BMW i5

The BMW i5 is an all-electric executive luxury sedan under BMW Brilliance. Serving as the pure electric branch of the BMW 5 Series family, it represents a crucial milestone in the BMW brand's electrification journey. Developed on the same platform as the eighth-generation petrol-powered 5 Series, the i5 made its debut in the Chinese market in 2024. As of June 2026, the latest models on sale are the 2026 facelift variants, available in 3 trim levels: eDrive 35L M Sport Package, eDrive 40L M Sport Package, and xDrive 50L M Sport Package, with official retail prices ranging from RM368,000 to RM458,000—marking a price drop of RM70,000 to RM90,000 compared to its predecessor. Key rivals include luxury all-electric executive sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Audi A6 e-tron.

Design Language

The 2026 BMW i5 retains the design ethos of the eighth-generation 5 Series, with the M Sport Package fitted as standard across the range. Up front, it features the iconic kidney grille flanked by sleek LED headlamp clusters, exuding an overall athletic stance. The side profile displays fluid, dynamic character lines, paired with semi-flush door handles that strike a balance between aerodynamic efficiency and practicality; an illuminated numeral "5" is integrated into the signature Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar, pulsing with a blue breathing light effect during charging. In terms of dimensions, the car measures 5,175 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,520 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,105 mm. Exterior paint options include Mineral White, Carbon Black, Quantum Blue, Sophisto Grey, Black Sapphire, Sparkling Copper Grey, and Frozen Pure Grey.

Inside, the i5 sports a BMW Curved Display comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen infotainment display. It is equipped with an M Sport multifunction steering wheel and a toggle-type electronic gear selector, complemented by crafted CraftedClarity crystal glass interior elements. The wraparound BMW Interaction Bar features faceted crystal-cut detailing that changes illumination hues according to the selected driving mode. Interior upholstery colourways include Ocean Blue/Black, Burgundy Red/Black, and Copper Brown/Atlas Grey.

Powertrain & Performance

The 2026 BMW i5 is offered in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The eDrive 35L and eDrive 40L adopt a single-motor rear-wheel-drive layout, powered by electric drive units supplied by ZF. The eDrive 35L delivers 200 kW and 410 Nm of torque, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds; the eDrive 40L pushes out 240 kW and 410 Nm of torque, also reaching 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. The range-topping xDrive 50L features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, delivering a total system output of 385 kW and 775 Nm of torque, hitting 0-100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds. All three variants have a capped top speed of 190 km/h.

For the battery setup, the eDrive 35L is fitted with an 81.6 kWh CATL ternary lithium battery pack, while the eDrive 40L and xDrive 50L get a larger 97 kWh pack. Under the CLTC cycle, the eDrive 35L offers a driving range of 602 km, the eDrive 40L delivers 713 km, and the xDrive 50L achieves 651 km. In terms of DC fast charging (10%-80%), all three variants take 0.55 hours, while AC slow charging takes 13 hours for the 35L and 15.5 hours for the 40L and 50L. The DC fast-charging port is located at the right rear flank, while the AC charging port sits on the front left fender.

Chassis & Handling

Underneath, the i5 comes standard with front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension across the range. Adaptive air suspension is standard across the board, supporting variable damping and ride-height adjustment. At high cruising speeds, the suspension automatically lowers the vehicle body to reduce drag and enhance stability; on rougher surfaces, it raises the ground clearance to prevent scraping. The underbody is fully cladded and exceptionally flat. Over speed bumps, the suspension effortlessly soaks up road imperfections while providing solid lateral composure through mountain switchbacks. The steering system features a variable sport steering ratio. Auto Brake Hold and Hill-Start Assist come standard across all variants. Wheel fitment sees 19-inch alloys (245/45 R19) on the 35L and 40L, while the 50L rides on staggered 20-inch alloys (front 245/40 R20, rear 275/35 R20).

Cabin & Equipment

Inside the cabin, the i5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155P chipset as standard across the range. It runs on the BMW Operating System 9 (iDrive 9) with full 5G connectivity. User interaction covers "Hey BMW" voice prompt activation, dual-zone voice control, continuous voice command recognition, gesture control, and facial recognition. The infotainment suite also includes an integrated in-car app store. For rear passengers, a 31-inch 8K BMW Theatre Screen is available as an optional add-on.

For comfort and convenience, standard kit across all variants includes a panoramic glass roof, Comfort Access keyless entry, push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support and ventilation, heated front and rear seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, multi-colour ambient lighting, and multi-zone automatic climate control with dedicated rear air vents. The seats are trimmed in synthetic leather. Audiophiles get an 8-speaker setup on the 35L (with a Harman Kardon system optional for RM6,000), a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system standard on the 40L, and an optional 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system on the 50L.

Safety & Advanced Driver Assistance

In terms of passive safety, the i5 is generously equipped with front driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, a front centre airbag, and driver and passenger knee airbags as standard across the range. Active safety systems fitted as standard include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Driver Fatigue Monitoring, Forward/Rear Collision Warning, Acoustic Pedestrian Protection (low-speed warning), and Emergency SOS roadside assist. On the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) front, a Level 2 driver assistance suite comes standard across the line-up, offering Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centring Assist (LCA), Active Lane Change Assist, Navigation-Assisted Highway Driving, Automated Parking Assistant, Reversing/Memory Assistant, and Blind Spot Monitoring. The 2026 entry-level trim also gains a 360-degree surround-view camera. The xDrive 50L further adds dual-lens binocular vision cameras and extra radar sensors for enhanced perception.

Market Performance & Verdict

The BMW i5’s market performance fell short of expectations. Across the entire year of 2025, cumulative sales of the i5 stood at 7,461 units, with only 1,493 units delivered between January and May 2026. In contrast, monthly sales of the petrol-powered 5 Series consistently hovered around the 10,000-unit mark. This lukewarm market reception was considered a key driver behind its eventual discontinuation. In June 2026, BMW announced that production of three locally assembled (CKD) EVs—the i3, i5, and iX1—would cease from July onwards to retool production lines for next-generation models built on the all-new, dedicated "Neue Klasse" pure EV platform.

The 2026 i5 attempted to regain ground by standardising the M Sport Package, slashing retail prices, and loading up on kit (such as a 360-degree camera, 5G connectivity, front ventilated seats, and rear heated seats). Its core strengths remain undeniable: the 5 Series' deeply rooted chassis tuning pedigree and mechanical refinement, exceptional ride comfort courtesy of standard air suspension, and generous rear legroom thanks to the 3,105 mm extended wheelbase. However, its drawbacks were just as glaring: being an ICE-derived conversion based on the CLAR platform put it at a distinct architectural disadvantage against rivals built on dedicated EV platforms; the infotainment system only supported Apple CarPlay while omitting widespread connectivity protocols like Huawei HiCar; and key ADAS features like Full-Speed ACC were initially locked behind optional packages. Ultimately, serving as a strategic transitional EV for BMW, the i5 will soon make way for the brand’s groundbreaking Neue Klasse era.