Latest eighth-generation BMW 5 Series alongside the all-electric i5
The new BMW 5 Series is available to order now, and the range now includes a fully-electric version called the BMW i5 for the first time in the car’s long history.
The new 5 Series will come with three petrol hybrids and two pure-electric models with no diesel powertrain at all. The petrol offerings come in either mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid form and the latter can be expected to join the range from November. Beyond this we’ll see the M5 range-topper arrive in 2024 along with Touring estate versions throughout the lineup.
Kicking off the 5 Series range is the 520i sDrive. It costs from £51,000 and features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance integrated into its eight-speed automatic gearbox. Its 205bhp and 330Nm of torque (24bhp more than the old 520i) is sent to the rear wheels for a 7.5-second 0-62mph time and a top speed of 143mph. As for its fuel efficiency, BMW says we can expect between 45.6mpg to 48.7mpg and as little as 132g/km of CO2.
Next up is the 530e at £59,455. It’s a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine like the 520i but here it’s paired with a plug-in hybrid system for a total power output of 293bhp and 450Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds and a 142mph top speed.
The 19.4kWh battery pack of the 530e helps it cover up to an impressive 63 miles on a single charge. Like most PHEVs, the claimed 470mpg fuel economy is heavily reliant on electric-only running.
Until the next M5 comes in 2024 (which will feature plug-in hybrid technology for the first time) the 550e xDrive will be the most powerful petrol-powered 5 Series available. It has the same plug-in set-up as the 530e but with power sent to all four wheels rather than just the rear. It uses a larger twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine and although EV range drops to 56 miles, power is increased to 482bhp and 700Nm of torque. This means the 550e can get to 62mph in 4.3 seconds and tops out at 155mph.
The all-electric selection of the new 5 Series begins with the i5 eDrive40. At £74,105, it’s a rival to the Mercedes EQE 350 AMG Line (£77,345) and its 335bhp output is 47bhp more than the Mercedes, resulting in a 0-62mph time of six seconds flat. With its 81.2kWh battery it comes with a decent range figure of 356 miles (19 miles fewer than the equivalent EQE).
The new BMW i5 M60 xDrive comes with a £97,745 price tag and the same battery as the eDrive40. It adds another electric motor on the front axle however, which bumps power up to 601bhp and 820Nm (when the M Sport Boost button is pressed) – nearly as much as the outgoing BMW M5 Competition’s 616bhp. The i5 M60 has a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and tops out at 142mph, although the extra power and weight from the extra motor means range decreases to 315 miles.
With the new 5 Series BMW has revised the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars to hide the weight gain over the old model (the i5 weighs in at 2.2 tonnes). Our initial drive of the i5 in eDrive40 highlighted plenty of good characteristics from behind the wheel, but ultimately felt like it had lost some engagement compared to the old model.
The i5 M60 features ‘Adaptive M Suspension Professional’ which essentially aims to reduce body roll and improve ride quality through 48-volt electric motors that can build up counter-torque in the bends and decouple the anti-roll bar when cruising.
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