BMW i5 eDrive40 2024 Review

The 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 kicks off the battery-electric versions of the new 5 Series range at $155,900 plus on-road costs.

If you need more grunt there’s the BMW i5 M60 in sedan (from $215,900) or wagon (from $219,900) guise, or you can have petrol (520i from $114,900) or diesel (540d from $134,900) power if you so wish.

The most obvious rival to the i5 eDrive40 is the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 (from $153,600), though the Genesis G80 Electrified Luxury (from $145,675) is certainly playing the same game.

You’re also not a million miles away from the entry points of the Audi e-tron (from $182,400) and Porsche Taycan (from $175,100) ranges.

A loaded specification helps the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 justify its purchase price, with 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, M Sport packages inside and out, merino leather upholstery, adaptive LED headlights, power-adjustable and heated sports front seats, an electric boot, panoramic glass roof, dual-zone climate control and more.

That said, if your wallet is feeling overly full you can still spend more. Plenty of metallic colours are offered at no charge, but matte paintwork will set you back between $5000 and $9000 depending on your selection.

The only extra on our test car was the Comfort package, which for $5700 adds quad-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, powered rear blind, ventilated front seats and heated rears – worthwhile stuff.

On a more cosmetic level, the $4200 M Sport Plus package adds 21-inch wheels, gloss exterior highlights, a carbon spoiler and mirrors and painted brake callipers, or you can just have the bigger wheels for $2200.

BMW’s standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies with eight years of coverage for the battery. Service intervals are condition-based but prepaid packs are available for four ($1676) or six ($2350) years.

A maximum five-star safety rating was awarded to the 2024 BMW 5 Series – including the i5 EV variants – by ANCAP, with very impressive scores of 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for children, 86 per cent for vulnerable road users and 81 per cent for safety assist.

This is due to myriad airbags front and rear as well as a vast array of active safety kit including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), active cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane keep assist and departure warning, park assist, cross traffic alert and a 360-degree camera.

In addition, Parking Assistant Professional is standard, which allows automated parking manoeuvres of up to 200 metres to be performed and stored that the car can then perform automatically when required, even via smartphone using the BMW App.

Giant widescreen displays are de rigueur for the brand these days and the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 is no exception.

It does use BMW’s Operating System 8.5 rather than the latest 9.0, which sorts out a couple of ergonomic quirks but, more importantly, moves to more powerful Android-based hardware.

Regardless, OS8.5 has a million different functions. Not just wireless smartphone mirroring but 5G connectivity, a personal assistant, video streaming, live traffic and weather updates and even in-car gaming, your smartphone turning into a controller to while away those charging times.

In addition, there is a comprehensive head-up display, augmented reality navigation that can show instructions overlaid on the camera views, full-width digital instruments and app connectivity to check vehicle status and more.

A single 250kW/430Nm rear electric motor propels the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.0sec and on to a top speed of 193km/h.

The sizeable 84kWh (gross; 81.2kWh net) battery delivers a maximum claimed range of 582km for the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40.

As ever, maximum numbers need ideal circumstances to achieve, but it gives the i5 a very realistic 450-500km real-world range.

A maximum DC charge rate of 205kW enables a theoretical 10-80 per cent recharge in 30min, though it must be said in one session on a 350kW charger we struggled to achieve anything close to 200kW. The planets may just not have aligned on this occasion.

On the other side of the equation, an 11kW AC charger – owners can buy one from BMW for $1000 plus installation – will take it from empty to full in 8.2 hours.

A word of warning: on your typical domestic power socket, the quoted time is 43 hours from 0-100 per cent, so don’t bank on an overnight charge!

BMW does include a five-year subscription to Chargefox outlets and this makes for a relatively painless public charging experience: simply rock up, tap your card and plug in.

Electric propulsion has made the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 the best 5 Series ever – from a certain point of view.

It’s very quiet and refined, there’s instant and impressive power on tap and the ride is generally very comfortable.

Up the enthusiasm and it displays truly remarkable roadholding for a car of this size and weight (2130kg), traditional BMW balance, accurate steering and great traction, yet will also wiggle its hips in rear-drive fashion if you try hard enough.

But…

These could be the out-of-date musings of someone who still loves the engagement of driving a combustion-engined car, but having road tested the i5 I came away impressed with its behaviour but with no desire to experience it again.

After a short time, I felt as though I’d discovered what it could do and that was that, whereas in previous 5 Series cars their dynamic talent – while not as capable or as composed as the new i5 – could goad you into driving with verve for long periods or for the sake of it, even in humble 528s, 530s and 540s.

There are two reasons this may be irrelevant. The first is that someone who enjoys the EV process, the seamless, silent surge it delivers, may find the i5 experience preferable. The second is that few, if any, non-M 5 Series are driven in such a fashion and the car’s silken everyday manners are more important.

In my defence, this money in the previous-generation 5 Series would’ve bought you a twin-turbo V8, all-wheel drive M550i, which was a sports sedan of the highest order.

Like all G60 5 Series models, the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 has grown substantially in size over its predecessor.

An extra 97mm in length, 32mm in width, 36mm in height and 20mm of wheelbase give it the proportions of a 7 Series from not too long ago.

To prove the point, run a tape measure over an F01 7 Series (2008-2015) and you’ll find it’s 5072mm long, 1902mm wide and 1478mm tall, with a 3070mm wheelbase. The dimensions for the i5 are 5060mm, 1900mm, 1515mm and 2995mm respectively. Little in it.

The benefit of this is 7 Series-like space inside, especially in the rear.

Also lifted from the 7 Series is the flashy interaction bar that spans the cabin and incorporates hidden air vents and can be set to any colour you wish. It does look quite nice at night.

It’s a minimalist but high-quality environment.

The driving position is very good and widely adjustable, there’s decent storage and a large 490-litre boot.

For this 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40’s primary role as a large luxury car, the move to electric power has undoubtedly improved it.

The everyday experience is smoother and more refined, there’s more space, an almost bewildering level of tech, a very swish interior, it ticks a lot of boxes.

Despite its capability, however, it has lost a sporting edge, which to many may not matter, but those who spent similar money on the previous G30 M550i will likely find it lacking in theatre.

That said, if you’re hankering after an i7 and can’t quite stretch to $300,000-plus, the i5 eDrive40 does a pretty good imitation at half the cost.

2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 at a glance:
Price: $155,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single rear permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 250kW/430Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 84kWh lithium-ion
Range: 582km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15.9-18.9kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2023)