BMW i5 Saloon & Touring Review
Electric, executive, and still unmistakably Munich
There’s a certain expectation when you see a BMW key fob. You expect solidity. Precision. That indefinable sense that the car knows what it’s doing, even when you don’t. Going electric hasn’t always been kind to that promise. But after a few days with the BMW i5 Saloon and Touring, it’s safe to say the Bavarians have very much remembered who they are.
The BMW i5 Saloon: Derbyshire, done properly
We started with the BMW i5 Saloon, slipping quietly out of Belper and pointing the nose along the A52 towards Ashbourne. This is proper test-road territory: fast A-roads, tightening bends, surface changes and that constant rise-and-fall of Derbyshire tarmac.
Despite the lack of engine noise, the i5 doesn’t feel remote. Steering is weighty in that reassuring BMW way, the body stays flat and composed, and it flows down the road with an ease that makes you forget you’re piloting a near two-tonne electric saloon. From Ashbourne we looped back across the quieter roads towards Turnditch, then home to the Cocoon office in Belper – and not once did range anxiety even clear its throat. The 84kWh battery just gets on with it.
The ride? Firm enough to feel planted, supple enough to remain civilised. Exactly what you want from a big executive saloon with an M Sport badge.
The BMW i5 Touring: Derbyshire, done properly
Then came the Touring. Same drivetrain, same 250kW eDrive40 punch, but with a boot big enough to swallow real life. This one earned its stripes with a longer haul: up the M1 towards Leeds, across the M62 into Manchester, then back home via the Cat and Fiddle.
Motorways were dispatched with silent, effortless pace. Wind noise is minimal, road noise barely registers, and the seats deserve a quiet round of applause after several hours behind the wheel. Then came the Cat and Fiddle – a road that exposes lazy chassis tuning faster than you can say “electric estate”. But the i5 Touring didn’t flinch. It remained composed, confidence-inspiring and, crucially, enjoyable.
And yes, despite the batteries, despite the silence, despite the screens – it still feels like a BMW.
Inside: screens, space and smiles
Both cars share BMW’s beautifully integrated curved display, and Apple CarPlay works seamlessly across the main screen and digital cockpit. It’s intuitive, crisp, and refreshingly free of gimmicks. Everything is where you expect it to be.
Rear-seat space is generous in both models, and the kids were more than happy back there – a high bar in itself. But the Touring wins hearts (and arguments) with its boot space. It’s the one you’d take on holiday. Or to IKEA. Or both, accidentally.
Our Verdict
The BMW i5 Saloon and Touring are proof that electrification hasn’t diluted BMW’s DNA. They’re comfortable, refined, properly engineered and quietly brilliant to drive. The Saloon feels sleek and precise; the Touring adds practicality without losing composure. If pushed, we’d take the Touring – simply because space is king – but both are seriously impressive.
Most importantly, they don’t feel like appliances. They feel like cars. Good ones.
Available on Flexible Car Subscription
Both the BMW i5 Saloon and Touring are available on our flexible car subscription fleet from just 1 month, with additional savings when you keep the car for 90 days or more.
What’s included?
Maintenance
Road tax
Manufacturer’s warranty
Breakdown assistance
All you need to do is charge it and insure it on a fully comprehensive policy.
Electric may be the future – but in the i5, it still drives like a BMW should.
