What is it?
The BMW 5 Series is arguably the standard against which all other sport sedans are measured. This four-door sedan has delivered a perfect blend of ride comfort and impressive performance since its introduction in 1973, and these attributes continue as the 5 Series gets a complete redesign for the 2024 model year. In addition to its fresh styling and updated features, the 5 Series is offered for the first time as a fully electric model with the new i5.

Gas or Electric
BMW continues to increase the number of electrified vehicles in its lineup, and the i5 is the latest addition. Unlike some other manufacturers, the German company is building gas and electric versions of its models on the same platform, and the two versions look almost identical. This is the case for the 4 Series and 7 Series, and the i5 slots in between the i4 and i7. Introducing the new i5 is integral to BMW’s plans for half of its worldwide vehicle sales to be fully electric by 2030.

Styling
When you walk up to the new BMW 5 Series, it’s almost impossible to tell if it’s the gas-powered 530i or the electric i5. The 2024 model is slightly taller than its predecessor (providing space for the electric powertrain), so to keep the proper proportions, designers made the 5 Series longer and wider. Up front is the iconic kidney grille, which is solid on the electric i5 and can be illuminated for a unique look. The grille is flanked by new LED headlights with arrow-shaped running lights, and the sculpted hood matches the grille’s shape.

Rear View
Taillights are all new, with a slim LED design that wraps around the vehicle’s corners. Aside from the differentiating rear diffuser, the EV and gas-powered variants are almost identical. The higher-performance i5 M60 gets a stylish lip spoiler on the trunk.

Model Lineup
BMW offers the 2024 i5 in two trim levels: eDrive 40 and M60. The eDrive 40 starts at $66,800 and features a single motor driving the rear wheels. The higher-performance M60 starts at $84,100 and upgrades with a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive system. BMW sets the M60 apart with a high gloss grille, a distinct rear diffuser, a trunk lip spoiler, M side mirrors available in carbon fiber and unique M wheels.

Electric Power
The base-level i5 eDrive40 gets a single motor that puts out 335 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and as an electric motor, all that torque is delivered instantly. The i5 M60 is powered by a dual-motor system that uses the 335-horsepower motor on the rear wheels with the addition of a 257-horsepower motor driving the front wheels for a total output of 593 horsepower and 549 lb-ft of torque. Selecting the M Sport Boost lever in the M60 briefly boosts torque to 605 lb-ft for ultimate acceleration.

Impressive Stats
The single-motor eDrive40 can reach 60 mph in a respectable 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph. With the added output of the dual-motor system, the i5 M60 can complete the same task in just 3.7 seconds with an eventual top speed of 143 mph.

Fuel Efficient
In addition to its impressive performance, the i5 is quite fuel-efficient. According to the EPA, the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 is rated at 105 combined MPGe with a range of 295 miles. Like the case with a gas engine, there is a trade-off between power and efficiency, but the more powerful M60 still achieves 91 combined MPGe with a range of 256 miles. During our drive in the M60, the trip computer indicated 87.6 MPGe, which aligns with the EPA estimates.

Inner Space
The i5’s cabin has a clean, high-tech look, highlighted by the large curved display. The single screen encompasses the 12.3-inch driver display as well as the 14.9-inch infotainment display. Most physical controls are gone – interface with the vehicle functions is done via the touchscreen, classic center iDrive controller, or BMW’s Personal Assistant natural voice system.

Infotainment
The 2024 5 Series features the brand’s latest infotainment system, which is intuitive and easy to navigate. Swipeable information tiles are on the left side of the default home page, with the navigation map or vehicle status page in the background. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard with a wireless connection, and we had no problem connecting to the system and running Android Auto from a Samsung Galaxy S23+.

Voice Control
BMW’s Personal Assistant is one of the better natural voice interfaces on the market, and it is activated by saying, “Hey, BMW.” The system can complete various tasks, including adjusting temperature, locating a point of interest, and even lowering a window. It also responds to conversational requests: I told the Personal Assistant I was cold, and the temperature was raised by five degrees on the driver’s side.

Cool Lighting
Adding to the techy style is the Interaction Bar, featuring ambient lighting that crosses the dashboard and circles the cabin with colors chosen manually or automatically, changing based on the vehicle mode. Sport mode will turn the lighting red, while standard comfort mode brings a more soothing aqua color.

