Compare the BMW i5 vs BMW 5 Series

Quiet and comfortable, but seriously quick too
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10
Top-rate interior, and a brilliant cruiser
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10

AI generated from our expert reviews

Choosing between these two executive saloons comes down to your practical needs and how you prefer to travel. Both the BMW i5 and the BMW 5 Series are remarkably comfortable and relaxing motorway cruisers, keeping wind and road noise to a minimum. Step inside either model and you will find generous rear legroom and headroom, alongside shared quirks like the odd omission of map pockets behind the front seats. Both cabins feature responsive widescreen infotainment displays, though each presents a learning curve due to the sheer number of menus and settings you have to navigate. If luggage capacity is a priority, the BMW 5 Series offers a larger boot than the all-electric BMW i5, giving you that bit more practicality for your bags.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Compare the specs

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Sport Edition 250kW eDrive40 84kWh Auto Electric Automatic

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M Sport 520i Auto Petrol Automatic

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Standard kit

  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.

Key information

Body type Saloons Body type Saloons
Available fuel types Electric Available fuel types Petrol
Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Boot space, seats up 490 litres (4 suitcases) Boot space, seats up 520 litres (4 suitcases) Best
External dimensions (L x W x H) 5,060 mm x 1,900 mm x 1,515 mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 5,060 mm x 1,900 mm x 1,515 mm
Towing capacity 1,500 kg Towing capacity 2,000 kg Best
First year tax rate £10 Best First year tax rate £560
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
4.0 miles / kWh
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
—
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
—
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
48.7 mpg
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
369 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
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Battery size 83.9 kWh Battery size —
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Rear wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 43 · very high
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 35 · high Best
View full specs Hide full specs

Drivetrain & power

Engine name 250kW eDrive40 84kWh Auto Engine name 520i Auto
Engine size Electric • 340 BHP Engine size 2.0 L Petrol • 208 BHP
Body type Saloons Body type Saloons
Fuel type Electric Fuel type Petrol
Transmission Automatic Transmission Automatic
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Rear wheel drive
Forward gears 1 Forward gears 8
Acceleration 6.0 s (0-60 mph) Best Acceleration 7.5 s (0-60 mph)
Battery size 83.9 kWh Battery size —
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
369 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
—

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Number of doors 4 Number of doors 4
Boot (seats up) 490 litres Boot (seats up) 520 litres Best
Length 5,060 mm Length 5,060 mm
Width 1,900 mm Width 1,900 mm
Height 1,515 mm Height 1,515 mm
Wheelbase 3.0 m Wheelbase 3.0 m
Turning circle 12.3 m Turning circle 11.8 m

