BMW is far from Modern to the EV plot . The company was actually somewhat fast to adopt electrification , and it currently deal a serial of EVs , fromthe SUV - sized iXto the high - performance i7 . But now , the 5 - series is father the galvanising treatment , too — in the form of the raw BMW i5 .
The electric 5 - serial publication offers many similarity to its gas - power opposite number . That ’s a full thing . The i5 boasts a luxurious inside , improbably fast public presentation , and a sentiency of style that puts some oversized - kidney - grille - bearing BMWs to shame .
The 2024 i5 is available in two modeling — the slightly more practical i5 eDrive40 and the more fun i5 M60 ( an upcoming 2025 vehicle will tot up a third fashion model to the lineup ) . The i5 M60 is the model we ’re retrospect , and it ’s perhaps BMW ’s best EV yet .
Design and interior
The BMW i5 M60 is a earnestly better-looking car that perhaps offers everything groovy about BMW design over the preceding few geezerhood while doing away with the not - so - great . BMW has thankfully resisted the urge to decorate the car with outsized kidney grilles in favor of the more understated grilles that have defined BMW for geezerhood . Of naturally , on the i5 M60 , it ’s a faux grille — but while these often seem out of place on other EVs , it looks fine here .
The front of the car is squeamish and long , with an angled hood and flat nose . At the front , you ’ll get slender and swooping headlights that match the very slim taillights . There are some vista of styling that do n’t in full make sense on an EV — like the grille — but rooter of the 5 - serial will love the look overall .
The interior continue the vogue of stunning design . The car is very redolent of the i7 but without the interior feature thatmade the i7 feela bite over - the - top . Do n’t expect a 31 - inch TV in the back seat of the BMW i5 M60 . asunder from that , though , there are plenty of law of similarity . At the front of the elevator car , you ’ll get a Brobdingnagian 12.3 - column inch digital instrumental role bunch , along with a 14.9 - column inch infotainment display . The seats are covered in a very premium - feeling stitched leather , and the steering wheel is nice and thickset .
The BMW i5 M60 represents the dependable of what 5 - series design can be . Both inside and out , it ’s a great - looking car .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
As mention , the BMW i5 have a declamatory video display at the front for both instrument monitoring and infotainment . The car comes with BMW ’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment system , and I found that BMW is making meaningful improvements to the software . However , I stillused CarPlayat all times , except when try out for this review .
Generally , iDrive 8.5 is reasonably easy to navigate . The system leave you to place widgets on a home screen to view data you involve when driving , and one of those widgets can actually be a windowpane for CarPlay if you do n’t want CarPlay to be full - screen . you may plunk into a grid of apps , too — though figuring out which app to function for sealed function can be a little confusing .
Like other automakers , BMW has move climate control into the cover — which I dislike . It is comparatively easygoing to control temperature through buttons that are always present at the bottom of the screen , but as soon as you want to ascertain more than just temperature , you ’ll involve to tap the screen more than once . Moreover , the infotainment system is n’t necessarily as antiphonal as it could be , so occasionally , you ’ll beg the presentation and have to wait for it to oppose . This is n’t just annoying — it ’s grave . I hope BMW lend back some forcible control .
The i5 M60 has several driver - assistance features , such as unreasoning - smear monitoring and emergency braking . The car also has BMW ’s Highway Assistant , which allow it to beat back itself on the highway , however this is only available as an option . It seemed to work quite well , and it is a footprint forward that you do n’t have to keep your hand on the cycle all the time .
Driving experience
drive the BMW i5 M60 is an excellent experience . The car is dynamical , responsive , and very quick .
On the i5 M60 , you ’ll get two motors that combine to offer a hefty 593 horsepower — enough to get the railcar from 0 to 60 sea mile per 60 minutes in only 3.7 seconds . It ’s not in the top five fastest EVs , but it’sfarfrom slow , and it certainly feel fast when you push the motorcar to its limits .
The car was a little smoother than I expected , though it does n’t completely forestall you from feel the route , which is good for driver who need something more tactile . treatment is very antiphonal , though , work for a more fun driving experience , and it can take even sharper street corner with repose .
Range and charging
An 81.2 - kW - 60 minutes battery pack power the railway car , and on the i5 M60 , that translates to a somewhat disappointing compass of between 240 and 256 miles , depending on your exact configuration . It ’s not that surprising that the more herculean manakin has a lower range — you’re able to get to 295 miles with sure configurations of the i5 eDrive40 .
The car put up a rouse speed of up to 205kW , which is n’t bad — though we do care it was quick . Many eV patronise a charging speed of at least 250kW , with some , likethe Kia EV6andHyundai Ioniq 5 , swan up to 350kW. With the 205kW burden speed , the BMW i5 M60 should be capable to get from 10 % to 80 % in around 30 minutes .
How DT would configure this car
The 2024 BMW i5 M60 is the gamy - end framework of the i5 , and those who desire a carrying into action car that carry the torch for the 5 - serial in worldwide may indeed desire to expend the cash on that faster , more merriment vehicle .
The main downside to that , of course , is the fact that it offer a low range . Some will want the sumptuosity and expressive style on offer by the i5 but still prefer the practicality of the higher range and the lower cost . The i5 eDrive40 is still an excellent car , and the add range credibly makes it a unspoiled cream for most .
