I’ve all the time been a fan of BMW’s 5 Sequence sedan. Positive, the three Sequence will get all of the glory (particularly the M3, and the X household of SUVs pays most of BMW’s payments. However throughout seven generations and 50 years, the 5 Sequence has by no means didn’t ship a bundle that’s upscale, elegant and sporting in equal measure, whether or not it’s a humble four-cylinder variant or a thundering M5.
That’s why I’m delighted to say that in taking the 5 Sequence totally electrical for the primary time, BMW hasn’t compromised something about what made folks love this government sedan for thus lengthy. The BMW i5, because it’s referred to as when it runs on batteries, is as high-tech, plush and astonishingly fast as you’d anticipate. And when you’re on the lookout for a greater massive electrical luxurious sedan lately, its record of worthy rivals goes to be fairly small.
Only one query: The place the hell did my air vents go?
(Full Disclosure: BMW loaned me an i5 M60 xDrive for per week with a virtually full tank of electrons.)
The 5 Goes Electrical
BMW has emerged as this type of shock champion within the EV world currently, a lot in order that shops just like the New York Instances are even noticing. The critiques have been constructive, the specs have been stellar and the German automaker’s total proportion of complete EV gross sales is one thing to envy proper now.
The i5 helps clarify why. Like most different members of BMW’s present lineup, that is the battery-powered model of the present 5 Sequence, which additionally is available in gas-powered and shortly plug-in hybrid kind. BMW’s present powertrain technique is “Give folks no matter they need,” and it appears to be working for them.
Minus the i badges and lack of exhaust pipes, it seems to be like every other new 5 Sequence sedan. I received’t sit right here and misinform you and say it’s my favourite 5 Sequence design ever—that was in all probability the E34 of the Nineties—nevertheless it’s good-looking sufficient, if overly busy, simply as most of BMW’s present lineup is.
The i5 rides on the identical CLAR modular platform as the remainder of the present 5 Sequence household, so it’s not on a devoted EV structure. Normally, which means compromises to issues like vary, effectivity and total tech, however you’d be hard-pressed to seek out them right here; the i5 bucks that pattern to a level that we’re excited to see what BMW can do when it truly makes an EV from the bottom up.
My tester was the top-trim i5 M60, which begins at a far-from-cheap $84,100 however offers you 590 horsepower, a zero to 60 mph time within the mid-three-second vary and between 240 and 256 miles of juice on a full cost. That may very well be higher—which we’ll get to in a bit—however different choices embrace the i5 eDrive 40 with as a lot as 295 miles of vary or its all-wheel-drive variant that can go for as much as 266 miles. BMW’s dual-motor xDrive AWD is the only real configuration supplied on the i5 M60.
2024 BMW i5 M60: Driving Impressions
The unique concept of a BMW “sport sedan” was to make one thing athletic sufficient to have enjoyable with while you need, whereas being sensible sufficient to haul your stuff round with some luxurified dignity. I’m completely happy to say the 5 Sequence makes the leap to electrical energy fairly effectively.
The M60 isn’t an electrical M5, nevertheless it’s higher for it, as many M automobiles might be so hard-edged they’ll make on a regular basis driving relatively irritating. In M60 kind, the i5 has beautifully balanced dealing with with out the punishing journey high quality that may canine the M5, all with virtually no highway noise, both.
However don’t assume for a second that it’s gradual for missing an M badge. Pull the massive “Enhance” paddle on the left facet of the steering wheel, and prepare for 10 seconds of unholy acceleration as its full energy is unleashed. It’s laborious to drive “effectively” in a automobile this fast; its pace feels on par with what gasoline supercars did only a few years in the past. Let’s simply say I spent much less time occupied with vary and extra time worrying about dropping my license right here. Rear-wheel steering helps bolster its agility as effectively.
BMW is taking an fascinating strategy to the same old “Drive Mode” choices that really feel ubiquitous on so many fashionable automobiles. As on different fashions, the i5 can change between completely different “profiles,” a few of that are fairly on the market, like Expressive, Chill out and Digital Artwork modes. That’s along with the same old Sport and Environment friendly modes you’d anticipate.
Not all of them change the character of the automobile as a lot as you’d assume; many are targeted on inside lighting, graphics or making a limo-like expertise, all options Chinese language EV consumers particularly love. They’re neat to indicate off, particularly at evening, however I can’t say I discovered all of them to be significantly helpful; I primarily switched between Sport and Environment friendly when my vary acquired low, as I believe most drivers will do.
2024 BMW i5 M60 Vary And Battery Specs
The BMW i5 eDrive 40 and this M60 xDrive each use the identical battery: an 84.4-kWh unit that’s rated at 81.2 kWh usable. The M60’s max-rated 256-mile vary (blame the larger 21-inch wheels for a few of that) received’t make it a distance king just like the Tesla Mannequin S or Lucid Air, however our testing has repeatedly demonstrated better-than-stated real-world ranges from BMW’s EVs.
