BMW is steadily increasing the number of electric-vehicle (EV) models in its portfolio, and the latest addition is the all-new 2024 BMW i5. As it has done with the i4 and i7, the German luxury sport automaker is building the i5 on the 5 Series platform with styling and features almost identical between the EV and its gas-powered siblings. Adding the electric i5 to the lineup is integral to the company's plans for half of its deliveries worldwide to be fully electric by 2030.
The i5 is the first electric BMW 5 Series, and for 2024, the 5 Series is all new. Entering its eighth generation since it came to market in 1973, the new 5 Series is wider and longer than the previous version. The iconic kidney grille is more prominent, with available illumination for a bold look, furthered by the new sculpted hood. Stylish new LED headlights nicely integrate into the bodywork, featuring vertical running lights. There are extensive upgrades throughout the cabin, and BMW added new high-tech features to the updated model.
BMW offers the 2024 i5 in two trim levels: the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 and the sportier dual-motor M60. The base-level eDrive40 starts around $67,000, while the top-of-the-line M60 has a base price around $85,000.
Photo: Perry Stern
The BMW 5 Series competes in the Upper Midsize Premium Car market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, BMW 5 Series owners rated their cars in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the 5 Series to their least favorite:
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the 5 Series ranks third out of five Upper Midsize Premium Car models.
Photo: Perry Stern
In the sections that follow, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 BMW i5 M60 equipped with the following options:
The test vehicle's price was $94,995, including the $995 destination charge.
Photo: Perry Stern
One look inside the new i5, and it's clear this is a high-tech luxury sedan. The large display that spans the dashboard wakes up when you sit in the driver's seat, and hitting the vehicle start button brings everything to life with high-tech sounds.
Front seats come standard trimmed in perforated Veganza, BMW's vegan leather alternative that looks and feels like the real thing. Veganza also adorns the doors, steering wheel, and dashboard, with the lower dashboard trimmed in an aluminum weave, high-gloss carbon fiber, or open-pore wood with contrasting inlays. Real Extended Marino leather is also available for those who feel they need the real thing.
The interactive light bar surrounding the cabin adds to the high-tech feel of the i5. The color of the lights is configurable and can change automatically. For example, putting the i5 into Sport mode changes the color to red. In contrast, Eco mode bathes the cabin in a more calming aqua color.
Sport seats come standard on the eDrive40, but my M60 featured multi-contour seats that provided multiple power adjustments, while firm bolsters delivered good support and comfort for long cruises or more aggressive jaunts on twisty back roads.
There's reasonable storage space for front-seat passengers with ample space in the center console bin and dual cupholders. Additional space for smaller items is at the front of the center console, along with a wireless device charger.
Electric vehicles typically don't need to make room for a driveline going from the engine to the rear wheels, which can result in added storage as well as a flat floor for rear-seat passengers.
While the BMW i5 has no driveline or transmission taking up space below the vehicle, it shares a platform with its gas-burning sibling and effectively forfeits this space in the floor. The electric i5 and gas-powered 530i cabin are identical, so the i5 can't take advantage of the extra space provided by its electric powertrain.
While there's no flat floor, the rear seat is comfortable with good legroom and headroom, at least for the outboard positions, which can also be heated. As in the gas-burning 5 Series, the rear middle-seat passenger in the i5 must contend with the hump in the floor and a stiffer seat cushion.
Many consumers prefer crossover SUVs to sedans for the added storage. However, the i5 still delivers a reasonable 17.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Although the area is about one cubic foot less than the gas-powered 530i, the i5 can still handle a few suitcases or a batch of groceries. Rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 configuration for added versatility.
