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Driving Impressions: A Smoother 5 Pricing & Verdict: The 5 To Lease
If you are in the market for a luxurious electric sedan, it’s hard to ignore the 2025 BMW i5. Built on the same platform as the gas-powered 5 Series, the i5 aims to capture everything that’s great about BMW’s mid-size sedan, just without burning fuel. BMW’s approach to EVs thus far has been quite different from rival Mercedes-Benz. Rather than create a ground-up architecture from scratch, BMW wanted the i5 to be recognizable as a 5 Series first, and an EV second. This philosophy leads to some decisions that we approve of, and others that lead to compromise.
Base MSRP $70,100
Exterior Design 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Fuel Efficiency 7 / 10
Interior & Cargo 9 / 10
Infotainment & Features 8 / 10
Reliability 8 / 10
Safety 8 / 10
Value For Money 8 / 10
ProsWe love that it doesn’t look like a blob – it looks like a 5 SeriesGorgeous interior that looks goodRange of engines gives you loads of choice – and they’re all goodSpacious cabin with up-to-date tech ConsRange lags behind most competitorsDoesn’t qualify for federal tax credits
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Now in its second model year for 2025, the i5 adds a new xDrive40 version with all-wheel-drive, slotting between the rear-wheel-drive e-Drive40 and the range-topping M60. BMW sent us the least powerful model, the eDrive40, letting us experience the essence of the i5 without being overwhelmed by performance. In our week with the i5, we found it to be a fairly compelling EV, but an excellent 5 Series – but is it worth the hefty premium over a 5 Series, and should you consider it over its key EV rivals?
Exterior: Blending In
You’d better like the styling of the eighth-generation 5 Series because the i5 doesn’t veer off much from this design language. Remember, despite the i5 existing as a model separate from the gas-powered one, it still belongs in the 5 Series family. The exterior design stands out from other recent BMW models – in a good way. There’s no giant kidney grille and no split headlights, so the internet commentators should be kinder towards it. Aside from a little “i” in the grille, it’s difficult to spot an i5 from its 5 Series sibling.
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
19-inch wheels come standard on the i5, but you can upgrade to 20- or 21-inch wheels for $800 or $1,800, respectively. The 21-inch wheels on our tester look great, though we might advise against ordering them because they drop the range by 24 miles. BMW’s color palette for the i5 is mostly conservative, but there are some more exciting hues, like our tester’s Tanzanite Blue II Metallic ($1,950), Cape York Green Metallic ($650), and Vegas Red Metallic ($650). Buyers can also opt for two matte colors – Frozen Pure Grey Metallic and Frozen Deep Grey – for a whopping $3,600. We highly recommend the M Sport exterior package ($3,000), which makes the i5 look more aggressive with Shadowline trim, bi-color wheels, blue M Sport brakes, and several interior upgrades.
Interior: Baby i7
Much like the exterior, there is nothing special to distinguish the i5’s interior from a standard 5 Series. We appreciate this approach, as many EVs implement funky design language for the sake of it, rather than to serve a purpose. BMW’s Curved Display bundles a 12.3-inch gauge cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen that can also be controlled by voice, a rotating knob, or available gesture controls, and it looks good here. iDrive 8.5 is fairly easy to use, but we miss having a separate screen and buttons for the climate controls. The BMW Interaction Bar (a light up bar on the dash and doors) migrates downmarket from the i7, and makes the i5’s cabin look stunning at night.
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
A new vegan seating material called Veganza replaces SensaTec, and feels good enough to be mistaken for the real stuff. Extended Merino Leather ($2,450) is still available for those who won’t be fooled by the animal-friendly replacement. Ventilated front seats are available as a standalone option ($500) or as part of a Luxury Seating Package ($1,350) with massaging seats. Buyers who wish to take their i5 more upmarket should opt for the Executive Package ($3,750), which adds glass controls, a Sky Lounge panoramic roof, gesture controls, Parking Assistant Plus, a heated steering wheel, interior camera, head-up display, power rear and side sunshades, and adaptive cruise control. These features can be added a la carte, and go a long way to making the interior feel even more opulent than the standard car is.
Practicality: Right Size
The eighth-generation 5 Series grows compared to the outgoing model, and that is true of the i5 as well. It stretches 119.2 inches long, which is 3.4 inches more than the outgoing 5 Series. The wheelbase grows slightly by 0.8 inches, the width is increased by 1.3 inches, and the roof is taller by 1.4 inches. These large proportions deliver a spacious interior with loads of legroom in the front and in the back. Headroom is ample, too, with even taller passengers sitting comfortably.
Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase
117.9 inches
Length
199.2 inches
Width
74.8 inches
Height
59.6 inches
Interior Dimensions
Headroom Front | Rear
39.1 | 37.7 inches
Legroom Front | Rear
41.3 | 36.5 inches
Cargo Space
17.3 ft³
As for trunk space, the i5 boasts a spacious 17.3 cubic feet, which is more than is offered by rivals from Genesis and Mercedes-Benz. There is no front trunk on any i5 variant, but the trunk does come with deep under-floor storage that can easily fit a charging cable.
