BMW says that it’s all in on electrification and the brand new i5 indicators that just a little extra clearly. Because the very first all-electric 5-Sequence variant, it’s a daring new step as a part of the all-new eighth technology of the mannequin. It is available in two distinct flavors that begin at slightly below $67,000 earlier than vacation spot and dealing with. For now, the i5 M60 xDrive, which prices north of $64,900, serves as the highest canine within the 5-Sequence lineup and we simply examined it.

Over the course of three days in South Carolina close to BMW’s Spartanburg plant we drove it each on the highway and on the observe. We examined all the pieces from how nicely it handles site visitors to again roads and on a regular basis duties. Because it prepares to tackle different electrified vehicles within the phase it’ll have to compete on each stage whereas sustaining its historic DNA. Does the i5 take the reins of the 5-Sequence moniker and race out of the gates? Or is it a stumbling begin? Learn on to seek out out. 

Two Trims And Two Drivetrains 

Pictures Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

The i5 lineup begins with the eDrive40, a rear-wheel drive model with 335 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. That powertrain is nice sufficient to assist the automotive run from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in simply 5.7 seconds and onto an electronically restricted prime pace of 120 mph (193 km/h). Patrons have the choice so as to add an M Sport bundle to it that features a “Increase” button on the left steering-wheel-mounted paddle. When activated, the i5 makes 317 lb-ft of torque for as much as 10 seconds. A launch management mode can be obtainable. Each variations of the i5 share the identical 82 kWh battery and the rear-wheel drive mannequin can go as much as 295 miles (475 km) on a single cost. 

We piloted the i5 M60 xDrive although and it presents much more efficiency and rather less vary. Twin motors, one on every axle, mix to make 593 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. It cuts a full two seconds off of the 0-60 time of the eDrive40 (3.7 seconds for the M60) and has an electronically restricted prime pace of 143 mph (230 km/h). Similar to the eDrive40, the M60 xDrive has a Increase operate however on this case, it comes normal. It additionally allows 605 lb-ft of torque for brief bursts. Vary drops to simply 256 miles (412 km) within the M60 although. 

Each profit from DC quick charging functionality which may enhance the battery stage from 10 % to 80 in about half-hour. First-time homeowners get two years of complimentary charging on the Electrify America DC community. Energy isn’t the one advantage of the i5 although. This sedan has all the pieces one may count on from a contemporary BMW saloon automotive. 

A Refined However Not Overtly EV Inside

Pictures Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

BMW’s design language is obvious within the cabin of the i5. The widescreen show housing the infotainment and driver data display screen bends barely towards the pilot and the sprint follows. Three clear strains of fabric, carbon, steel, and composite outline the ahead view and a flat-bottomed tri-spoke steering wheel offers directional management. The middle console includes a crystalized iDrive interface with capacitive buttons for navigation. 

The seats are a mixture of upholstery surfaces together with leather-based, fabric, and Alcantara. Distinction stitching makes its method onto them together with the wheel and door playing cards. As that is an “M”60 it will get just a few little nods to the well-known efficiency off-shoot. That features an M badge on the wheel and a small tri-color fringe on the entrance seats. That is actually a forward-looking BMW inside however it isn’t above intelligent callbacks to the previous. 

The seats themselves are snug and supportive. Apparently, BMW blends seat controls between bodily switches on the aspect of the seat cushion and digital controls within the infotainment system. Frankly, that’s a bit irritating. Even as soon as one uncovers the extra changes within the menu, the seats aren’t as configurable as we anticipated from a mannequin that sits close to $90,000. The rear seats supply ample headroom and legroom even for these over six toes tall. That shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of a shock although because the i5 is longer and wider than an E32 7-Sequence. 

The Bowers & Wilkins sound system and the panoramic sunroof every supply further luxuries for all within the cabin to get pleasure from. The rearward-facing portion of the entrance seat backrest presents BMW’s intelligent attachment port together with a USB-C energy plug-in. Two further USB-C ports sit between the seats and underneath the local weather vents. General, it’s a intelligent cabin with trendy touches, superior know-how, and lots of luxurious baked in. 

Behind the second row, the trunk presents 17.3 cubic toes of space for storing. That’s a bit lower than one will discover within the gas-powered 5-Sequence (18.4) however it’s greater than sufficient for just a few golf baggage or no matter else one may transport in such a automotive. The second-row seat folds down 40/20/40 for optimum configurability. 

