BMW i5

The BMW i5 eDrive35L uses a single rear-mounted electric motor and a single-speed transmission. As with other EVs, there are no conventional gearshifts, so power delivery is immediate and smooth.

Electric Motor

The motor produces 268 hp and 410 Nm, giving the i5 LWB enough performance for effortless everyday driving. BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 195 km/h.

The instant torque is more noticeable in everyday situations than the outright acceleration figure suggests. There is no need to wait for a gearbox downshift when overtaking, and the car builds speed in a smooth, predictable manner. It is quick enough for Indian highways without being tuned around outright acceleration.

Drive Modes & Regeneration Behaviour

The i5 offers different drive modes, including Efficient, Comfort and Sport, allowing the character of the car to be altered according to the situation. Regenerative braking can be managed through adaptive recuperation, while a stronger B mode enables one-pedal-style driving.

The electric powertrain is particularly well suited to stop-go traffic because acceleration is linear and there are no gear changes. At the same time, the car remains composed at highway speeds, with its low centre of gravity helping it feel planted.

The BMW i5 LWB marks a noticeable shift towards comfort compared with the sharper 5 Series experience many enthusiasts associate with older generations.

City Driving

In spite of being over five metres long, the BMW i5 LWB doesn’t feel a handful to pilot through city streets. Its steering is precise, which, along with the active rear axle, helps you negotiate tight spaces. Also, the increased ground clearance helps you easily deal with speed breakers, though one still needs to remember this is a rather low-slung sedan instead of a crossover.  

The biggest strength is its ride quality. The rear air suspension does an excellent job of absorbing potholes and broken urban surfaces, and the softer calibration works particularly well at low speeds. Sharp speed humps still warrant some care, but the increased ground clearance is a meaningful advantage on Indian roads.

Highway Driving

Out on the expressways, the i5 LWB stays stable. In a manner typical of EVs, the battery keeps the centre of gravity low, while the long wheelbase further helps the vehicle feel more planted. The steering gets noticeably heavier in Sport mode, while the car stays confident through corners. That said, it doesn’t feel as sharp or eager as the older 5 Series, but it’s definitely a long-distance mile-muncher that’s even quite enjoyable to drive. 

The cabin stays exceptionally quiet even at high speed.  This is mostly due to , with the absence of an engine and low wind and road noise, making long journeys particularly relaxing. Instant electric torque also makes overtaking straightforward.

Since the introduction of the LWB model, there’s just one BMW i5 variant on offe, viz. eDrive35L M Sport. A limited First Edition was also offered at launch, but its 99-unit allocation was sold before the official launch.

eDrive35L M Sport

Propelling this electric luxury car is a single rear-mounted motor that produces 268 hp of maximum power and 410 Nm of peak torque. It gets its juice from an 81.6-kWh battery pck. Another highlight is the adaptive rear-axle air suspension, which isn’t available on the ICE 5-Series. Also, the car rides on stylish 20-inch M alloy wheels.

The cabin gets BMW's curved-screen layout, Veganza vegan upholstery, a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, crystal-finish elements and a 17-speaker, 655-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

For rear passengers, the long wheelbase provides generous knee room and a comfortable seating area. However, the rear seats do not recline and there are no rear ventilation or massage functions. The middle passenger also has to contend with the raised floor area.

BMW claims a range of up to 669 km under the MIDC test cycle from the 81.6-kWh battery. This should not be treated as a guaranteed distance in everyday driving, as actual range varies with speed, traffic, temperature, air-conditioning use and driving style.

In independent real-world testing, the i5 LWB has returned considerably less than its claimed figure. A CarBlogIndia test estimated around 400 km as a realistic everyday range, while another independent test recorded an average efficiency of 5.06 km/kWh. These figures illustrate why the MIDC number should be viewed as a test-cycle figure rather than a fixed real-world expectation.

For highway use, sustained high speeds will naturally reduce efficiency compared with slower urban driving. Efficient driving and regenerative braking can help extract more range from the battery.

The BMW i5 LWB retains the broad design language of the current 5 Series rather than adopting a separate EV-specific body. This gives it the appearance of a conventional executive sedan, with the closed-off kidney grille, i badge and green number plate providing some of the more obvious clues that it is electric.

The India-specific LWB body measures 5,175 mm in length and has a 3,105 mm wheelbase. The additional length gives the sedan a substantial road presence without making it look disproportionately stretched.

Front Profile

The front gets BMW's illuminated kidney grille and adaptive LED headlights with matrix technology. The lighting elements and closed-off grille distinguish the i5 from the petrol-powered 5 Series while retaining the family's overall design identity.

Side Profile

The long bonnet, stretched wheelbase and flowing roofline give the i5 LWB the proportions expected of a large executive sedan. The 20-inch M alloy wheels fill the wheel arches better than the smaller wheels offered on some 5 Series versions.

The extended wheelbase is particularly noticeable from the side, while the flush door handles and sculpted surfaces keep the profile relatively clean.

