New BMW 520i price up by $7200 and neither battery-powered BMW i5 variant will undercut Mercedes-Benz EQE
BMW Australia has announced pricing for the new 2023 BMW 5 Series sedan range including the first all-electric BMW i5, which was revealed in late May and will arrive Down Under by the end of this year.
Initially just three variants of the eighth-generation (G60) BMW 5 Series will be available here, including just one petrol sedan in the 2023 BMW 520i priced at $107,700 plus on-road costs – up $7200 on the model it replaces and over $2500 more than the outgoing Mercedes-Benz E 200 ($105,069 plus ORCs).
The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan range was revealed in April but won’t arrive in Australia until the first half of 2024 and local pricing is yet to be announced.
Similarly, both versions of the first BMW i5 electric sedan will be more expensive than their Mercedes-Benz rivals, with the BMW i5 eDrive40 ($155,900) positioned $21,000 above the EQE 300 ($134,900) and exactly $1000 above the EQE 350 ($154,900), while the $215,900 BMW i5 M60 xDrive will be $1000 pricier than the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 ($214,900).
As we’ve reported, the new BMW 520d diesel won’t be sold here and standard 520i equipment will include the M Sport Package, M Sport Suspension, 19-inch M alloy wheels and a Panorama Glass Roof.
Meantime, BMW i5 eDrive40 extras include 20-inch M alloys, Adaptive Suspension Professional and a five-year ChargeFox subscription, while the i5 M60 adds 21-inch M alloys, Adaptive M Suspension Professional, an M rear spoiler, four-zone climate control, active front seat ventilation and BMW CraftedClarity Glass Application.
And to recap, the new BMW 520i employs a 153kW/330Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48-volt mid-hybrid assistance to drive the rear wheels and is claimed to hit 100km/h in 7.5sec. Fuel consumption has not been confirmed for Australia.
Meantime, the rear-drive BMW i5 eDrive40 comes with a 250kW/430Nm electric motor powered by an 84kWh battery that provides a 582km range (WLTP) and 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.0sec.
Finally, the range-topping dual-motor BMW i5 M60 xDrive all-wheel drive employs the same battery but higher output of 442kW/820Nm, reducing its 0-100km/h time to 3.8sec but also its WLTP range to 516km.
Expect the new BMW M5 super-sedan and the first M5 Touring to follow in about 12 months, but the latest BMW 5 Series wagon is unlikely to be sold in Australia.
How much does the 2023 BMW 5 Series cost?
520i – $107,700
i5 eDrive40 – $155,900
i5 M60 xDrive – $215,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Join the conversation at our Facebook page Or email us at [email protected]
Keyword: Price hikes for new BMW 5 Series