Photo: Perry Stern
The BMW i5 uses the latest version of BMW's iDrive infotainment system, version 8.5. The system features:
With a large, clear display, the BMW infotainment system is easy to view and navigate. Interaction occurs via the touchscreen, the classic iDrive controller in the center console, or with voice control using BMW's Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The BMW system also features gesture control, allowing the driver to adjust volume, pause music, or even respond to an incoming call with hand gestures. Perhaps with more time in the car, these would become second nature, but spinning my finger to increase or decrease the volume seemed more complicated than just reaching a few inches further and turning a knob.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are standard on all BMW 5 Series trims. I connected my Samsung Galaxy S23+ via Bluetooth quickly and easily, with an immediate prompt to launch Android Auto. Android Auto utilizes the entire screen and activated every time I started the i5 with no issues. However, there were a few occasions when Android Auto stopped responding. This required shutting the vehicle off and turning it on again, which resolved the issue.
The layout of the new infotainment system is easy to navigate, with information tiles on the left overlaid on the GPS map. Tiles swipe up or down, and the map is changeable to show vehicle status.
The natural-voice BMW Personal Assistant was the easiest interface for many of the functions. Activated via a button on the steering wheel or by saying, "Hey, BMW," the Personal Assistant can take care of a number of tasks. I wanted to adjust the height of the head-up display but didn't know where the controls were, so I requested the system adjust it. This brought up the head-up display configuration screen.
Other useful commands included "lower the passenger window a little bit" or "I'm cold," which raised the cabin temperature by five degrees. I could also set the navigation destination, change the audio source, and call my wife without removing my hands from the steering wheel.
The new infotainment system also offers entertainment designed for use while the vehicle is stopped, presumably during a longer charging session. An excellent way to pass the time is the in-car gaming from AirConsole. Players use their smartphones as game controllers, and everyone in the car can participate.
Photo: Perry Stern
The BMW i5 M60 that I drove featured a dual-motor powertrain consisting of a 257-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels with the rear wheels powered by a 355-hp motor. The total output is 593 hp and 549 pound-feet of torque. Peak torque jumps to 605 pound-feet for 10 seconds with a tug of the Boost paddle on the steering column—much more fun than the turbo boost button on a video arcade game.
It doesn't take long behind the wheel of the high-performance BMW i5 M60 to realize it has all the enjoyable driving attributes expected of a 5 Series sport sedan, except for the sound of a roaring exhaust.
Acceleration is impressive thanks to the immediate torque of an electric powertrain, put to the road via the dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. BMW says this 4-door will sprint to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, and my experience causes me no reason to argue this figure. While I didn't attempt to verify it, BMW lists the car's top speed at 143 mph. Full throttle from a stop or while already cruising at highway speed will set everyone back in their seat.
As with other EVs I've driven, power comes on smoothly and quietly for solid and predictable performance. Throttle inputs are easy to modulate, providing a comfortable ride for all passengers.
Moving down the freeway at 70 mph is done with ease and seemingly little effort. The cabin remains quiet with very little road or wind noise, and the ride remains smooth even if the road isn't. With the Highway Drive Assist activated and music playing on the high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system, driving the i5 can be quite relaxing.
One of my favorite aspects of previous BMW 5 Series sedans is how well they transition from a luxury cruiser to a proper sport sedan, and the new i5 is no exception. Leaving the freeway in favor of the South Carolina back roads, the i5 comes alive with quick steering response and excellent handling. There's always plenty of power available with strong brakes to match. The suspension keeps the i5 stable and flat when diving into corners, and the outstanding traction allows a quick exit.
While most owners will never take their new BMW i5 on the track, BMW let us push the limits of this new electric sport sedan at the company's Performance Center. This experience showcased how balanced this sedan remains during quick changes in direction, and the brakes never faded after continuous heavy use. Quite enjoyable when driven hard, the i5 may be electric, but it still meets the performance bar expected of a BMW 5 Series.
Photo: Perry Stern
As the latest model in the BMW lineup, the 2024 i5 is available with a range of advanced safety features and driver-assistance systems. Surprisingly, however, some of the more common items don't come standard. Features include:
While adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance are not standard on the i5, my M60 test vehicle did have these features as part of the Driving Assistance Professional package.
