One of our favourite executive cars – the BMW 5 Series – is being replaced this year. For the first time there will be a fully electric version, called the i5, and we've been for an early drive...
On sale October 2023 Price from £65,000 (est)
If we viewed BMW saloon models as a family’s three children, we reckon the BMW 5 Series would be the one with ‘middle child syndrome’. You see, while the flagship BMW 7 Series showcases lots of clever on-board tech and the smaller BMW 3 Series focuses on having fun, the 5 Series has to work the hardest to get attention. It does that by blending its two stablemates’ personalities – and that’s a big task.
As with the outgoing version, the new 5 Series uses the shortened underpinnings of the 7 Series, bringing the luxury feel of the larger car with an added layer of agility to keep those driving entertained. However, unlike its predecessor, it will be sold alongside an electric car version – the BMW i5 – which is what we’re driving here in prototype form.
As you can see from the camouflaged exterior and interior in our photos, we’re not in a position to comment on what the design is like, but we can tell you how the i5 drives.
What’s the BMW i5 like to drive?
Technical and trim details are sparse, but the entry-level eDrive40 with 335bhp kicks things off. That’s more powerful than regular versions of the Mercedes EQE and is likely to be enough grunt for most drivers. Those who want to be pushed harder into their seat during acceleration can go for the performance-focused 590bhp M60, which comes with the xDrive four-wheel-drive system as standard.
In terms of battery range, the eDrive40 can travel the furthest on a full charge, with an official figure of up to 361 miles (trailing the EQE 300’s best figure of 388 miles). Range dips to 320 miles for the M60 xDrive.
All i5s come fitted with adaptive suspension, with air springs at the rear, while the sportier M60 xDrive gets the ‘Adaptive Suspension Professional Pack’. That adds a variable steering system to help the car feel more direct, and four-wheel steering that turns the angle of the rear wheels by up to 2.5 degrees to improve low-speed manoeuvrability.
Grip levels are high when cornering, body lean is minimal and the steering has a weighty, precise response that lets you corner enthusiastically without requiring much input. In short, it feels far more agile than the taller, comfort-biased EQE. The i5’s brake pedal responds more consistently as well, allowing you to stop smoothly with ease.
It’s not as soft as the BMW i7 but the ride comfort on the 20in wheels of our test car demonstrated the same luxurious level of cushioning that isolates you from the road surface. The ride becomes a little busy in the firmer Sport driving mode, but even then, occupants aren’t thrown around in their seats, and the i5 is level enough over bumps to keep a calming environment.
The latest driver assistance tech is designed to help you further relax when you settle down to a cruise. Highway Assistant lets you use the adaptive cruise control without needing to keep your hands on the steering wheel.
There’s also an automated lane-change function that can steer you into the next lane automatically. You simply turn your head in the desired direction until you’re look towards the door mirror and the car will indicate before performing the manoeuvre. The automated steering inputs are very smooth and the system will only work once it has checked there is space in traffic.
What’s the BMW i5 like inside?
Expect a suitably luxurious look and feel that echoes the larger 7 Series, with lots of soft, leather-like padded surfaces on the dashboard and doors, garnished with large slabs of glossy trim finishers. Even though you can’t open the doors from inside with a simple press of a button (as you can in the i7 and the BMW iX), there’s still a high level of tech on board.
The touch-sensitive air vent controls operate with a swipe, while the touchscreen infotainment system runs on the latest iDrive 8.5 software (rather than Version 8.0 in the 7 Series), with a 5G sim card for connectivity. The centre touchscreen display is placed right next to the driver’s digital instrument panel in the same housing, stretching across the top of the dash to look like one huge curved display.
The rotary dial controlled iDrive system is present, found beside the gear selector in a similar housing to the 7 Series’ on the centre console.
There’s plenty of space for four 6ft adults (a tall middle rear hump on the floor robs a little leg room for a fifth passenger), while the boot looks big with a deep underfloor storage area for cables. For those wanting more practicality, an i5 Touring estate car version will join the range later.
Keyword: 2023 BMW i5 review