BMW i5

One half of the BMW Curved Display, installed is a 12.3-Inch HD TFT-LCD (Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display) fully digital driver display (instrument cluster), with a BMW Head-Up Display (HUD).

The system runs on BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5 – QuickSelect) and supports the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: voice recognition, command, gesture – BMW HUD), BMW MY MODES (settings: interior, drive), BMW Iconic Sounds Electric (Hans Zimmer composed driving sounds) and BMW Connected Package Professional (My BMW smartphone app: remote access).

Comfortably plush, the interior sees upholstery (BMW Individual 'Merino' leather – pattern-stitched) in two colour schemes (single-tone – Black, Atlas Grey).

The front gets electronic-powered (driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, lumbar, active ventilation, memory) M Sport seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (backrest-recline-adjust, 40:20:40 split-fold) bolstered bench (three-seater).

Included are armrests (front: centre console – rear: centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), a panoramic glass roof (electric: tilt/slide/open/close, roller blind), an M headliner (Anthracite) and M seatbelts.

A five-seater (luxury executive sedan), the cabin offers generous space with comfortable seatings, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear). Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Practical storage areas. E.g., pockets (side doors, seat backs), centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable), a glove box and a hidden boot space (under-boot floor).

Multiple power outlets. E.g., four USB ports (two: front, two: rear), two 12 V sockets (front, boot) and one dual wireless charger (front).

Accessing its electronic-powered (handsfree: remote/key fob, in-cabin/tailgate button, kick-sensor) tailgate (Comfort Access Package), opens to 490 litres (rear seats up) of load capacity.

Athletically broad, it continues the stockily wide and planted profile, emphasised by horizontally lined and sharply rounded contours.

The rear-end sees a straight cut roofline (shark fin antenna), an upright tailgate (boot lid spoiler: M rear spoiler – BMW emblem), rounded quarter panels (raised fenders) and a shaped bumper (large diffuser: cut-out trapezoidal corners – exhaust-omitted).

Accentuations, M Sport Pro Package, M High-Gloss Shadowline Package (extended contents) and M Lights Shadowline Package.

Sleek and angular, the darkened (M Lights Shadowline Package) headlamps are housed inward-tilted with pointed edges. Installed are full LED units (adaptive).

Features are automatic On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering, Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), High-Beam Assistant (HBA), welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Slim and sharp, the darkened (M Lights Shadowline Package) tail lamps are housed rectangularly wrapped-around. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a high-mounted stop light (LED: windscreen integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with the Expanded Exterior Mirror Package (automatic anti-dazzle, automatic dipping, memory), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor – BSM) and turn signals (LED).

The new i5 features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistant Professional, grouped are Lane Change Warning, Rear Crossing-Traffic Warning, Rear Collision Prevention, Exit Warning, Active Cruise Control with Stop/Go function, Speed Limit Info, Automatic Speed Limit Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Front/Rear Crossing Traffic Warning and Evasion Assistant.

Under Parking Assistant Plus, grouped are Reversing Assistant, Active Park Distance Control, Lateral Parking Aid, Parking: Start-Up Monitoring, Park Assist (Automatic parking: parallel/perpendicular) and Surround View Camera (remote 3D view, 360-degree).

Other systems. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), High-Beam Assistant (HBA), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (anchors, pretensioners, reminders), ISOFIX (two: outer-rear-seat), interior cameras (occupant sensing), parking sensors (six: front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (exterior: automatic dipping, BSM, memory, automatic anti-dazzle – interior: automatic anti-dazzle), acoustic protection for pedestrians (exterior loudspeaker), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering/low-/high-beam), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), run flat tyres, door ajar warning and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser, anti-theft recorder).

Multiple drive modes (BMW MY MODES) at the driver’s disposal (COMFORT, SPORT: Boost/Launch Control, ECO PRO, ADAPTIVE).

Each mode correlates with the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric (BMW M emotive engine sounds – Hans Zimmer composed driving sounds).

Other BMW MY MODES (PERSONAL, SPORT, EFFICIENT, RELAX, EXPRESSIVE, DIGITAL ART) drive setting (exterior, interior).

Included is a Brake Energy Recuperation System (Adaptive Recuperation: automatic – B Mode: One-Pedal Drive – D Mode: Low, Moderate, High – Brake Energy Regeneration: efficiency).

The new i5 underpins BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, nestling an all-electric (BEV) e-powertrain (e-motor: 5th-gen BMW eDrive Technology).

Embedded (rear-mounted) is a single-electric-motor (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor – PMSM) setup (230 kW/313 PS, 400 Nm). 

BMW MY MODE SPORT (Sport Boost/Launch Control) engaged (250 kW/340 PS, 430 Nm). 

Merged to the setup is a single-speed automatic transmission.

Power is rooted to the rear wheels, via a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) system, aided by the BMW Integral Active Steering system (rear-wheel steering).

0 to 100 km/h acceleration is done in 6.0 secs. Top speed is electronically capped at 193 km/h.

Fused to BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform (400 V) is a Ternary Lithium-Ion battery (Nickel Manganese Cobalt – NMC: 83.9 kWh), enabling a driving range of 627 km (WLTP).

AC charging (Type 2: 22 kW) takes 4 hrs 15 mins for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (CCS2: 205 kW) takes 34 mins for a 10% to 80% SoC.

Included is a Brake Energy Recuperation System (Adaptive Recuperation: automatic – B Mode: One-Pedal Drive – D Mode: Low, Moderate, High – Brake Energy Regeneration: efficiency).

The new i5 features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless entry, ultra-wideband smart key, electronic-powered tailgate, engine Start/Stop button), interior cameras (occupant sensing), parking sensors (six: front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (exterior: automatic dipping, BSM, memory, automatic anti-dazzle – interior: automatic anti-dazzle), acoustic protection for pedestrians (exterior loudspeaker), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering/low-/high-beam), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents, rear controls), steering wheel (multi-function, paddle shifters, electric column adjustments, EPS), electronic-powered (driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust, lumbar, active ventilation, memory) M Sport seats, armrests (front: centre console – rear: centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), a panoramic glass roof (electric: tilt/slide/open/close, roller blind), BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: voice recognition, command, gesture – BMW Connected Package Professional: My BMW smartphone app – BMW MY MODES: settings: interior, drive), multiple charging outlets (USB, 12 V, wireless charger), interior lighting (LED: cabin, floor, welcome, ambient, boot), interior storage areas (pockets: seatbacks, side doors – centre console: partitioned, caverned), run flat tyres, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents, rear controls) system.

Propping-up the e-chassis is a suspension setup of double wishbone (front) and multi-link (rear), featuring Adaptive Suspension Professional (electronically controlled dampers) and Integral Active Steering (rear-wheel steering) for enhanced handling.

Overall, it is spacious with firm handling and is suitable as a daily driver. Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, with the tyre, road and wind noises mostly hindered.