Say hello to…
…the BMW i5 saloon, the all-electric counterpart to the new 5-series and both models are the same size and share the same look. The i5 in eDrive40 form has an 82kWh useable battery capacity which is paired with a 335hp motor powering the rear wheels. The official range is more than 356 miles from a 100% charge, and the maximum charging speed is a very healthy 250kW.
The i5 eDrive 40 is available in two trim levels:
- Sport Edition
- M Sport
Standard equipment on the Sport Edition model includes alloy wheels, LED headlights, drive modes, sports seats, twin-zone climate control, wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and reversing camera.
M Sport adds 19-inch alloys, alcantara upholstery and M Sport leather steering wheel.
Is The BMW i5 Suitable For My Fleet
It’s not hard to see why BMW is doing so well in the sales charts right now. One of the most appealing line-ups of any car maker including a good choice of EVs is hard to resist. The i5 is the perfect example. For the company car driver that’s in the upper echelons of management it i5 has everything you’d want. A large batter for a good range, a bog 490 litre boot, plenty of room for five adults and all the kit you’d expect at this level.
Leasing A BMW i5
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the BMW i5 eDrive 40 M Sport for £888 a month on a 3+36 contract including 20,000 mile a year. For an EV that lists at around £74,000, that shows BMW’s residuals aren’t as bad as some other electric vehicles in this class.
Maintenance costs for the same i5 are forecast at £80 a month, according to Gensen Reports.
Driving A BMW i5
There are a set of criteria for how an executive car should feel from behind the wheel and the BMW i5 has almost everything perfected.
The cabin feels plush and luxurious. The materials used look and feel classy, the seats are comfortable and supportive and while the i5 is a large car the driver also feels snug.
The build quality is also first rate, as it has to be at this level. The infotainment and driver information screens are pin sharp with excellent clarity and can be customised in a multitude of ways depending on personal preference. This is particularly useful to aid turning off the mandated warnings for lane keeping and speed warnings. The only negative to the infotainment is that – like all current BMWs – the operating system isn’t the simplest to navigate with far too many steps and icons which can confuse. Previous iDrive systems have been so much easier to learn.
On the move, the i5’s refinement is superb (once you’ve turned off the various optional sounds). Ride comfort is best in class, yet BMW has also given the i5 and involving drive should you want to go a bit quicker. And at slower speeds the i5 has an impressively tight turning circle which aids manoeuverability and parking.
It’s quick enough too, with a 0-60mph time of six seconds. However, we’d have hoped for greater real-world efficiency. The official range is over 350 miles, but we found 260 miles was more realistic. And while that’s plenty for most drivers – especially with a 250kW maximum recharging speed – it’s a result of efficiency sitting at 3.2 miles per kWh in mixed driving and we’d have hoped for slightly better.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The BMW i5
A brilliant executive saloon. Amazing ride comfort yet still offering an involving drive.
BMW i5
- Model: i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro
- Power: 335hp
- Torque: 400Nm
- Max speed: 120mph
- 0-62mph: 6.0 sec
- Official range: 356 miles
- Test range: 260 miles
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- BIK tax band 2024/25: 2%
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