BMW’s beloved 5 Series has been around for over 50 years.
Now in its eighth generation, for the first time, it’s fully electric. The 2024 i5 eDrive40 luxury rear-wheel sedan continues to stand for advanced technology combined with sporty, elegant design, and the performance and luxury only a BMW can offer.
Powered by an all-electric motor and a high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack, the eDrive40 generates 335 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds, is electronically limited to a 120 mph top speed, and has a range of 295 miles between charges.
And it looks as sharp and is as comfortable traversing long distances as ever. Loaded with more creature comforts than ever, the i5 comes with “Highway Assistant” that allows for attentive, hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 miles per hour.
The exterior design of the new generation reinterprets the sporty elegance of a BMW 5 Series. With its distinctive appearance, the new BMW 5 Series is right at the center of the brand’s portfolio of four-door models – more present and elegant than the 3 Series, more dynamic and sporty than the 7 Series.
Highlights include a sporty silhouette, dynamically stretched proportions, 21-inch wheels, and a “Phytonic Blue Metallic” coat of enamel. Front and center is BMW’s trademark kidney grille. Only it has been modernized with nearly vertical daytime driving light icons and optional illumination.
The new BMW 5 Series offers ideal conditions for enjoying BMW driving pleasure in everyday traffic and a high level of comfort on long-distance journeys. Generous space, modern functionality, a high level of acoustic comfort as well as high-quality materials, fine workmanship, and advanced digital services characterize the ambience in the interior.
My tester came with optional “Premium” ($2,850) and “M Sport” ($3,000) packages. Premium features include a heated steering wheel, interior camera, full LED lights with cornering, parking assistant plus, and BMW curved display with a heads up display. M Sport features include an upgraded suspension along with an M Sport steering wheel, interior and exterior badging.
Standard equipment is plentiful and over-the-top. Some of my favorites included dynamic cruise control, Bowers and Wilkins surround sound audio system, fixed panoramic glass roof with enlarged viewing area, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and ambient lighting in a multitude of colors. That only begins to scratch the surface.
A frameless glass surface slightly inclines towards the driver. It consists of a curved, 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch control display, which merge into a single, fully digital, high-resolution unit.
The real joy of driving the i5 eDrive40 is how it handles. Technology that includes dynamic stability and traction control, M Sport transmission and brakes, combine to make this luxury sedan purr. The interior is whisper quiet as it floats down the road, oblivious to rough pavement and bumps.
i5 can be charged from 10 per cent battery life to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. When driving, the latest version of adaptive recuperation helps to conserve power reserves and recover electrical
energy during throttle lift-off and braking phases. Thanks to intelligent networking, the drive control system can use navigation data and information from sensors of the driver assistance systems to adjust how much power is recuperated according to the respective traffic situation.
Completing the luxury package is a safety suite second to none. Highlights include frontal collision warning, active blind spot detection, lane departure warning, acoustic pedestrian warning, parking assistant, and a front and rear head protection system.
Base Price: $67,795
Price As Driven: $78,995
Destination charge is included in base price. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
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