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A brand new generation of the BMW 5-Series is here and with it comes an all-new all-electric version of the historic sedan dubbed the i5.
All Electric Luxury
The BMW 5-Series dates back to the early 1970s. Since that time it’s grown in size and power. It featured restrained classic styling and at times featured designs that were loud and abrasive. One thing it’s never done is arrive with an all-electric powertrain. That’s no longer the case though as the new 2024 i5 begins a new EV page for the 5-Series. BMW hopes that it can continue its long legacy as one of the world’s most revered luxury sports sedans.
New Styling Inside and Out
Die-hard BMW fans can rejoice now that the wraps are off of the new 5-Series. Unlike the very aggressive designs found on the iX, the new 7-Series, and the 4-Series, the new i5 looks like an evolution of the 7th generation 5-Series. The headlights and famous kidney grille both feature more modern interpretations of the old styling and they’re very clearly BMW traits. The automaker even goes so far as to say that the grille harkens back to the old “Sharknose” 5-series.
Underneath the skin of the dapper exterior, the i5 features an extremely restrained but innovative cabin. Ahead of the passengers sit a wide double screen that makes up the 12.3-inch driver display and the 14.9-inch infotainment system.
The screens are not as big or bold as the Hyperscreen one might find in a Mercedes EQE but they’re far more functional in our experience. BMW still leverages a combination of touch controls, gesture controls, and a physical rotary knob (iDrive) to manage the system. We like that quite a bit more than touch-only setups.
BMW is also offering a fully leather-free upholstery package for the i5. A panoramic glass roof is available as is a semi-automated driving system. Sport seats come standard across the lineup and BMW also includes unique stroke-independant dampers only on the i5. All of these features should serve to make the 5-Series stand out in traffic and stand out as one of the best riding and most comfortable luxury EVs on the market.
BMW i5 Range, Power, and Charging time
As with any electric vehicle, range, power, and charging capability are key factors for the i5. BMW will begin sales with two versions. The base i5 is dubbed the eDrive40. It comes with rear wheel drive only, up to 295 miles of range, and 335 horsepower. BMW says it’ll go from 0-60 mph in just 5.7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 120 mph.
The second trim, the i5 M60 xDrive features a pair of electric motors for full-time all-wheel drive. It has a maximum range of just 256 miles but pumps out a total of 593 hp. That power enables the car to rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and onto an electronically-limited top speed of 143 mph when equipped with performance tires.
Both versions of the i5 can accept up to 11 kW of power from a Level 2 charging station and up to 205 kW from a Level 3 charger. That means that, if one can find a DC fast charging station that can pump out 205 kW, that the car can theoretically go from 10% state of charge up to 80 % in just 30 minutes.
Pricing And Availability
Those interested in the BMW i5 should call up their local dealer now. The all-electric sedan is arriving at dealers this month. Notably, the i5 eDrive40 starts at $66,800 not including a $995 charge for destination and handling.
The i5 M60 xDrive has the same destination charge but starts at $84,100. Those figures both undercut the Tesla Model S Plaid but the base Model S rings in at just $71,090 as of this writing. Compared directly, the Tesla has a lot more range and better performance but don’t forget that the cabin of the i5 is vastly superior.
Compare the i5 to its rival from Mercedes, the EQE, and the BMW looks even more enticing. The EQE starts around $75,000 and offers more torque but doesn’t have any additional range. It can also be more difficult to live with since its infotainment system is primarily touch controlled. We’ll have to wait to see how things shake out in terms of sales figures but one thing is sure, the new 2024 BMW i5 looks poised to continue a long tradition of success.