The Active Driving Assistance Professional—activated via the steering wheel controls—works as a typical adaptive cruise control system and can function on any road. The system will assist the driver in keeping the car in the center of the lane while maintaining speed and distance from the vehicle ahead, all the way to a complete stop—ideal for stop-and-go traffic. While there is steering assistance, this is not a hands-free system, and it will alert the driver to put their hands back on the wheel.
Highway Drive Assist is the next step up, providing partially autonomous driving. This system is only available on specific multi-lane divided highways at speeds below 85 mph. Additionally, the BMW system requires a destination set in the native navigation system; it won't work with maps on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Requiring a navigation destination is surprising, given that GM's Super Cruise and Ford's BlueCruise hands-free systems do not have this requirement.
I set a destination in the navigation system and headed out on Interstate 85 outside the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina. Upon entering the freeway, I activated the system and set my speed. When I saw "Assist Plus" light up in the gauge cluster and green lights appear on the steering wheel, I took my hands off the wheel, and the car took over the driving.
When coming upon a slower vehicle, I could activate the signal, and the car automatically changed lanes after checking to be sure it was clear. However, for the 2024 BMW i5, there's a new trick for this. If a slower vehicle is ahead, the system will suggest a lane change to go around. A glance in the side mirror provides confirmation, and the car then changes lanes on its own. The system works very well and reduces fatigue on a long road trip.
While Highway Drive Assist is hands-free, this does not mean you can sit back and read a book or watch a movie while the car drives itself. Cameras in the dashboard ensure the driver pays attention to the road and is ready to take over instantly, if necessary. After just five seconds of looking away, the system alerted me to pay attention to the road.
BMW also provided the opportunity to take the i5 out on a closed track at the Performance Center. While there, not only did I test the limits of the i5, but I also experienced the forward-collision warning system when following close to the car ahead during hard braking. With loud beeping and a flashing red warning in the head-up display, this system will undoubtedly bring attention back to the road if the driver is distracted.
Photo: Perry Stern
The BMW i5 has 17.3 cubic feet of trunk space, easily accessed via the power trunk lid and wide opening. Trunk supports slide into the body, so there's no danger of crushing cargo. Rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 configuration for added versatility. The cargo floor lifts to reveal a small amount of additional storage and a place to store the charging cable.
With a single motor, the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 gets an estimated 105 combined MPGe with a range of 295 miles. Bumping up to the more powerful dual-motor M60 drops fuel economy to 91 combined MPGe with a range of 256 miles.
As an all-new model for the 2024 model year, the BMW i5 has no safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Check the NHTSA and IIHS websites for updates.
The 2024 BMW i5 model lineup starts at $66,800 for the eDrive40 and ranges to the top-level M60, with a starting price of $84,100. These prices don't include the $995 destination charge.
In the JD Power 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Genesis G80 ranks highest in the Upper Midsize Premium Car segment. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class ranks second, while the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series rank third (in a tie).
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Porsche Taycan ranks highest in the Upper Midsize Premium Car segment. The Genesis G80 and the BMW 5 Series are the next highest-ranked models.
Other competitors to the 2024 i5 include the Audi E-tron GT, Mercedes-Benz EQE, Tesla Model S, and Volvo S90.
Photo: Perry Stern
The BMW 5 Series arguably sets the benchmark for luxury sport sedans. With plenty of power, a luxurious interior, and excellent ride and handling characteristics, the new i5 may be electric, but it is most definitely a 5 Series.
As the first electric 5 Series, the BMW i5 has some big shoes (tires?) to fill. But the company's approach of building EVs on the same platform as its gas-powered models ensures that the i5 is as good on the road as the internal-combustion-engine versions. With its smooth, powerful, and efficient electric powertrain, as well as an updated high-tech cabin and advanced driver assistance systems, the 2024 BMW i5 may set a new bar for luxury sport sedans.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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