The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport manages to live up to the high expectations set up by its ICE-powered adversaries, and here’s why…

Bigger, Bolder, But Still Bavarian

The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport was the first G60-gen 5 Series variant to officially debut in our market. Even before making landfall, the G60 had a lot of enthusiasts crossed with its radical design, but things aren’t as bad as perceived once you get closer to this Bavarian.

Unlike its arch-nemesis, BMW elected to make its electric products look similar to their ICE-powered twins. As a result, the i5 looks identical to the ‘standard’ G60 5 Series.

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The BMW i5 eDrive40 looks very identical to its ICE-powered twin, especially in this M Sport form.

This is especially true in eDrive40 M Sport form featured, which comes with M Sport parts like 20-inch M Aerodynamic wheels, M Sport-specific bodykit, as well as the M badges scattered around the car. The only notable difference between the ICE model is that the i5 gets a fully enclosed, illuminated front grille, and blue surround for its badges.

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What also surprised many about the new i5 is its size, as this supposed mid-sized business saloon now spans 5,060 MM long, 1,900 MM wide, 1,515 MM tall, and with a wheelbase of 2,995 MM. This almost puts it in the same footprint as the previous-gen (G11) 7 Series.

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Whether it is a hit or a miss amongst enthusiasts, BMW’s strategy of streamlining their BEV and ICE lineups has proved to be fruitful. This is evident as EVs like the i5, turned out to be more popular than its more futuristic-looking German rival from Stuttgart. And fortunately for House Bavaria, the winning doesn’t stop there…

Living in a Lap of Luxury

Given its large exterior facade, space is definitely not an issue for the i5, even in this eDrive40 M Sport form.

As standard, the i5 eDrive40 M Sport gets tonnes of tech. Key highlights include the BMW Curved Display featuring a 14.9-inch infotainment screen that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with M-specific graphics, and a dedicated head-up display—all powered by the latest BMW OS 8.5.

The M Sport theme continues with the M leather steering wheel that sports a bevy of haptic-touch buttons for both the infotainment and driving-related controls. The Veganza leather-wrapped front seats, while not as sporty as M sport seats, still provide ample bolstering and support, albeit at the expense of not ventilation and heating functions. Also notably missing is a panoramic sunroof, but that’s hardly a big miss given our climate.

What’s also nice inside the i5’s cabin is the elaborate, multi-colour ambient lighting setup, as well as the 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system. We dare say the latter stands as one of the best we’ve sampled in any car.

Despite the screen-laden setup, BMW still retains some driver-centric elements inside the i5. Drivers still get some physical controls and buttons for most of the infotainment and driving-related bits, while the dual-screen setup is positioned below the driver’s eye level to prevent them from being distracted.

Life at the backseat of the i5 is also quite luxe, as space is abundant, as are amenities such as four A/C vents with a dedicated control panel, two USB-C charging ports, and even built-in blinds for the rear windows and windscreen. Elsewhere, the i5’s 490-litre boot space is more than ample, but the absent spare wheel and front trunk (frunk) might not sit well for some.

Had BMW offered real physical buttons instead of the haptic-touch controls, ditched the fingerprint-magnet piano black cabin accents, or even offered rear passenger screens as additional options, the i5 eDrive40 M Sport would simply be one of the best cabins we’ve ever experienced in any premium EV.

Still Drives Like a Proper Bimmer!

BMW yet again proved to us that regardless of powertrain type, it truly remains the master at creating some of the best-driving vehicles money can buy. This applies to the i5 as tested, even in ‘mild’ eDrive40 M Sport form.

We’ll get the numbers and facts out of the way first. Powering the i5 eDrive40 M Sport is a single RWD e-motor delivering 335 HP (250 kW) and 400 NM, which is enough to see this behemoth completing a century sprint in six seconds, en route to a 193 KM/H V-max. Mechanically, the i5 underpins the same CLAR platform as its ICE-powered twin, but it rides on bespoke adaptive suspension with double-wishbone front and multi-link rear assemblies.

Aptly, numbers don’t tell the whole story, as the i5 delivers perhaps the most exhilarating drive we’ve experienced in any EV. Just like many of its predecessors, the i5 strikes a perfect balance between comfort and sure-footedness, with both driver and passenger able to enjoy a sublime ride, be it through twisty B-roads, hill climbs, or even straight highways.

Despite its near-7-Series dimensions, the i5 still feels quite nimble and agile, and its ergonomic driving position and layout also help to deliver an engaging driving experience. There’s also a temporary ‘Boost’ function providing an additional layer of fun in the form of an extra 30 NM of torque for ten seconds.

