BMW’s 5 Series was redesigned for 2024 and brings an even classier feel to this already benchmark-setting sedan. Newly added this year is the i5, the all-electric version of the 5 Series.
The 2024 BMW i5 has a beautiful interior, more trunk space than might be expected, and a ton of standard technology features. Real-world range for the i5 is pretty good as well. This first-generation i5 joins the BMW i4 and i7 in setting battery-powered luxury sedan standards.
Probably the biggest and most welcome change to the 5 Series in this new generation is the move away from the beaver-toothed grille that has sullied the looks of BMWs recently. Styling is still boldly classy, but without the joke-inducing grille work.
There are basically three options for the i5 when it comes to how much range you can expect to get. The standard (base), rear-driven i5 is EPA rated at 35 kWh/100 miles for a total of 295 miles of range. Adding the dual motor for all-wheel drive drops that to about 250 miles and adding 21-inch wheels drops that further to 240 miles per charge. In the real world, though, our eDrive40 model had both the larger wheels and the AWD setup. It still managed to beat the 35 kWh estimate by an impressive 3 points. That’s serious efficiency.
Charging the i5 in the wild, the car can fill from about 10 percent to 80 percent in roughly 25-30 minutes. At home charging is limited to 11 kW, which is about the rate most home chargers can output. We were unable to test public charging as the Electrify America chargers (new BMW EVs come with two years of EA fast charging) were not functioning while we had the BMW (of course), but home charging was at the maximum output of our 50A setup.
The drive quality and feel of the i5 is on par with other BMW models, including the gasoline-powered 5 Series models. It’s tight, well-balanced, but not rough. And the i5’s interior is better than almost every other luxury sedan we’ve driven. Including its hottest rival, Genesis with the G80. And price-wise, the 2024 BMW i5 is on par or cheaper than most of its electrified competition.
For us, the 2024 i5 is the most comfortable and well-done midsize luxury sedan we’ve driven. Electric or not. BMW did a stellar job with this one.
This review originally published on DriveModeShow.com.
