Solidly built and with a very accomplished chassis, the highly sophisticated 2024 BMW i5 luxury sedan impresses.  The new i5 swiftly and silently covers the ground while providing its occupants with huge levels of comfort, space, and luxury.  Whether EVs will saturate the world’s car market in five years or not, definitely BMW are storming full steam (or spark) ahead with providing its buyers with plenty of EV options; the i5 is definitely an impressive EV to drive. 

The latest 8^th generation BMW 5 Series has other models within the range that new car buyers can choose, but the new i5 proudly graces BMW’s showroom floors in Australia.  The all-electric M60 i5 has two electric motors; one drives the front axle, the other the rear axle.  The M60’s sporty nature shines through beyond its cosseting, comfortable leather interior and high-tech cabin.  Capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Sedan is likely to be the driving enthusiast’s choice; however, the BMW i5 eDrive40 is definitely no slouch, can be bought for less money, and can still whip through the 0–100 k/h sprint in 6 seconds flat. 

What are the main differences between the two i5 Sedan variants?  The M60 i5 is AWD and has two electric motors pumping power through to the wheels.  Power output for the M60 is a whopping 442 kW, with as much as 820 Nm of torque backing the punch.  On the other hand, the BMW eDrive40 i5 Sedan is RWD and has just the one electric motor powering the rear axle.  Of the two cars, the M60 is definitely the powerhouse and boasts more muscular lines with its Motorsport (M) badging heritage.  The i5 eDrive40 still has power in spades but is more refined and a little gentler with the way it delivers it.  The car’s interior is also more in line with the luxury side of the luxury–sport equation.

Both of the 2024 BMW i5 Sedans are exquisite to drive, both being effortlessly powerful, smooth, and quiet.  With so much power offered in the AWD i5 xDrive M60 Sedan, its drive is breathtaking; the front axle has 192 kW turning the front wheels, while the rear has 250 kW turning this axle.  Incidentally, and probably pretty obviously to some, the i5 eDrive40 just has the 250 kW rear axle set-up minus the M60’s frontal addition, hence the RWD designation.  The WLTP-tested battery range for the BMW i5 M60 is said to be around 455–516 km; the i5 eDrive40 Sedan improves on this with its WLTP range of 497–582 km. 

Lengthwise, across the whole Five-Series range, the new luxury sedan has grown to over 5 metres (5060 mm) long.  The new car is also 1900 mm wide and 1505 mm in height.  All of these measurements are greater than the car’s predecessor.  It is quite something to ponder just how quickly these cars can cover the ground, especially considering that the i5 M60 weighs in at 2380 kg, a similar weight to a large Range Rover of yesteryear.  I guess the weight of all the batteries has to go somewhere on the M60’s platform.  The i5 eDrive40 Sedan is also heavy on the scales, weighing in at 2130 kg all up. Both cars are incredibly swift on the open road and can make it from Point A to Point B very quickly indeed.  The M60 boasts rear wheel steering, adaptive damping, active roll stabilisation, and rear air suspension as part of its standard kit. 

On the safety front, the new BMW i5 models boast all the latest driver assistance functions, with no less than 40 sensors onboard, 360 degree camera surveillance, and even long-range radar.  The Drive System Professional comes as standard for both cars, and this includes lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.  The standard Parking System Professional feature allows for up to 200 metres of reversing memory, making awkward reversing back down a driveway at night a doddle.  And if you download the BMW app, the new BMW i5 will remote park itself via your smartphone while you stand outside the car and watch in awe.

The exterior of the new BMW i5 Sedans look really good, especially when you view it kerbside.  The high waistline, low profile roof line, and long bonnet give the latest 5 Series a superb still image of speed and motion, and, though a hefty car on the scales, the luxury sports sedan definitely looks athletic and sporty.  The thicker side skirts of the M60, along with its definitive chiselled front air dam and massive tyres, which boast some superb alloy designs, keep this car looking very desirable. 

Head inside, and you are greeted with a spacious, welcoming interior, made even more so with its massive panoramic sunroof overhead.  A large dash display is angled towards the driver to give you, as the driver, a real sense of control and focus.  The i5 M60 xDrive gets a flat-bottomed steering wheel with a red M marker at the 12 o’clock setting.  Both i5’s get a head-up display along with a gorgeous Bang and Olufsen stereo.  The Merino leather upholstery is premium luxury, though some may prefer the vegan option.  There is a comfort package available, where you can have specially made comfort seats with seat heaters for both front and back occupants.  Rear occupant space is huge, making life rather relaxed for a long journey, though you’ll still need to plan your stops if you decide to take your new i5 around Australia.  Out back at the i5’s tail, you can electronically lift the boot lid via gesture control, where you’ll find a decent 490 litres of luggage space available. 

There are also petrol and diesel models of the new 5 Series available; however, the 2024 BMW 5 Series electric models are quite a revolution, particularly for the urban dweller.  These i5 models include the:

• BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan (RWD)
• BMW i5 xDrive M60 Sedan (AWD)

For any more information on the new BMW i5, for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BMW dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!