For ardent EV fans, the BMW i5 represents what makes this relatively new mode of propulsion such a hit among performance lovers. To those who vehemently oppose EVs, the BMW i5 is a definite eye-opener, especially since it comes from a well-established ‘legacy’ carmaker. Get this: for ₹1.2 crore, ex-showroom, you get a sedan that pushes out 601 bhp, has all-wheel drive and looks like it can pretty much set fire to the rain with its blacked-out appearance in the M60 xDrive spec we got on the test. All that sounds promising, but how good is it in real life?
The classic three-box sedan shape is complemented by an LED surround for the grille up front, a sleek rear end, 20-inch alloy wheels, flared side skirts, high-gloss inserts and the all-black theme that’s straight-up menacing. While it doesn’t give away its performance cred entirely, you can be assured that anyone with the slightest interest in cars will be able to guess that lurking under that darkened bodywork is mental performance. How mental? We’ll come to that in a bit.
From finely crafted leather to carbon fibre trims, the cabin is filled to the brim with luxury, with a touch of sportiness
| Photo Credit: Siddharth Dadhe
The interior has a nice 14.9-inch curved infotainment screen complementing a 12.3-inch driver instrument cluster, which runs on BMW’s latest iDrive OS 8.5. From finely crafted leather to carbon fibre trims, the cabin is filled to the brim with luxury, with a touch of sportiness — largely due to the ‘M’ bits. An 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system will ensure the absolute lack of engine noise doesn’t bore you and while you wait for your car to charge, the AirConsole in-car gaming system will prove to be of immense use. Well-equipped, the cabin still shows BMW’s inherent focus on the driver. Other occupants will be able to enjoy the added space that comes courtesy of an all-electric platform. Not only is the floor flat, the headroom is generous too.
An 81.2 kWh battery is nestled under the car’s floor, and the i5’s dual-motor setup sends power to all four wheels. How much power — in case you needed to be reminded of that figure? A whopping 601 bhp and an equally gargantuan max torque of 81.06 kg-m. Despite the inherently heavy weight of an EV, this setup pushes the i5 M60 to 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed time of 3.8 seconds while the top speed is 230 km/h.
How’s it to drive? Well, it is, for the lack of a better word, electrifying. Its sport mode allows you to enjoy everything the car has to offer, including instant acceleration that pushes you back into your seat quicker than you can finish reading this sentence. Furthering the drama is a custom soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, and while that’s not something you’d expect in a car, the theatrics don’t just end there. The low centre of gravity makes cornering immense fun, with minimal body roll, top-class stability and its 2.3-tonne weight hidden quite effectively. That’s until you start heavy braking because no matter how hard you try, it’s difficult (impossible?) to defy physics. On the practicality front, the claimed range of 516 km on a full charge makes the BMW i5 a suitable car for everyday stuff too.
So, if you’re after an eco-friendly way to travel fast, the BMW i5 M60 xDrive fits the bill perfectly, even with a ₹1 crore+ price tag.
© Motoring World
