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.
Initially launched as a saloon, an i5 Touring (estate) joined the range in the summer of 2024. It has received very similar reviews from motoring journalists, while other data points like safety and running costs are also very similar to the saloon.
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 April 2026, the BMW i5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 77%. This reflects its excellent media reviews and safety rating, as well as its zero tailpipe emissions. Running costs are also good, although car insurance premiums are likely to be fairly expensive.
- BMW 5 Series (petrol and plug-in hybrid versions) – Expert Rating
- More BMW Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features
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: Large saloon and estate
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £67,795 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2023
Last updated: Summer 2024
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.
Featured reviews
“The BMW i5 is supremely well-finished inside, comes with an array of high-end technology, and can travel around 300 miles on a single charge. We’d like a little improvement to overall efficiency, and it could be a touch more fun to drive, but if you’re after a refined long-distance EV, it’s one of the more complete options.”
Model reviewed: Saloon range
Score: 8 / 10
Read full review
Auto Express
Max Adams, Richard Ingram
“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.”
Score: 9 / 10
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Carwow
More reviews
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Estate (Touring) range
Score: 9 / 10
“The electrified 5 Series Touring is a fine car with a wonderful cabin, but its range is compromised.”
Author: Alex Ingram, Dean Gibson
Read review
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
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: i5 Touring estate
Score: 9 / 10
“Sleek, practical and packed with tech the all-electric BMW i5 Touring shows there’s life beyond SUVs, at a price.”
Author: Dan Trent
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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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Car
Model reviewed: Touring (estate) range
Score: 8 / 10
“Elegantly styled and superbly refined, the BMW i5 is an impressive piece of kit and a welcome alternative to the glut of electric family SUVs. Both versions appeal, with the 40’s keener price and slightly better range giving it the edge. But few fast family cars have ever flattered quite like the i5 M60, a car that combines extraordinary performance with remarkable refinement.”
Author: Ben Miller
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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: i5 Touring (estate) range
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The BMW i5 Touring sets the bar high in the niche electric estate car market.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, Alex Ingram
Read review
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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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: Estate (Touring) range
Score: 9 / 10
“Take the BMW 5 Series Touring and i5, combine them and you get the i5 Touring. It’s an obvious addition to the BMW range, but no less impressive for that, and this handsome executive EV estate makes for a very tempting alternative to the raft of electric SUVs around.”
Author: Al Suttie
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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.”
Read review
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)
Read review
The Independent
Model reviewed: Touring (estate) range
Score: 9 / 10
“The BMW i5 Touring is a sleek electric estate car, one of the few on the market right now. It builds on the dynamic strengths of the i5 saloon with more space and practicality in the rear.”
Author: Richard Aucock
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The 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)
Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The BMW i5 translates the magic of the autobahn-storming 5-series into electric form with great competence. It’s exceedingly comfortable and quick on long journeys with plenty of driver engagement available if you feel like having a bit more fun. BMW’s technology is increasingly competent too.”
Author: James Morris
Read review
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 April 2026, the BMW i5 has not been 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.
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 | 337 miles | A |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4.1 m/KWh | C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 44 | E |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £373 | D |
| Year 2 | £714 | D |
| Year 3 | £1,016 | C |
| Year 4 | £1,322 | D |
| Year 5 | £1,645 | C |
| Overall | £5,070 | D |
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 petrol 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.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of April 2026, we don’t have enough data on the BMW i5 family 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.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the BMW i5
Date: February 2024
Recall number: R/2024/211
Model types: All
Build dates: 12/2023 only
Number of vehicles affected: 1
Defect: On affected vehicles if faulty cell modules have been installed then a malfunction may occur in the high voltage battery.
Remedy: On the affected vehicles the faulty cell modules in the High Voltage battery will be replaced.
As of September 2024 (our most recent data point), there has been one DVSA vehicle safety recall on the BMW i5 – and only affecting one vehicle – addressing a battery issue.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local BMW dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used i5, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the BMW i5 has received.
2024
- World Car Awards – Best Luxury Car (entire 5 Series range)
2023
- The Car Expert Awards – Best Large Car
- Carwow Awards – Most Comfortable Cruiser
- Electrifying.com Awards – Best Premium Car
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 | DS Nº8 | Genesis Electrified G80 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Kia EV6 | Lexus ES Electric | 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. 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
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Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. 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?)
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Flexible Vehicle Contracts.
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