Discover the Futuristic Elegance of the BMW i5 2024: A Visionary Ride into the Future

2025 BMW i5
Starting at $68.000 est

Highs: Satisfyingly quick, blends comfort and sport adroitly, posh interior.
Lows: Less driving range than key rivals, infotainment tech is borderline complicated, less trunk space than gas 5-series sedan.
Verdict: The i5 offers everything that makes the 5-series appealing and adds punchy EV powertrains and well-honed driving chops.

Overview

BMW's been selling a 5-series luxury sedan for decades, but this latest generation is the first to spawn an all-electric variant called i5. The 2025 i5 offers much the same driving experience as its gasoline-powered sibling, meaning it's a comfortable and cossetting car with a taste of BMW's trademark athleticism—minus the sound of a gas engine, of course. While it's not quite an electric M5 super sedan, the dual-motor M60 xDrive model is close with 590 horsepower and a 60-mph time that we estimate will be just 3.3 seconds. The i5's other trims—the 335-hp eDrive40 and the 389-hp xDrive40 aren't as quick but offer more range, with the rear-drive eDrive40 model topping the lineup with 295 miles per charge. Technology takes over the front seat in the i5, with a sweeping digital dashboard that glows brightly with reconfigurable gauges and BMW's iDrive 8.5 infotainment interface. The growing number of EV luxury sedans in the i5's competitive set includes the posh Genesis Electrified G80, the tech-heavy Mercedes-Benz EQE, and the performance-oriented Porsche Taycan. Like its rivals, the i5 offers an eco-friendliness blended with plenty of luxury. All that's missing is a trim with enough performance to rival the gas-powered M5.

What's New for 2025?

The i5 was new just last year, but BMW is already adding a third model to the mix in the form of the xDrive40. This all-wheel drive model features two electric motors for a combined 389 horsepower and a claimed 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds. The driving range hasn't been announced for this new model yet, but we expect to see it come in a little bit below the rear-wheel drive eDrive40's 295-mile estimate.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The price of the 2025 BMW i5 is expected to start around $68.000 and go up to $86.000 depending on the trim and options.
eDrive40: $68,000 (est)
xDrive40: $71,095
M60 xDrive: $86,000 (est)