Sure, some still prefer the roaring straight-sixes over the Hans Zimmer-crafted synthetic sound, but having driven the car for a few days, we can comfortably say that an absent ICE under the hood does not compromise the i5’s drive dynamics at all. The absent ICE also delivers sublimely low noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels, which bodes well for family-oriented drivers.

Yes, nothing can beat the serene sound of red-lining straight-sixes and grungy V8s. But the fact that you can get the same - if not better - exhilarating and refined driving experience out of something electric-powered like the i5 is a great testament to BMW’s pursuit in delivering sheer driving pleasure in anything it crafts.

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Sublime Charging, Ample Battery Performance

While the i5 delivers in every aspect of becoming the ultimate 5 Series model, we’re happy to report that this electrified behemoth also excels at being a usable daily EV thanks to its decent battery and charging performance.

We’ll start with the battery itself. For Malaysia, the i5 eDrive40 M Sport is juiced by a sizable 81.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that promises up to 582 KM of WLTP-rated range. BMW also touts a respectable energy consumption rate ranging between 18.9 to 15.9 kWh/100 KM.

Even with spirited driving sessions put in with the i5, we still managed to get close to the 400 KM mark - arguably ample for daily commutes and occasional interstate tours. With better pedal discipline and conservative driving, we won’t be surprised to see the i5 getting closer to its claimed maximum EV range.

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As for charging, the 2024 model year (2024 MY) version sees the i5 eDrive40 M Sport gaining much-needed AC 22 kW charging capabilities, which sees its sizable battery pack charge from nil to full in about four hours and 15 minutes. DC charging is capped higher at 205 kW, which theoretically sees a 10-80% charge completed in just 30 minutes.

While 205 kW may sound impressive on paper, the reality is that most public DC chargers in Malaysia are capped at around 100 kW. Expect your charging pit stops to average at around 40 minutes to an hour—more than enough for you to take a short break or grab a meal.

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That being said, we find the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport to be a capable EV, thanks to its healthy battery capacity and fast charging speeds. Combined with its decent ride and handling, the i5 is more than capable of being a luxurious grand tourer for you and your family, provided that you know how to extract the most range out of its batteries.

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Should You Buy One?

Boldly styled, lavishly equipped, sublimely driven, and with a decent range, the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport has all the makings to make it the ultimate EV grand tourer packed with tonnes of performance, luxury, and comfort. We’ll also add that the i5 is also BMW’s first attempt at making a fully electric 5 Series model, which is rather impressive considering how good and ‘complete’ it feels.

At RM400,800 a pop, the i5 eDrive40 M Sport not only is cheaper than both its fully electric and semi-electrified German arch-rivals, and it is also just RM1,000 pricier than its locally-assembled (CKD), ICE-powered twin, the BMW 530i M Sport. Opting for the BMW Service & Repair Inclusive (BS & RI) does add a 5-year extended warranty, but it also sees its price tag climb to RM424,300.

Sure, we get that not everyone is ready for a life with an electrified executive luxury saloon, let alone for something worth almost half a million. But the fact that we already get one decent grand tourer saloon that just happens to be electric shows that the Bavarians are still on top of their game at making some of the best-driving cars in the world.

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SPECIFICATIONS

BMW i5 eDRIVE40 M SPORT

MOTOR	1x e-motor
DRIVETRAIN	Single-ratio, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
POWER	335 HP (250 kW)
TORQUE	400 NM
0-100 KM/H	6 seconds
V-MAX	193 KM/H
BATTERY & CHARGING	Battery: 81.2-kWH lithium-ion Charging: AC @ 22 kW (0-100% in 4 hours 15 minutes) DC @ 205 kW (10-80% in 30 minutes)
RANGE	582 KM (WLTP, claimed)
WEIGHT	2,205 KG (kerb, claimed)
PRICE	*RM400,800* Excluding insurance

…OR TRY THESE

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*Mercedes-Benz E350e AMG Line CKD (W214) – RM418,888*	*BMW 530i M Sport CKD (G60) – RM399,800*
Putting aside the dreaded EQE, the new, locally-assembled Mercedes-Benz E350e AMG Line stood as the only ‘electrified’ executive saloon available under Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) arsenal. It offers some electric magic with the benefit of an ICE car, albeit at the expense of a slightly heftier price tag.	Those who are still not convinced of the EV life can still opt for the ICE-powered 530i M Sport, where you can find almost similar levels of luxury and amenities as the i5. However, with the lack of the electrified magic, expect a slightly less exhilarating driving experience, but at least you don’t need to queue up for charging.


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