The BMW 5 Series is as perfectly balanced in the middle of the lineup as any car can be. Now, it’s going electric with a new BMW i5.
The 5 Series has been the ideal middle ground in the BMW lineup for years. It’s not as small and agile as the 3 Series, but not as large and cumbersome as the 7 Series. Could this BMW midsize sedan be the perfect vehicle? Its certain to be a hit as an electric luxury sedan. The new i5 gives this long-time BMW a jump into the modern age as an EV.
BMW sticks to its styling and build theme
Instead of following the crowd, BMW created this new electric midsize sedan to be exactly what it should be. If you want to drive an electric version of the BMW 5 Series, the i5 is exactly what you’re after. This car doesn’t take on a new persona or quality but brings the styling cues and classic BMW shape that we love and admire to the EV world. This should make the i5 a huge hit for consumers looking for alternatives without dramatic changes. This could make the i5 a top seller in the luxury EV world.
The cabin area is filled with vegan materials
BMW has made strides in moving toward clean, sustainable processes and materials. The cabin area of the new BMW i5 comes standard with a new Veganza upholstery that is completely vegan. You’ll be amazed by the look and feel of the soft-touch items on the dashboard, doors, and seats, which makes this cabin one of the most inviting places to spend some time.
After a while, you might forget the interior is made of vegan materials. The cabin of the i5 is comfortable, with heated and cooled seats that make it much better than expected. Of course, if you truly want to enjoy leather upholstery in this electric sedan, BMW has several options with appealing dyed hides.
The i5’s cabin style doesn’t end at the upholstery
As you look around the cabin of the new i5, you’ll find glass controls that add to the attention to detail and impressive style of this electric car. The backlit trim offers several calming or energetic colors to give you a pleasant look and style. There’s a large wireless charging pad in front of two individually carved-out cupholders that can support two devices. There’s a divider down the middle of this area to ensure you can have a drink and your phone in the same area. There’s a large 17.3 cubic-foot trunk in the rear that swallows up gear and equipment to make it easy to carry some stuff to wherever you want to go.
Excellent tech found in the new BMW EV
BMW has consistently updated its infotainment tech, and the new i5 will include the latest iDrive 8.5 system, which is presented on a 14.0-inch central touchscreen housed in a large, curved display. This display also features the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, making the two screens appear to be one unit. The new tech has a clean home screen with a fixed row of hot buttons along the bottom, which makes it easy to find the most commonly used functions during your drive.
BMW has an answer to BlueCruise
BMW has a major tech enhancement for the new i5 with an improved Highway Assistant feature. This is the answer to Ford’s BlueCruise and GM’s Super Cruise, which is a hands-free highway driving feature. The new Highway Assistant feature allows activation of automated lane changes when the driver glances right or left in the mirrors. This system is extremely fast and impressive, making it easy to enjoy the driving qualities of the BMW i5.
Plenty of power and fun in this new BMW EV
The i5 starts in the eDrive40 model with an electric powertrain that delivers 335 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Adding the M Sport package increases the styling and features that give this new EV an impressive driving system. If you want more fun in this midsize BMW electric sedan, the M60 model gives you that with 593 horsepower and 586 lb-t of torque. This top model is also set up in AWD to give this car more grip and drive on any road.
The driving range for the eDrive40 model is estimated to be 295 miles, with the M60 xDrive offering 256 miles of driving range. For those looking for fun and active driving in an impressive BMW midsize electric sedan, the new 2024 BMW i5 is an excellent car with the right style.
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