BMW i5 review

Is the BMW i5 a good car?

The BMW i5 is a highly impressive entry into the electric executive car market because it is supremely well-finished inside, comes with an array of high-end technology, and can travel around 300 miles on a single charge.

Sure, the i5 isn’t the cheapest EV around, but it’s compelling enough to make you question the even pricier i7, and we reckon it’ll provide a real challenge to the Mercedes EQE. We’d like a little improvement to overall efficiency, and it could be a touch more fun to drive, but if you’re after a refined long-distance EV, the BMW i5 is one of the more complete options.

How much does the BMW i5 cost?

Unlike the regular BMW 5 Series, which has mild-hybrid petrol or plug-in hybrid power (the latter will have an ‘e’ at the end of the model number), the i5 is all-electric, and starts at just under £68,000 for the Sport Edition eDrive 40 version, rising to nearly £98,000 for the high-performance M60 xDrive.

Buyers prioritising practicality will find the BMW i5 Touring estate the most versatile option in the lineup. Compared to its taller SUV contemporaries, the i5 Touring should slip through the air more efficiently and provide superior electric range.

There are four trim levels to choose from: Sport Edition, M Sport, M Sport Pro, and M60. The entry-level Sport Edition undercuts the least expensive EQE 300 Sport by just over £1000. It’s our preferred version of i5 because it comes with everything you’ll need, including 19-inch wheels, adaptive LED lights, a Harman Kardon stereo, Veganza artificial leather trim, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, and sat-nav. The only thing missing is adjustable lumbar support for the front seats, although this can be added as an individual option for a reasonable price.

Next up is M Sport at just over £74,000, adding M Sport specific 19in alloys, sportier exterior and interior styling, sports suspension, and a three-spoke M Sport steering wheel. M Sport Pro comes in at a little over £77,000 with larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a black grille, and red brake calipers. The top-of-the-range M60 is the high-performance version and is very expensive, but for your money, you do get two electric motors, giving you xDrive four-wheel drive, 593bhp, and a storming 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds.

BMW i5 alternatives

The i5 is a direct rival to the Mercedes EQE saloon and the lesser-known Genesis Electrified G80, while the high-end i5 M60 is similar in price to the left-hand drive Tesla Model S – if you can find the latter in stock at your local Tesla dealer. The i5's pricing puts it in the realm of electric SUVs, like the Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX. If you want to save a few pennies, you could buy the slightly cheaper Genesis Electricifed GV70.

Spending this kind of cash on a three-box family saloon – albeit an electric one – will still be impossible to justify for most private buyers. It’s a pill no less tricky to swallow when you factor in the likely monthly PCP costs and hefty initial payment required to get into an i5. Private buyers would be better off choosing the regular petrol version of the 5 Series for the best value for money.

Company car buyers will benefit from the low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates, with the eDrive40 Sport Edition being the best value. It’s nicer to drive than the Mercedes EQE, and is much more practical than the Genesis Electrified G80. If you need the additional versatility you’d get with an electric SUV, then the i5 Touring will provide the extra practicality you’ll need while maintaining an excellent range.