BMW i5 Touring Wows Auto Express yet Its Range Holds It Back

Silent, swift and seriously well built. That is the BMW i5 Touring as Auto Express sees it, and the magazine has handed BMW’s electric estate a glowing 4.5 out of 5. Reviewers Dean Gibson and Shane Wilkinson put the electrified 5 Series wagon through its paces and came away impressed by its cabin and composure. One flaw keeps nagging, though. Range.

Two flavours make up the line-up. The rear-driven eDrive40 musters 335bhp and reaches 62mph in 6.1 seconds, while the twin-motor M60 xDrive storms there in 3.9 seconds on 593bhp. The M60 is grippy, agile and properly rear-biased, just as a fast BMW should be. The steering takes the shine off. Contributor Alex Ingram found it quick and accurate but almost devoid of feedback, with a chunky rim that keeps drivers at arm’s length.

Cruising is where the i5 Touring shines brightest. The cabin is supremely quiet, with tyre noise barely audible around town and adaptive dampers delivering a soft, supple ride. Only some wind whistle from the M Sport mirrors ruffles the calm at motorway speeds. Inside, the testers rated the fit and finish close to Porsche quality. The slick clickwheel and touchscreen pairing also earned praise as one of the easiest systems to use.

Range remains the sticking point. BMW claims up to 365 miles for the eDrive40, but Auto Express saw around 268 miles in mixed driving and 325 miles with a gentle right foot. The M60 managed roughly 244 miles. Peak DC charging of 205kW is respectable, yet the Audi S6 Avant e-tron goes further and charges faster, which is why it pipped the BMW in the magazine’s twin test.

Practicality claws back plenty of ground. The square, flat boot swallows 570 litres with the seats up and 1,700 litres with them folded, while rear passengers enjoy more head and knee room than in the Audi. Rear-wheel steering keeps the 5,060mm-long estate nimble in tight car parks, and it can tow 2,000kg. It sums up as a fine car with a wonderful cabin. Just plan those long trips carefully.