The i5 is the all-electric iteration of BMW’s iconic 5 Series midsized luxury sedan. The top-level M60 trim (the first version that was available) proved to be one of the best cars we’ve tested—electric or otherwise. It’s super quick, agile through corners, and it rides serenely down the highway with a comfortable ride and a hushed cabin. Buyers will also benefit from the i5’s robust driving range and relatively quick charging, not to mention a pampering cabin filled with luxury features, high-quality materials, and super comfortable front seats.
Add all those qualities up and it’s no wonder that the i5’s stellar road-test score lands it near the top of the midsized luxury sedan segment. As one of our testers said, “It drives like a dream.”
The i5 even outscored the conventional 5 Series along the way—though, it should be noted the M60 is a high-performance trim, while the 530i xDrive we tested is a bit more mainstream. The i5’s biggest downside is the same one that plagues most BMWs: Many of the controls seem gimmicky, and are difficult and distracting to use while driving.
We bought an i5 M60 xDrive—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review.
Driving experience
With 590 horsepower from dual electric motors (which give it all-wheel drive), there’s an abundance of forceful yet super-smooth and nearly silent power from the i5 M60 xDrive. The ability to feel that forward thrust, anytime and as soon as you want—by flooring the accelerator pedal—is both addictive and way over the top. There is so much instant-on power available that getting around a slower vehicle in a two-lane passing zone is accomplished almost as soon as you step on the throttle. By the numbers, the i5 M60 rockets from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, which makes it one of the quickest cars we’ve tested.
The i5 M60 managed 295 miles in our 70-mph highway range test, far exceeding the EPA’s 248-mile estimate. An 11-kilowatt onboard charger adds about 30 miles of range per hour on a 240-volt home charger. Maximum acceptance rate at public DC fast-charging locations is a competitive 205 kilowatts.
The car’s “one-pedal driving” regenerative-braking mode is one of the smoothest and easiest-to-use we’ve tested so far. This system makes it possible to come to a stop without ever touching the physical brake pedal. But although the system is really well-tuned, we wish BMW made it easier for drivers to customize the regen-braking’s deceleration levels on the fly; we found it a little fussy to make changes through the infotainment screen. We also wish that the i5 had a coast mode, like some other EVs. But, we appreciate that the i5’s physical brake pedal is easy to modulate out on the road, and the car exhibited short panic-brake stopping distances at our test track.
The ride is pampering, thanks in part to the M60’s standard adaptive suspension system. It feels cushy regardless of the road surface, soaking up bumps of all shapes and sizes with relative ease. Yet the BMW carves precisely through corners with quick steering and minimal body roll. The combination of a low center of gravity due to the heavy battery pack beneath the floor, the lack of an engine over the front axle, and a measure of rear steering endow this substantial sedan with athleticism that’s both enjoyable and confidence inspiring. As with many luxury EVs, the i5’s cabin is tranquil thanks to the lack of an internal combustion engine.
Cabin comfort
The i5 M60’s cabin is luxurious but understated, with an abundance of leather, metallic accents, and soft-touch surfaces. The audiophiles among us also appreciated the concert-hall level quality of the Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound stereo system.
The front seats are well-shaped, supportive, and extremely comfortable—both equipped with four-way lumbar adjustment, which aids comfort on long drives. The plastic center console hems in the driver’s right knee, but in most other ways the driving position is nicely sorted, with ample headroom and well-padded and placed armrests.
Rear-seat room is a bit cozier than you might expect, given the i5’s size. Headroom will likely be tight for taller passengers, and toe space is squished under the front seats. Still, most of our passengers found it reasonably comfortable, thanks to soft cushion padding and generous under-leg support. As with the rear seat, the trunk is also rather modest for the class, and it loses some space to the conventional 5 Series due to EV-related components.
Controls and usability
The i5’s interior has a high-tech vibe, thanks to the 14.9-inch center-dash infotainment screen and the 12.3-inch all-digital driver’s instrument panel. Although the infotainment screen is highly customizable, the overload of information it offers draws the driver’s eyes away from the road. Unfortunately most climate controls are operated through the touchscreen, which results in some basic tasks requiring extra steps, such as adjusting the fan speed, airflow mode, or the heated seats. We’re also not fans of the slit-like dash vents, which are too low and tricky to adjust. The seemingly upside-down interior door latches are odd, as well. Not only can they be hard to find, but they operate in an awkward fashion.
On the other hand (not literally), BMW’s optional head-up display is one of the best on the market, with large, clear graphics. Besides showing the car’s current speed, it’s also handy for accessing recent phone calls or scrolling through radio stations. We appreciate the i5’s clear, EV-specific displays regarding predicted driving range, battery level state-of-charge, and charging speed. Route planning via BMW’s smartphone app, including charting where to charge on the way, is one of the best available. Picking a public DC fast-charging station from the built-in navigation system is also easy.
Safety
Standard active safety and driver assistance features on the i5 include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance are optional. The available active driving assistance system also includes a lane-change assist feature which works very well. Rear occupant alert and rear belt-minder systems are also standard.