Rear Profile

The rear uses slim LED tail-lamps and restrained i5/eDrive35L badging. The absence of exhaust outlets naturally gives the rear a cleaner appearance, while the overall shape remains recognisably that of a 5 Series.

Storage & Practicality

The boot offers around 500 litres of claimed capacity. However, the spare wheel is housed on the boot floor, which takes away some usable luggage space and makes it harder to stack multiple bags efficiently.

There is no frunk, but the cabin provides useful storage spaces for everyday items.

The BMW i5 LWB combines the familiar 5 Series dashboard with a cabin designed around comfort and technology. Open-pore wood, metallic detailing, ambient lighting and crystal-finish controls give it a suitably premium atmosphere.

Front Row

The front seats are well shaped and supportive, with electric adjustment and ventilation. The driving position remains low and driver-focused, although the overall character is more relaxed than that of older 5 Series models.

The curved display dominates the dashboard, while BMW's crystal-finish controls add a visual highlight to the centre console.

Second Row

This is where the LWB version makes the biggest difference. The 3,105-mm wheelbase creates generous knee room and makes the rear seat comfortable for two adults on longer journeys.

However, the rear seat is not configured as a full chauffeur-focused lounge. The backrest does not recline, while rear passengers miss out on features such as powered seat ventilation, massage and sunblinds. The raised floor area also makes the centre position less comfortable.

Storage & Practicality

The i5 LWB's boot is useful, but the spare wheel's position on the boot floor reduces its practical usability. The cabin has door pockets, a centre console and wireless charging provisions, while the long-wheelbase cabin offers plenty of usable space for passengers.

The BMW i5 gets the familiar 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen integrated into a curved display. BMW's iDrive interface provides access to navigation, media, vehicle functions and other settings.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, along with wireless charging, a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting and four-zone climate control. One of the highlights is the 17-speaker, 655-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Combined with the quiet electric powertrain, it makes the cabin particularly well suited to relaxed long-distance travel.

However, BMW has moved many functions into the touchscreen. Climate and some vehicle functions therefore require navigating through menus rather than simply using dedicated physical controls.

The BMW i5 LWB gets a comprehensive set of active and passive safety equipment, including driver-assistance technology and parking aids.

Active Safety

The i5 offers driver-assistance features including adaptive cruise control, lane assistance and automatic emergency braking. Parking assistance and a 360-degree camera make manoeuvring a large 5.17-metre sedan easier in confined spaces.

The Reversing Assistant can also help retrace a previously driven path, which is particularly useful when manoeuvring through narrow spaces.

Passive Safety

The i5 is equipped with multiple airbags, ISOFIX child-seat mounts and the structural protection associated with its BMW platform and integrated battery architecture.

Safety ratings should be attributed specifically to the tested i5 version and test programme rather than transferred from another 5 Series or BMW model. The India-spec i5 LWB is a newer, locally produced version, so its exact independent crash-test status should be stated only when a relevant test has been conducted and published.

The BMW i5 LWB occupies an interesting position in India's luxury EV market. Unlike many electric luxury cars that are SUVs or performance-focused sedans, it combines a long-wheelbase executive-sedan format with an electric powertrain and a strong emphasis on rear-seat comfort.

Its closest consideration for many buyers will come from luxury sedans and SUVs in a similar price band, although body style, rear-seat priorities and powertrain choices vary significantly between them.

Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV

The EQE SUV offers the higher seating position and body style many luxury-car buyers prefer. The i5 LWB counters with a conventional executive-sedan driving position, a longer wheelbase and a strong focus on rear-seat space.

Audi Q8 e-tron 55

The Q8 e-tron offers SUV practicality and greater ground clearance. The i5 LWB is more sedan-like in its driving position and places greater emphasis on rear-seat executive comfort and long-distance refinement.

Even though the BMW i5 LWB is a well-sorted electric car available at a rather attractive price point, it comes with its share of shortcomings. Hence, as a prospective buyer, one needs to be evaluate the strengths and weaknesses and take an informed decision. 

The BMW i5 LWB makes the most sense for buyers who want a luxury electric sedan that can work both as a chauffeur-driven car and as something they can enjoy driving themselves. Its biggest strengths are the spacious rear seat, exceptionally good ride quality, quiet cabin and effortless electric performance.

The India-specific LWB treatment also makes the car better suited to local conditions than a conventional low-slung luxury sedan. The increased ground clearance and rear air suspension make broken roads and speed breakers easier to negotiate, while the long wheelbase gives rear passengers plenty of room.

It is not, however, the most indulgent rear seat in this price range. The lack of rear-seat recline, ventilation, massage and sunblinds is noticeable, particularly when the car is being considered primarily as a chauffeur-driven luxury sedan. The spare wheel's position also reduces boot practicality.

For buyers who value space, comfort, refinement, EV performance and a conventional luxury-sedan experience, the i5 LWB is a well-rounded proposition. Those prioritising a softer, more feature-rich rear lounge or SUV-style ground clearance may find other luxury vehicles more suitable.