Words Abhay Verma
It wouldn’t be wrong to say, the new generation 5 Series has helped us see the sedan in a different light. Looking at the success of the long wheelbase Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW launched the long wheelbase 5 Series here, and the move has certainly helped the Bavarian car maker. That said, the launch of the electric version of the 5 Series, dubbed the i5 in keeping with BMW’s nomenclatures, was a surprising move. Heck, it has turned out to be a move that’s had enthusiasts’ jaws drop, as BMW has only launched the range-topping version of the i5 in India that comes with the hallowed M badge. We’re talking about the i5 M60 xDrive that uses BMW’s all-wheel drive system and boasts a torque output of over 800Nm! Is this an electric M5 to say so?
First things first, the i5 is offered only with the standard wheelbase, unlike the regular 5 Series that is sold in India in the long wheelbase form only. But apart from this one big difference, the i5 looks a lot like its internal combustion engine powered sibling. Of course, given that it is an EV, BMW has made a few changes to the design, like the grille that’s a closed off unit, is illuminated and has the ‘M’ take its place of pride in it, besides which the BMW logo on the hood gets blue accents. You also get active air flaps and flush door handles that make for a coefficient of drag of just 0.23. The i5 thus manages to look more futuristic, though the long hood and short overhangs make for an air of familiarity from the sides. You also get 10-spoke alloy wheels on this one with a small M badge, and our test car was running the optional, 20-inch wheels that added to its stance along with the low-profile tyres. The tail lamp design on this generation of the 5 Series hasn’t really impressed me but the i5’s rear end looks better, thanks to the M badging and aerodynamic side skirts.
Inside, the i5 feels even more futuristic. You get the massive, single glass slab we’re seeing in the new crop of BMWs which houses a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. I’m not a fan of the air-conditioning controls though, which are a touch panel below the infotainment screen, and not as easy to use as toggles or physical rotors. What is impressive is the rotor for BMW’s iDrive, enabling you to toggle through menu options on the touchscreen without needing to reach out to touch it. Another distinct highlight is the ambient lighting which has lots of customisation options and looks cool and even changes to the M colours when you switch to Sport mode. Open a door and the lighting on the door trims flashes in bright red, to let you know the door isn’t shut. The cabin thus feels as luxurious as it can get in a BMW sedan. Space at the rear is good, but not as generous as the long wheelbase 5 Series, given the i5’s standard wheelbase.
The i5 impresses the most on the performance front though. It runs a dual motor setup with one motor on each axle, and the combined outputs are a staggering 601PS and 820Nm! These numbers make for supercar-rivalling acceleration, especially since this is an EV, meaning you don’t need to wait for revs to pile on or a turbocharger to spool. Claimed 0-100kmph time is a scant 3.8 seconds, which is almost hard to believe, especially given the car’s kerb weight of well over 2 tonnes! And like other BMW EVs you also get a single paddle behind the steering to activate the e-Boost mode, which lets you unleash the car’s full potential for 10 seconds. Use it, and you’re thrust into the seatback instantly, but more importantly, performance does not taper off into triple digits like most EVs. Heck, BMW even got famed music composer Hans Zimmer to create audio tracks that adds to the theatrics when accelerating hard! Driving the i5 sanely is easy too, as throttle responses are smooth and pottering around town or driving at crawling speeds in traffic is never an issue despite the explosive performance.
Claimed range is 516km as per the WLTP cycle which sounds good on paper. But in the real world, especially given how the car encourages you to drive hard, stepping on the throttle every time an opportunity presents itself, you can only expect around 350-400km from the 81.2kWh battery pack. This is a bit of a downer given the car’s demeanour and how promising it feels as a ‘grand tourer’. That said, given the easy availability of fast chargers these days, juicing up the battery, even on long drives, should be a quick and easy affair. The car also impresses with its excellent handling, as you would expect a sedan with the BMW roundel on its hood to. In fact, the i5 really knows how to mask its weight and can feel surprisingly light to slice through traffic or go around corners. This is thanks to its adaptive air suspension, which offers tonnes of confidence in conjunction with the car’s highly responsive steering. The suspension also makes for a very plush ride, despite the 20-inch wheels, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the i5 was soaking up potholes. Its low ground clearance is a fly in the ointment though – look at a typical Indian speed breaker and you can be almost sure that the car will scrape its underside, and you really have to calculate and judge how to cross speed humps.
Overall, the i5 is a jaw-dropper of an EV. Despite trading its petrol heart for an electric motor, this is a sedan that lives up to being a BMW and impresses massively with not just its performance but also its comfort and handling. More importantly, the i5 makes you almost forget it does not have a large, turbocharged petrol engine under its hood, that’s how smooth and impressive its throttle responses and performance is. It feels like an impeccable blend of performance, technology and comfort, and sets new benchmarks in the luxury EV space. I just wish range per charge was better. And at Rs 1.20 crores ex-showroom, it is certainly a steal, if looking for seriously quick performance with a green number plate.