Having stated that, this i5’s cold-weather vary wasn’t precisely mind-blowing. On a 35-degree morning after charging to 100% all evening on my dwelling ChargePoint Degree 2 plug, I noticed a ranking of simply 185 miles. Earlier, 99% was 230 miles when it was 45 levels out and 124 miles at 60% when it was 37 levels. Coming off a New York winter, I don’t even assume these temperatures are particularly that chilly; I do assume BMW is extra aggressive in low-balling drivers when it’s cooler out to keep away from any mishaps, however such low rankings may very well be seen as a disappointment to new EV drivers.
By the top of my colder (and rainier) New York spring climate take a look at, I averaged round 2.6 miles per kWh, although I’ve seen a lot increased numbers on BMW boards; my very own heavy foot on the accelerator pedal absolutely didn’t assist right here.
2024 BMW i5 M60 Charging Expertise
My dwelling ChargePoint system took the automobile from 24% to 100% in a little bit below eight hours at a gentle pace of seven kW, including about 210 miles in a single day. That was as user-friendly as you need dwelling charging to be.
Actually, so was public quick charging. The i5 is rated for DC charging at as much as 205 kW. I plugged mine right into a 175 kW EVConnect charger at 37% battery and 83 miles of vary. Charging jumped to 156 kW just about instantly, dropped to 130 kW after reaching 40% and ultimately tapered off to 86 kW at 62%. I added 20 miles of vary in 5 minutes, earlier than calling it at 70% (with 155 miles of vary) after simply 17 minutes.
The 205 kW DC pace trumps even what the i7 and iX can do, so I can’t say I used to be disillusioned right here. It additionally gives Plug and Cost with Electrify America after you’ve configured your My BMW App, though I want the automobile itself displayed the charging historical past too; I couldn’t discover that exterior of the app.
2024 BMW i5 M60 Inside, UX And Tech
Like 5 Sequence ought to, the i5 by no means fails to be snug, high-tech and driver-centric, though it does make some UX selections for the sake of the electrical button-averse future that not each driver will love.
As I alluded to up high, there aren’t any typical air vents right here, however relatively these square-shaped toggles that nearly remind me of the analog sticks on a PlayStation controller. You employ these, and a haptic contact slider, to manage the course and stream of your air. This setup principally works, if I’m being sincere, however I struggled to see the way it was “higher” than a standard one—or if it’s simply extra tech for tech’s sake.
As on the iX, the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch multimedia touchscreen are incredible to have a look at. The present iDrive is fast and responsive system, though its major menu is a sort of mess of assorted features. As on the Mercedes EQ automobiles, it does loads, however getting it to do what you need might be tough.
In idea that must be helped by voice controls, one thing BMW is making an enormous wager on within the coming years. However proper now, the decision on that’s “good, however not nice.” Navigation was much less pure than you’d need, and whereas it would management some bodily features like seat heating, it may’t do issues like shut the home windows individually or precondition the battery on command.
I carry this up solely to say I like voice management features in the event that they work effectively; it’s a greater various to taking your eyes off the highway. However different voice methods from Mercedes (nonetheless the category chief there) and Volvo (which runs the wonderful Google Assistant) have the sting over BMW, for now at the very least. There’s nonetheless the trusty iDrive management knob to maintain you from doing all the things on a display, and I’m glad it’s there. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay is supported too (identical with Android Auto), nevertheless it doesn’t play effectively with the native voice assistant.
My tester included BMW’s Driving Help Skilled bundle as a $2,000 choice, however I sadly didn’t get the prospect to make use of the hands-off Freeway Assistant. I by no means took this i5 on any of the system’s supported highways. We’ll save that for a later standalone take a look at.
Outdoors of the tech, the again seat was spacious and the 17.3 cubic-foot trunk squeezed in additional baggage and equipment than I anticipated from such a sedan.
Pricing And Verdict
With choices, my i5 M60 xDrive (fashionable BMWs all have names like math equations) got here in at $93,895. Personally, I’d be completely superb sacrificing a number of the pace right here for further vary and getting the xDrive 40 or eDrive 40 fashions.
The final time I examined a equally top-spec, non-M 5 Sequence, I drove an M550i to Montreal and again. That automobile had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, an opulent inside and a few excellent tech. It was a beautiful and memorable highway journey machine (albeit a thirsty one.)
I’m happy to say the i5 M60 replicated that have virtually immediately, besides extra powerfully, with higher expertise and this time, zero tailpipe emissions. Progress.
BMW actually didn’t lose something whereas transitioning to battery energy right here—one thing that wasn’t even all the time the case when it dumped naturally aspirated engines for turbocharged ones.
And other than the driving dynamics being precisely what you’d anticipate, the i5 is only a good EV, interval. The max charging pace is extraordinarily respectable for a 400-volt EV, Plug and Cost is a welcome addition and the general expertise was drama-free.
Given the Mannequin S’ getting older icon standing, I’d hand the EV Luxurious Sports activities Sedan crown over to the i5 M60, however for the truth that the equally priced Lucid Air outclasses it in lots of respects. I’d must drive each again to again to verify this, however I can say not everybody’s able to make the leap to an EV startup, and the BMW definitely surpasses its perennial Mercedes rival in virtually each single manner.
Not each typical automobile with a rabid fanbase goes to make the transition to a zero-emission future with out dropping the plot within the course of. Fortunately, the i5 proves we don’t have to fret in regards to the 5 Sequence.
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