Review - BMW i5

The BMW i5 is a recent entry to the Australian market. It is forced with the unenviable task of upholding the 5 Series’ reputation for comfort, practicality and impressive driving dynamics - all with a new electric beating heart.

How well does the BMW i5 perform compared to the regular 5 Series, how does it stack up against its rivals and is making the move to the i5 worth the upgrade? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

BMW i5 Competition

Starting Price: $155,900

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How Much Does It Cost?

The BMW i5 range kicks off from $155,900 for the base i5 eDrive40 M Sport, while the range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive is priced at $215,900.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by using one of OnlineAuto’s car agents to assist you in finding the best car for you. As one of the leading car buying services in Australia, our team have access to a range of dealerships across the country to help find you the best deal.

BMW i5 (eDRIVE40 M SPORT) Specifications

What Features Does the BMW i5 Have?

BMW’s entry-level i5 eDrive40 M Sport comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloys and receives adaptive LED headlights as well as adaptive M suspension and active steering, Merino leather upholstery, a powered boot lift, panoramic glass roof, keyless entry & start, carbon fibre interior highlights, heated front sport seats and a five-year Chargefox subscription.

On the tech front, the i5 eDrive40 M Sport comes packing a head-up display, ambient lighting, a surround-view camera, parking assistant, wireless phone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

Stepping up to the range-topping BMW i5 M60 xDrive adds a set of 21-inch alloys, an M Sport rear spoiler, ventilated front seats, glass switchgear upgrades, adaptive anti-roll M Sport suspension and four-zone climate control.

Range Features:

• 20-inch alloys 

• Adaptive LED headlights 

• Active steering, adaptive M suspension 

• Merino leather upholstery 

• Powered boot lift 

• Panoramic glass roof 

• Five-year Chargefox subscription 

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with head-up display 

• 14.9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system 

• 21-inch alloys (M60 xDrive) 

• Adaptive anti-roll M Sport suspension (M60 xDrive) 

• Ventilated front seats (M60 xDrive) 

• All-wheel drive system (M60 xDrive)

Is the BMW i5 Comfortable to Drive?

While skeptics might scoff, the 5 Series is a perfect place for a battery-electric powertrain which, on the road in the i5, offers a super relaxing, refined and incredibly exciting ride.

The base i5 eDrive40 M Sport comes powered by a single electric motor sitting at the rear that produces 250kW of power and 430Nm of torque, offering a 0-100km/h sprint in 6 seconds.

For those looking for some insane acceleration figures, you can upgrade to the i5 M60 xDrive which utilises an additional electric motor at the front that brings combined outputs to 442kW of power and 820Nm - enough for it to hit 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

For the majority of buyers, performance in the base model will be more than fine thanks to the instant torque while taking off from a set of traffic lights, while performance is taken to a whole new level in the range-topper.

When pushed, the i5 does impressively well to minimise body roll from the added weight of its battery pack, maintaining BMW’s reputation as one of the most dynamic European car makers.

Settle things down and the i5 becomes a lovely place to sit on a daily drive, with its silky-smooth electric powertrain offering effortless acceleration while the suspension works to iron out most of the smaller bumps on the road.

On country B-roads, the i5 feels firm, in much the same way as the regular 5 Series, though BMW’s adaptive suspension system works well at dealing with larger bumps while keeping things stable on the road.

As a complete driving package, the BMW i5 is mighty impressive - offering everything we’ve come to love about the 5 Series with exciting electric powertrains that make it a pleasure to drive.

How Far Can the BMW i5 Drive on a Single Charge?

Both the entry-level i5 eDrive40 M Sport and the i5 M60 xDrive are packaged with an 82kWh battery pack that offers a claimed 582km of range in the case of the base model.

Stepping up to the faster, dual-motor i5 M60 xDrive brings range figures down to 516km on a single charge, both of which have been measured on the WLTP test cycle.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it might have a brand-new electric beating heart underneath the bodywork, step inside the i5 and you’ll see that the space, practicality and luxurious touches we’ve come to expect from the 5 Series have all been transported into the i5.

The front of the cabin greets you with a very high-tech cockpit with a digital driving display, a massive infotainment system and lashings of leather, carbon fibre and even crystal finishes for the switchgear.

Everything you can get your hands on looks premium and feels even more luxurious.

In terms of space in the front of the cabin, the i5 offers a heap of headroom for even the tallest of drivers, while the cabin's width adds to the sense of space.

Storage options come in the form of the bulky split-fold centre console housing a generous amount of space and a pair of cupholders, a storage tray sitting behind the rotary gear dial, and some decent-sized door bins on either side of the cabin.

Move to the second row of the cabin and things stay very premium, with the rear bench offering acres of legroom for tall adults and no issues with headroom, either, offering a super plush place to sit back and relax the journey.

The second row of the i5’s cabin offers a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts for a variety of child seats, while the boot measures in at 490L in total, slightly smaller than the regular 5 Series but not prohibitively so.

All up, the i5 is a glorious place to sit, both in the captain’s seat and the rear bench, with tonnes of interior space, practical touches and luxurious finishes that make it immaculate inside.

Is it Safe?

The BMW i5 is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP, though the 5 Series that it’s based on has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating from tests back in 2017.

As standard, the i5 comes fitted with every possible bit of safety equipment you could hope for, including BMW’s driving and parking assistants, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, a surround-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist and more.

Our Verdict: Is the BMW i5 Worth it?

While purists may scoff at the BMW i5, it’s hard to argue just how well-suited the 5 Series is to a super responsive yet silky-smooth and silent electric powertrain.

Notably, BMW has ensured that the i5 retains its dynamic abilities and offers something for driving enthusiasts looking to head out on weekends while remaining impressively smooth and refined on a daily drive to and from work.

Importantly, there are no major sacrifices on offer with the latest BMW i5, making it one of the most appealing battery-electric luxury estate saloons that is now future-proofed thanks to BMW’s embracing of electric powertrains.

If you’re thinking of upgrading to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Eight-year/160,000km battery warranty 

3. Single-motor, rear-wheel drive base model, dual-motor AWD range-topper 

4. 582km range drops to 516km in M60 xDrive 

5. 205kW DC fast charging architecture