Vegan Leather
All variants of the 5 Series – electric or gas – come standard with BMW’s synthetic leather materials called Veganza. The material is soft and attractive, easily mistaken for genuine leather, and it trims the seats, dashboard, center console, and doors. Extended Merino leather is also available for those buyers who prefer the real thing. A variety of trims are available that range from open-pore wood to high-gloss carbon fiber, adding a high level of luxury to the cabin.

Front Seats
Sport seats come standard on the BMW i5 eDrive40; however, the i5 M60 we drove was fitted with multi-contour seats. These upgraded seats feature multiple power adjustments with good bolstering, providing excellent support and comfort, even after several hours behind the wheel.

Rear Seats
While the driver’s seat is our preferred spot in the i5, riding in the back seat isn’t a bad choice. There’s good legroom and headroom, and outboard seats are heated. The seats have good padding, but the middle seat has limited legroom and a stiffer cushion. Dual USB-C ports keep devices charged.

Cargo Space
While the i5 has slightly less room in the trunk than the gas-powered 530i, its 17.3 cubic feet of space is still relatively useful, with room for a few good-sized suitcases.

On the Road
BMW invited us to the company’s Performance Center in South Carolina to spend time with the new i5, and we spent most of our time in the high-performance M60. With plenty of torque on tap and the grip of all-wheel drive, the i5 is very quick off the line. BMW’s claim of 3.7 seconds to 60 mph seems conservative based on our experience, and the big sedan continues to accelerate strongly well past the 60 mph mark. Accelerating to freeway speeds is smooth and effortless, and the powertrain is whisper quiet. There’s very little wind or road noise when cruising at 70 mph, and the i5 delivers a solid, comfortable ride. Even when the road gets bumpy, the i5 remains unphased. There’s always plenty of power on tap, and acceleration is still strong from 70 mph.

No Hands
The new i5 is available with BMW’s latest advanced driver assistance systems, including Active Driving Assistance Pro and Highway Drive Assistance, that can provide partially autonomous driving. For the system to operate, a destination must be set in the native navigation system, and the route needs to be on specific multi-lane highways. We met all the required criteria and activated the system via controls on the steering wheel. With the speed set at 70 mph, the system lit green lights on the wheel, indicating that we no longer had to hold on to the wheel. The i5 maintains a distance behind the vehicle ahead and stays centered in the lane, even around curves.

Changing Lanes
One of the newest features of the Highway Drive Assist system is the automatic lane change functionality. If the BMW comes upon a vehicle that is slower than the system’s set speed, the driver is notified that a lane change is available – a glance in the side mirror confirms the lane change, and the car signals and makes the change on its own. It was a little unnerving the first few times, but the system worked smoothly and gave us the confidence to continue. But the driver must continue to pay attention to the road – looking away for more than five seconds will result in an alert, and the system will disengage shortly after.

Proper Sport Sedan
The i5 is perfectly comfortable and capable as a road trip cruiser, especially with the Highway Drive Assist system, supportive seats, and the high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system. However, it is much more fun when the road gets twisty. We left the freeway and took to the country roads around Spartanburg, South Carolina, and quickly learned that even with an electric powertrain, the i5 is still a proper 5 Series sport sedan.

Excellent Handling
While both i5 variants deliver good performance, the M60 is considerably more enjoyable to drive. With excellent traction from both electric motors and plenty of torque available all the time, the i5 is never wanting for power. Steering is precise with quick response, and the suspension does a great job of keeping the big sedan flat in the corners. Strong brakes deliver predictable results, adding to the confident ride. The i5 is not exactly a track car, but it performs quite well when pushed to its limits. The course at the BMW Performance Center is rather technical, with quick turns as well as considerable elevation changes, and the i5 M60 handled it without a problem. The sedan stayed completely composed, even when accelerating hard out of turns or using its extensive braking power when coming into a sharp turn a bit too fast. Most owners will never take their BMW i5 to the track, but this experience showed how well this car handles a variety of conditions.

Rating: 9.0
BWM has delivered impressive electric versions of the 4 Series and 7 Series, so we had high expectations for the first-ever i5 – and we weren’t disappointed. With familiar but new styling, premium materials throughout the cabin, and excellent driving characteristics, the i5 lives up to the reputation built by the 5 Series over the last 50 years. Adding the high-performance and efficient electric powertrain is another reason the 5 Series continues to set the bar for sport sedans.