Summary
The BMW i5 is the electric version of the latest eight-generation BMW 5 Series executive saloon. It sits between the smaller i4 and the larger i7 in the electric ‘BMW i’ range.
While the highly-regarded seventh-generation 5 Series range is a tough act to follow, the i5 has been earmarked by UK reviewers as a compelling class leader – offering some of the i7’s interior opulence as part of a cheaper and more engaging package.
Vicky Parrott of Electrifying.com explains that the saloon “strikes a fantastic happy medium”, offering a blend of “executive slicker and occasional country-road thriller.” Parkers‘ Tom Wiltshire agrees, arguing that the BMW is “the most engaging EV in its size class, and even gives outright sports EVs such as the Porsche Taycan a run for driving dynamics.”
James Fossdyke of The Sunday Times praises the car’s “clean”, “well-built” and “very high tech” interior design, while Sean Carson of Auto Express asserts that no other electric saloon can match the i5’s refinement and infotainment features. That said, the Top Gear team adds that this high-tech cabin “can be a bewildering place to navigate.”
Some outlets suggest that the i5 isn’t as fun to drive as its petrol-powered predecessors, while others take issue with the saloon’s expensive price tag. The most frequent criticism refers to the car’s battery range, which Carbuyer describes as “adequate”. The i5 can reportedly muster up to 357 miles on a single charge, while rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Tesla Model S can travel up to 376 miles and 405 miles, respectively.
As of March 2024, the BMW i5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 79%. This reflects its excellent media reviews and safety rating, as well as its zero tailpipe emissions. However, it’s dragged down slightly by the i5’s relatively high running costs – particularly for car insurance.
i5 highlights
- Refined and tech-laden interior
- Agile handling and impressive performance
- Comfortable and roomy cabin
- Class-leading infotainment
- Zero tailpipe emissions
i5 lowlights
- Key rivals can go longer on a single charge
- High price tag with an expensive options list
- Restricted saloon boot opening
- Lighter petrol-powered versions are more fun to drive
- Some running costs are quite high
Key specifications
Body style: Medium saloon
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £74,105 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The i5 is a car that brings the BMW 5 Series closer to its 7 Series sibling than ever before – not only in terms of comfort and refinement, but also on price. While business buyers can write off much of that initial outlay, its appeal is harder to justify for private drivers. This is an excellent car for business users, but private buyers might prefer a 520i.”
Author: Richard Ingram
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“New i5 completes the electrification of BMW’s traditional saloon family with a powerful demonstration of technological prowess.”
Author: Dan Trent
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Want a cut-price i7 that’s easier to live with, easier on the eyes, and more engaging to drive? Step this way. It’s unlikely you will be disappointed by the i5. But want some of that old-school 5 Series character, only in electric form? There’s a chance you might find this car altogether too stately.” (Richard Lane)
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW i5 is fast, it’s fantastic to drive and to sit in, and it feels as thoroughly engineered as the car it replaces, which is no mean feat. Not all of the driver assistance tech works quite as expected, and no, it’s not a looker – but in our opinion, it runs circles around the Mercedes EQE or Tesla Model S.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The BMW i5 is refined and good to drive, making it one of the most well-rounded electric saloon cars currently on sale.”
Author: Richard Ingram, Ivan Aistrop
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Carwow
Score: 9 / 10
“The BMW i5 is the first ever all-electric BMW 5 Series. It’s a superb car, although some alternatives can go further on a full charge.”
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Plush, poised and packed full of the latest tech, BMW has once again set the bar high with the first electric 5 Series.”
Author: Tom Jervis, Richard Ingram
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: i5 eDrive40
Score: 9 / 10
“As a blend of executive slicker and occasional country-road thriller, the BMW i5 strikes a fantastic happy medium – even in the more modest eDrive40 that we favour.”
Author: VIcky Parrott
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Evo
Model reviewed: i5 eDrive40
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re a fleet driver and have been holding out for an EV in this sector the i5 offers the strongest and most compelling proposition of them all, carrying on the strong work established by the impressive i4.” (Stuart Gallagher)
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“BMW is serious about electric cars, and while models like the iX, XM and i7 have given us an idea of the brand’s abilities, the BMW i5, an electric 5 Series, shows BMW can get its core models right too – it’s an impressive car that should appeal to existing 5 Series owners and those new to the brand alike.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“As accomplished to drive as you would hope and expect a BMW to be, the i5 – an all-electric version of the 5 Series – makes a very strong case for itself against some worthy rivals.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The i5 is a hoot to throw around in the corners but is as relaxed as you could hope for on the motorway. It’s by some measure the most engaging EV in its size class, and even gives outright sports EVs such as the Porsche Taycan a run for driving dynamics.” (Tom Wiltshire)
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“In many ways, the BMW i5 isn’t that remarkable. Not because it isn’t a great car — it is — but because it’s exactly what we expected it to be. Great to drive, well-built overall and very high tech.”
Author: James Fossdyke
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“BMW i5 is part car, part ecosystem. Even so, it’s rewarding to drive and the cabin is world class.” (Jason Barlow)
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“This BMW i5 feels more like a complete package to drive than its main rival, the Mercedes EQE. Indeed, its battery range might not match the EQE, but the i5’s combination of impressive comfort and agility should make the slight compromise worthwhile.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2023
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 86%
Safety assist: 78%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2024, the BMW i5 has not been lab-tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the i5 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
The BMW i5 is a brand-new model, so we don’t have enough data on the electric saloon to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the i5, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 342 miles | A | 315 – 357 miles | A – A |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4.1 m/KWh | C | 3.7 – 4.2 m/KWh | B – D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 45 | D | 43 – 50 | D – F |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £373 | C |
| Year 2 | £714 | C |
| Year 3 | £1,016 | B |
| Year 4 | £1,322 | C |
| Year 5 | £1,645 | B |
| Overall | £5,070 | C |
The BMW i5 is a reasonably expensive car to run and own, according to whole life cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data. However, it’s still cheaper to live with than a conventionally powered saloon of similar size and sophistication – like the regular BMW 5 Series.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon in a patrol or diesel car) is only average, although a large battery means that driving range between charges is very good.
Insurance costs are inevitably high (as they are for any 5 Series), while servicing and maintenance costs are not bad for this level of price and luxury.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BMW i5, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi e-tron GT | BMW i4 | BMW i7 | Citroën C5 X | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQE | Polestar 2 | Porsche Taycan | Tesla Model S | Volkswagen ID.7
More information
More news, reviews and information about the BMW 5 Series range at The Car Expert
Buy a BMW i5
If you’re looking to buy a new or used BMW i5, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors.co.uk. Find out more
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Lease a BMW i5
If you’re looking to lease a new BMW i5, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from LeaseLoco. Find out more
Subscribe to a BMW i5
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
