Not only does the new i5 Touring carry up to 1,700 litres of luggage with the rear seats down, but it’s also sleek enough to grace any director’s reserved parking slot. This combination of practicality with prestige makes it a leader in a class of one. Front on, the projecting BMW kidney grille is flanked by adaptive LED headlights (matrix high beam is optional). The car’s stretched proportions are accentuated by an athletic shoulder line running the full length of the car and a slim D-Pillar, with powerfully sculpted rear wheel arches to draw the eye along the flank. At the rear, the individual rear lights extend around to the side and feature LED lights separated by a horizontal chrome strip. Overall, the effect is both sporty and elegant.
PERFORMANCE
Two all-electric models are available. The rear-drive, single electric motor i5 eDrive 40 develops 340hp, giving it a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds and a WLTP-certified range of between 300 and 350 miles. Alternatively, the i5 M60 xDrive has electric motors front and rear for all-wheel drive, hits 62mph in just 3.9 seconds from standstill and has a top speed of 143mph. As both i5 Touring models feature the same 81.2kWh battery, there’s a minor price to be paid for the M60’s extra performance in the form of a slightly lower range, between 217-314 miles. Both models feature rear-axle air suspension including automatic self-levelling. M Sport Suspension, M sport braking system and the Adaptive Chassis Professional are optional for the eDrive 40 but come as standard with the M60 xDrive.
TECHNOLOGY
The i5 features BMW’s Curved Display, a single sheet of glass housing both a 12-3-inch driver information display and a 14.9-inch Control Display, while infotainment is controlled by the intuitive BMW iDrive with Quick Select for the most regularly used controls. BMW Live Cockpit Plus and cloud-based BMW Maps system come as standard. All 5 Series Touring models come with two 5G mobile phone antennas as standard and four as an option, delivering consistently reliable reception for telephony and online services, including music, video streaming and in-car gaming. The standard equipment also includes Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration.
SAFETY
BMW’s Driving Assistant suite of software comes as standard and includes Front Collision Warning for oncoming vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Lane Departure Warning now also reacts to oncoming traffic that appears to be on a collision course. Also featuring in the standard specification is BMW’s Parking Assistant, which includes start monitoring, Trailer Assistant and Reversing Assist Camera. The optional Driving Assistant Professional includes Steering and Lane Control Assist and Distance Control with Stop & Go function.
