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Electric 5 Series Touring

Anyone currently visiting their local BMW dealer will find the new 5 Series Touring there in two different variants: diesel and electric. For now, the diesel version will be offered as a four-cylinder, to be joined by a six-cylinder engine later in the summer. Soon, gasoline versions will also be available, backed by mild-hybrid technology as standard. Those looking forward to the plug-in hybrid variant will have to be patient for a while. For those who already want to plug in a 5 Series Touring, the all-electric i5 is the only choice.

BMW i5 Touring

For now, the i5 Touring comes in two flavors: i5 eDrive40 and the M60 xDrive. The i5 eDrive40 features a 250 kW (340 hp) and 400 Nm electric motor on the rear axle, good for a 0-100 sprint of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 193 km/h. So more power than the average Dutch person generally needs.

Those who want almost double the power can opt for the i5 Touring M60. This electric cannon boasts a whopping 448 kW (601 hp) and 795 Nm of torque. In Boost mode, torque even rises to 820 Nm. The result is a 100-sprint in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. Both figures are correct, we can confirm after our test drive in southern Germany.

560 kilometers

Both electric versions feature an 81.2 kWh battery. In the eDrive40, you pull 560 kilometers out of that in the most favorable conditions. We are guessing that in practice you can get 450 to 500. The resilient M60 we are testing will get as far as 506 kilometers on a full battery charge. In practice, it’s more like 350 to 450 kilometers, unless you’re pedaling really hard. Recharging can be done up to a maximum of 205 kW. BMW got this right, as you would expect from a brand operating in the luxury segment. Within half an hour, the battery is back to 80 percent full. With a home or public charger, the eDrive40 can handle 11 kW (22 kW optional) and the M60 can handle 22 kW as standard.

Which one should you have?

That choice is actually a quick one: the eDrive40. With its 340 hp, it never lacks power and does almost everything the M60 can also do. Don’t get us wrong, the M60 is hugely entertaining, with its abundance of power and the M Sport suspension that keeps the car perfectly on the road even at high speeds. It is clever that BMW can make such a large, heavy car steer like this. The i5 M60 darts through the curves like a ballet dancer during our drive in Bavaria. What’s more, you can transform it – thanks to its adaptive suspension – into a comfortable cruiser at the push of a button, in which you can spend hours on the highway. A true, typical Autobahn cruiser it is, as the 5 Series Touring has always been. But the hefty extra price of the M60 over the eDrive40 is something to swallow. For the M60, BMW charges a minimum of 110 grand, while the i5 Touring can be driven from 73,382 euros for the eDrive40 Touring Business Edition. It also offers a better range. In short: the choice is quickly made.

Practical

The luggage space of both variants is the same. Remarkably, luggage space also matches that of the fuel-engine versions, ranging from 570 liters to as much as 1,700 liters when the rear seats are folded down. Space has grown about 10 liters compared to its predecessor, or 140 liters more compared to the outgoing PHEV model. Compared to the i5 Sedan, the Touring offers 80 more liters of luggage space. Unfortunately, the electric roller cover and the ability to open the rear window are gone. According to BMW, such structures are too heavy. Considering the weight the i5 Touring already carries, we understand, but we think it’s a shame.

Losing your way

The interior of the BMW 5 Series remains true to its character: business-like and driver-centered. The showpiece is the Curved Display, a large, elongated and razor-sharp screen that is instantly eye-catching. Running on this is the iDrive 8.5 system, which is so packed with features that you can sometimes lose your way. The i5 simply has a huge number of functions, all of which are given their own menu or icon on the screen. A luxury problem, they call it. Fortunately, the interface is reminiscent of that of an iPhone or iPad, making it easy to navigate the menus. But with so many menus and functions, it remains a challenge.

Gaming

On the center console you’ll find the iDrive controller – a beautifully designed crystal dial – that allows you to conveniently control some things on the screen while driving without too much distraction. BMW drivers have been familiar with this for years. During a charging stop, you can stream videos on the screen and even play games. Soccer fans can enjoy German soccer.

Conclusion

The BMW i5 Touring marks a milestone as the first electric station wagon in its segment, where electric station wagons are still rare anyway. According to BMW, the Touring is made for Europeans. Especially in Germany and the Netherlands, the 5 Series Touring has historically done well. Moreover, in the Netherlands we love electric driving, so the electric i5 Touring is in fact made especially for the Dutch.

Despite its modern, electric powertrain, the i5 Touring feels instantly familiar. Regardless of the version you choose, you will always enjoy solid power and the pleasant handling that BMW’s cars are known for. The adaptive suspension, which is standard on the M60 and optionally available on the eDrive40, should be high on your wish list. With various driving modes, you can then completely shape the car’s personality to your liking, effortlessly transforming the large station wagon from a sleek tearaway to a comfortable Autobahn cruiser, and vice versa.

We would ditch the gasoline or diesel version in favor of the i5 Touring, but the plug-in hybrid variant – expected to be good for about 100 kilometers of pure electric driving range – is attractive to potential buyers who need to travel very long distances on a daily basis, but at the same time want to drive locally emission-free. In the video below, we tell you more about our first experience with the BMW i5 Touring: