kWh battery, which BMW says can give you up to 582km of range. That's optimistic - with typical driving habits, 450km is very doable, and you could stretch it to over 500 if you tried. There are competitors with larger batteries (and hence more range), but it's still a very useful and practical amount all things considered. 

The i5 impresses with its effortless pace and excellent ride control, while still retaining a sporty DNA

Should I be buying an electric 5 Series? 

Truth be told, the i5 isn't a particularly complicated or interesting car: It is in fact an electric 5 Series. 

And it is, in fact, a really good car. That's probably also an indication of how accomplished the new generation 5er is, but this electric twin is easily as polished. It works in all the ways you want an EV to, and also works in all the ways you want a BMW executive saloon too. It's perhaps not spectacular, but it is consistent, and consistency is something I will fully get behind. Consistent with BMW's overall EV-petrol twinning strategy, too. 

It may be more pricey than its petrol-powered twin, but the i5 will appeal to forward-looking drivers ready to embrace electrification - and the executive saloon experience is better for it

Can it justify the over almost $40k increase in price compared to the 520i? Now that's a much more complex question. It's a lot more powerful, but I'm not convinced performance alone is worth that premium (especially in an executive saloon that will likely be driven leisurely most of the time). Look slightly deeper into the numbers, and the monthly instalment on the i5 is about $300 more than the 520i. I'm not sure even savings on charging versus petrol will make that amount up. 

What this i5 is, is a car for the forward-looking driver. I do think it elevates the overall executive saloon experience, though whether its objectively better than the petrol variant will have to wait till I drive the 5 Series. That said, traditionalists will likely gravitate to the 520i. But for those with a keener eye on the future, guided by the electric evolution that will drive sustainability efforts, then this i5 is certainly worth the while. Even if yes, it is still more expensive right now. 

Shopping for an electric executive saloon? Here are some other options:

The Mercedes EQE has the same looks and features that make the EQS so appealing

The Porsche Taycan combines green credentials with a sports car disposition