Technological Refinements

The brand new i5 comes with BMW’s iDrive 8.5 which is by far the very best iteration up to now. It permits customers to interface with it by way of contact controls, bodily buttons and knobs, gesture management, and voice activation. All that’s left is for BMW to allow you to management it along with your thoughts. Past the interface itself, the system is wealthy, featureful, and principally simple to navigate. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay proceed to be obtainable for many who desire to make use of them. 

A coloration heads-up show provides to the posh and tech-forward nature of the i5. It combines with the 14.9-inch driver data show and the 12.3-inch infotainment system to offer a big selection of car data at one time. The heads-up system can even present augmented actuality turn-by-turn driving instructions when the built-in navigation system is in use. 

We discovered the nav system to work nicely as soon as a vacation spot was set. Sadly, a lot the identical method we skilled odd predictions in our Kia Carnival evaluate, BMW’s nav system generally predicted that we needed to go to odd locations that simply occurred to be outdoors of the state earlier than it could present native choices. 

Lastly, the driver-aids are unbelievable. BMW lately launched a brand new function on its freeway help hands-free driving system that permits lane modifications. If the automotive senses that it’s arising on a automotive that’s going slower than the cruise is about to, and there’s a free lane, it’ll recommend a lane change and the motive force can settle for it just by turning their head and searching in that route. It’s wild however very purposeful and clean. The conventional adaptive cruise, lane-keep help, and blind-spot monitoring all work seamlessly too. 

Driving The Largest 5-Sequence To Date

BMW additionally presents a number of M Efficiency components for the i5 (Pictures BMW)

There’s no query that the i5 seems like a 5-Sequence from the motive force’s seat when stationary. On the highway, it’s a little bit of a special animal although. That is the most important 5-Sequence up to now. It’s, actually, greater in each bodily dimension and that’s a part of the place it departs from older generations. BMW mentioned a number of occasions that it now has extra presence on the highway due to that further measurement. Does it have extra presence than an E39 or an E60? I’d argue it doesn’t as each of these vehicles have been lighter, extra nimble, and felt extra playful. 

By comparability, the i5 M60 xDrive is simply gargantuan. It ideas the scales at simply over 5,200 kilos. In different phrases, it’s half a ton heavier than the E60. As a former E60 5-Sequence proprietor, I can verify that you could really feel that heft from behind the wheel. 

The steering feels fairly good for an EV however you’ll be able to really feel the additional weight that you simply’re reigning in as you see-saw on the wheel on observe. The brakes deserve further reward for being the very best I’ve ever skilled on an EV in excessive circumstances. They’re robust, simple to modulate, and permit for threshold braking with out mechanically kicking the ABS on. 

On the very optimistic aspect, it nonetheless feels very very like a BMW in the best way that it handles and exits corners. The 593 ponies baked into the chassis are little question a part of that success. Different key options like rear lively steering, lively roll stabilization, and stroke-dependent dampers, all assist it to really feel rear-drive biased because it ought to. And regardless of lapping the i5 time and again and over it didn’t seem to lose energy or snap off of the road. On the general public roads, the i5 feels even higher although. 

I gained’t child you after I say that it feels extremely competent in site visitors. Having pushed the Kia EV6 GT, the Audi Q8 e-tron, and plenty of Tesla Efficiency fashions I can actually say that the i5 M60 xDrive feels faster than most. It’s a weapon on the highway that enables its driver to be wherever they need at any time when they need. In fact, in the event that they need to be in a good parking house or a packed metropolis road they may need to go sluggish and watch these corners. 

Competitors 

The i5 is the most important 5-Sequence up to now in additional than simply inches and toes. It’s additionally the most important shift the model has ever really made with this automotive. Certain, it’s gone after some huge daring design modifications previously however it is a entire new animal with new DNA.

The i5 is about to do battle with the Mercedes-Benz EQE, the bottom Tesla Mannequin S, the Genesis Electrified G80 and different up-and-coming EVs. To that finish, it’s most likely going to do very nicely with the fashionable BMW buyer. In reality, resulting from how configurable and customizable it’s, we count on it to take gross sales from just a few different manufacturers as nicely. It’s received one thing on each one of many above-mentioned vehicles. 

Last Ideas

The 2024 BMW i5 is a significant transfer for the model and it’s one that also has sufficient 5-Sequence DNA in it that it’ll possible do very nicely at dealerships. The outside design is exclusive to the household and helps to outline the 5-Sequence nearly as its personal sub-brand which is nice. The inside and driving expertise additionally speaks nicely to the eye and intention of this new 5-Sequence technology. Can we want it was smaller? Sure. However there’s at all times the i4 for many who need a extra compact electrical BMW. 

Pictures Stephen Rivers / Carscoops