Performance: Modest To M
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
BMW now offers three i5 configurations: eDrive40, xDrive40, and M60. The eDrive40 delivers what would be considered “six-cylinder” performance for BMW with 335 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque from a single rear motor. Stepping up to the xDrive40 adds a second motor at the front, combining to deliver 389 hp and 435 lb-ft, dropping the 0-60 time and increasing the top speed. The M60 delivers performance that’s not far off the gas-powered M5 with a dual-motor setup cranking out 539 hp and 549 lb-ft of torque (605 lb-ft with Boost Mode). This near-M model can hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a 143 mph top speed.
RWD
2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan
AWD
2024 BMW i5 xDrive40 Sedan
Performance
2024 BMW i5 M60 SedanEngineElectricElectricElectricDrivetrainRear-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel DriveHorsepower335 hp389 hp590 hpTorque295 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm435 lb-ft586 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm0-60 MPH5.7 seconds5.2 seconds3.7 secondsTop Speed130 mph130 mph130 mphRange270 – 295 miles248 – 266 miles239 – 253 miles
Every i5 variant uses the same 84.3 kWh battery pack, which can recharge at up to 205 kW (10-80% battery takes around 30 minutes). On a home charger, it can juice at speeds up to 11 kW. Due to the platform sharing with the 5 Series and a range of other factors, the driving range is far from the most impressive in its class. The eDrive40 can go up to 295 miles on a charge, but the 21-inch wheels can reduce it down to as few as 270 miles. Opting for xDrive drops the range significantly to 266 miles (248 with the larger wheels). The M60’s performance comes with the biggest range trade-off, dropping to 256 miles (239 with the larger wheels).
2025 BMW i5 Performance Comparison vs. Rivals
Models
Range
Horsepower
Torque
0-60 mph
BMW i5 eDrive40
295 miles
335 hp
295 lb-ft
5.7 seconds
Lucid Air Pure
419 miles
430 hp
406 lb-ft
4.5 seconds
Tesla Model S AWD
402 miles
670 hp
723 lb-ft
3.1 seconds
Mercedes-Benz EQE 500
277 miles
402 hp
633 lb-ft
4.5 seconds
Genesis Electified G80
282 miles
365 hp
516 lb-ft
4.1 seconds
The Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan goes marginally further on a charge – but only in its 288-hp base model, while the EQE 500 sacrifices range for 402 hp. The BMW has the Genesis Electrified G80 beat on range, since it’s got less power. If you want the best range and performance in a mid-size electric sedan, the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S are still miles ahead, literally and figuratively.
Driving Impressions: A Smoother 5
Removing the gasoline engine from the 5 Series takes what was already a luxurious car and improves it even further. Despite only having one motor, the i5 eDrive40 delivers peppy performance that can scoot ahead of slower moving traffic. A slight wiggle from the rear can be felt at full throttle using the Boost paddle on the steering wheel, which provides an extra shot of power for up to 10 seconds. Buyers who crave a little more performance should opt for the xDrive40, but we think the average buyer who doesn’t require the additional driven wheels for cold weather will be fine with the eDrive40. No matter which i5 you drive, it feels quicker than the average 5 Series in practice because the acceleration is immediate and doesn’t require a turbo to spool or a transmission to shift gears.
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
We happen to love rear-drive EVs like the eDrive40 because they tend to deliver playful handling with less weight and complexity. The i5 is no exception, with a comfortable ride and eager performance that feels befitting of a 5 Series. Thanks to the low center of gravity provided by the battery, you can toss the i5 into corners with little body roll and burst out with instant electric torque. Opting for the i5 M60 adds Adaptive M Suspension Professional with active roll stabilization – a feature that’s not available on the lesser 40 models. While this suspension sounds great in practice, we don’t know if the average EV driver will need the added handling benefits.
Pricing & Verdict: The 5 To Lease
Due to the current limitation of the EV tax credit in the United States, it makes more sense to lease instead of purchasing. This is the case for the i5, which starts at $67,100 (plus $995 destination) for the base eDrive40 model. For reference, a four-cylinder 530i starts at $58,200 and delivers similar performance despite having less power. That $8,900 difference is substantial in a car payment, but leasing an i5 would qualify it for the $7,500 tax credit, which would make the i5 more comparable to a 530i.
Related All The Vehicles Eligible For The Federal EV Tax Credit As Of July 2024
Here are all the cars that qualify for the federal tax credit.
The i5 xDrive40 starts at $70,100, which is a small price to pay for such a huge increase in performance. A six-cylinder 540i starts at $65,200 and delivers less power. As for the i5 M60, it’s pricey, starting at $84,100 – but that’s substantially less than the M5, which costs $119,500 and gets to 60 mph just three-tenths of a second quicker.
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Our money would go towards the eDrive40 with a few options, as it delivers enough performance and luxury to satisfy most shoppers. However, if you are open to lesser known brands, the Lucid Air Pure delivers over 400 hp and over 400 miles of range at a similar price, and the Tesla Model S delivers performance that will crush even the i5 M60. For a current BMW owner looking to buy the most luxurious 5 Series, the i5 is a stellar choice; it’s just not the best EV in its class.