I am the editor of independent electric vehicle website WhichEV. I have 30 years’ experience as a technology journalist and a life-long love of cars, so having the two come together has been a dream come true. I first saw the potential for electric vehicles when I became one of the first people to drive a Nissan Leaf back in 2011.
The BMW 5-Series is arguably the core of the brand’s DNA. Fast, luxurious, and still a driver’s car despite its size, the 5 combines everything a BMW is meant to be in one vehicle. So it’s a surprise the company has taken so long to electrify the model as it has rolled out new EVs in most other categories. Well, now it has, and I got the chance to try out the first two versions of the i5 BEV at the UK launch event.
Internally, the i5 is very comfortable and luxurious, but still with a sporty edge. The default seat upholstery is leather-free Veganza, which is one of the nicest-feeling synthetic materials in its class that I’ve experienced, although you can choose Merino real leather instead if you’re less worried about this aspect of environmentalism. The control systems sit somewhere between the i4 and i7.
The infotainment system is version 8.5, and its flagship feature is gaming. The screen now incorporates AirConsole where you can use your smartphone as a controller for games you can play individually or with a passenger on the infotainment display. The feature is pitched as something to do while charging, and the i5 is the first BMW to offer it. You simply scan a QR code with your smartphone to set the control system up.
To facilitate long journeys, the i5 supports DC charging up to 205kW, enabling 10 to 80% charging in around 30 minutes. There’s AC charging up to 22kW, which would allow a 100% charge in 4.25 hours, although a more typical 7kW wall box would take three times as long. So the i5 can do lengthy trips, with very good if not exceptional range and solid high-speed DC charging. This also benefits from “plug and charge” with the IONITY network.
The eDrive40 takes 6 seconds to reach 62mph, which isn’t hugely quick by EV standards, but still enough to get past slow vehicles on A roads quickly and safely. It’s also significantly quicker than the basic Mercedes EQE 300, which takes 7.4 seconds. The steering is classic BMW – firm and purposeful. If anything defines the BMW driving experience, it’s how solid the steering feels and the i5 represents the brand admirably in this respect.The xDrive M60 drops the 62mph sprint to 3.
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