Full features list

  • 19" aerodynamic wheels - Style 934 bicolour grey
  • 20" aerodynamic wheels 937 Multicolour Silver with mixed tyre
  • Additional Metallic paint
  • BMW Individual Merino leather - Black/Atlas grey
  • BMW Individual Merino leather - Copper brown/Atlas grey
  • BMW Individual Metallic paint
  • BMW Individual Silver Bronze accent combined with fine wood trim Fineline, open pored - dash & door
  • BMW Individual merino leather upholstery
  • BMW Individual silver bronze accent combined with fine wood trim Fineline, open pored and silver bronze inlay - dash & door
  • BMW Individual special request paint
  • Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system
  • Comfort access system with BMW digital key plus
  • CraftedClarity interior controls
  • Dark Silver M accent combined with Carbon fibre and high gloss silver threads - dash & door
  • Dark silver M accent combined with Aluminium Rhombicle - dash & door
  • Dark silver accent combined with fine wood trim dark oak high gloss - dash & door
  • Dark silver accent combined with open pored fine wood trim grey blue ash - dash & door
  • Electric sunblind for rear window and mechanical for rear side windows
  • Electrically adjustable lumbar support for driver and front passenger
  • Fixed panoramic glass sunroof
  • Model designation deletion
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Black
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Espresso Brown
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Smoke White
  • Roof fin in vehicle colour
  • Towbar
  • Active Guard
  • BMW ConnectedDrive online services
  • BMW Iconic sounds electric
  • BMW Live Cockpit Plus Nav-12.3" instrument&14.9" control Widescreen curved display/Intelligent Voice Assist/iDrive touch/Access 3rd party app/4G LTE
  • BMW Teleservices
  • BMW legal emergency call
  • Brake pad wear indicator
  • Cruise control with brake assist
  • Driving Assistant Plus Preparation
  • Front collision warning with brake intervention
  • Lane departure warning with active return
  • Left turn warning with brake function
  • Multifunctional instrument panel
  • Oil sensor for level and grade
  • On board computer inc. average speed, fuel consumption, liquid crystal Info display, journey computer, outside temperature display, personal profile
  • On-board diagnosis - OBD
  • Personal e-SIM
  • Power assisted steering
  • Powered by Operating System 7.0
  • Run flat indicator
  • Service interval indicator
  • Speed limit Info with manual speed limit assist
  • 2 zone automatic air conditioning
  • 3 Spoke leather multi function steering wheel
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • Armrest - front and rear integrated door trim, centre console includes storage compartment, rear centre includes 2 cupholders
  • BMW door sill kickplate
  • Coat hook on upper B-pillar panel
  • Electric adjustable front sports seats
  • Heated driver and front passenger seats
  • High-gloss black door switch cluster, power window switch and tailgate button on first and second row seat
  • M Anthracite headlining
  • M Sport pedal covers in stainless steel
  • Multifunction steering wheel with trim element in accent colour
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather upholstery
  • Rear headrests
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Through loading system with 40/20/40 rear seat backrest split
  • Velour floormats
  • Wireless charging tray
  • 3 rear three point seatbelts
  • Acoustic protection for pedestrians
  • Active protection
  • Airbag deployment is controlled with respect to the intensity and scope
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • Brake assist
  • Brake energy regeneration
  • Cornering brake control (CBC)
  • Crash sensor activating central locking release, hazard warning lights, fuel cut off and interior lighting
  • DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
  • Driver and front passenger airbags
  • Driver central airbag
  • Driver/front passenger side airbags
  • Dynamic Traction Control - DTC
  • Dynamic brake control
  • Electromechanical parking brake with automatic drive away release and auto hold function
  • Electronic brake force distribution
  • Engine drag torque control
  • Front and rear brake discs with interior ventilation
  • Front and rear curtain airbags
  • Front head restraints with anti-whiplash
  • Head airbags for first and second row seats
  • Hill start assist
  • Locking of doors after driving off
  • Mechanical child proof lock on rear doors
  • PC iBrake PostCrash approach control warning with light braking function
  • Side impact protection
  • Trailer stability control
  • Two tone horn
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • Warning triangle and first aid kit
  • Acoustic glazing
  • Adaptive LED Headlights
  • Automatic cornering lights
  • Automatic windscreen wipers and automatic headlight
  • BMW selective beam
  • Body colour door handles
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • Dynamic brake lights with LED technology
  • Electric front and rear windows with fingertip open/close + anti-trap facility and comfort closing function
  • Follow me home headlight function
  • Headlight elements in blue
  • Heated windscreen washer jets
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED third brake light
  • Light colour close to that of ordinary daylight
  • Metallic paint
  • Optimum, homogeneous illumination of the road
  • Rear boot
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Roof fin in black
  • Sun protection glass
  • 19" light alloy wheels Triplex spoke - Style 933 silver
  • Tyre repair kit
  • Alarm system
  • BMW Digital key with 1X physical key fob, 1X Setup card and 1X service card
  • Locking wheel bolts including wheel bolt adapter
  • DAB tuner
  • Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system
  • AC charging cable professional (mode 3) for public charging
  • AC charging professional 22kW
  • Ambient lighting pack - 5 Series/I5
  • Connected package professional - 5 Series/I5
  • Driving assistance pack - 5 Series/I5
  • Expanded exterior mirror package - 5 series/I5
  • Dark Silver accent combined with Dark Graphite matt effect paint - dash & door
  • 19" M aerodynamic bicolour black grey alloy wheels - Style 936 M
  • 20" M aerodynamic bicolour black grey alloy wheels - Style 939 M
  • 20" M light star spoke bicolour jet black alloy wheels - Style 938 M
  • 21" BMW individual aerodynamic bicolour jet black alloy wheels - Style 954
  • Adaptive suspension professional
  • Additional BMW individual frozen metallic paint work
  • BMW Individual Merino leather - Black/Atlas grey
  • BMW Individual Merino leather - Copper brown/Atlas grey
  • BMW Individual Metallic paint
  • BMW Individual Silver Bronze accent combined with fine wood trim Fineline, open pored - dash & door
  • BMW Individual merino leather upholstery
  • BMW Individual silver bronze accent combined with fine wood trim Fineline, open pored and silver bronze inlay - dash & door
  • BMW Individual special request paint
  • Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system
  • Comfort access system with BMW digital key plus
  • CraftedClarity interior controls
  • Dark Silver M accent combined with Carbon fibre and high gloss silver threads - dash & door
  • Dark silver accent combined with fine wood trim dark oak high gloss - dash & door
  • Dark silver accent combined with open pored fine wood trim grey blue ash - dash & door
  • Electric sunblind for rear window and mechanical for rear side windows
  • Electrically adjustable front comfort seats
  • Fixed panoramic glass sunroof
  • M Alcantara and Veganza leather - Black
  • Metallic paint
  • Model designation deletion
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Black
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Burgundy
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Espresso Brown
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather - Smoke White
  • Perforated and Quilted Veganza leather upholstery
  • Special BMW individual frozen metallic paint work
  • Sun protection glass
  • Towbar
  • Active Guard
  • BMW ConnectedDrive online services
  • BMW Live Cockpit Plus Nav-12.3" instrument&14.9" control Widescreen curved display/Intelligent Voice Assist/iDrive touch/Access 3rd party app/4G LTE
  • BMW Teleservices
  • BMW legal emergency call
  • Brake pad wear indicator
  • Cruise control with brake assist
  • Driving Assistant Plus Preparation
  • Front collision warning with brake intervention
  • Lane departure warning with active return
  • Left turn warning with brake function
  • Multifunctional instrument panel
  • Oil sensor for level and grade
  • On board computer inc. average speed, fuel consumption, liquid crystal Info display, journey computer, outside temperature display, personal profile
  • On-board diagnosis - OBD
  • Personal e-SIM
  • Power assisted steering
  • Powered by Operating System 7.0
  • Run flat indicator
  • Service interval indicator
  • Speed limit Info with manual speed limit assist
  • 2 zone automatic air conditioning
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 3 spoke leather M steering wheel in BMW M specific design with M badge
  • Armrest - front and rear integrated door trim, centre console includes storage compartment, rear centre includes 2 cupholders
  • Child seat ISOFIX attachment with rear outer seats includes top tether
  • Coat hook on upper B-pillar panel
  • Electric adjustable front sports seats
  • Electric adjustable steering column
  • Electrically adjustable lumbar support for driver and front passenger
  • Heated driver and front passenger seats
  • High-gloss black door switch cluster, power window switch and tailgate button on first and second row seat
  • M Alcantara and Veganza leather upholstery
  • M Anthracite headlining
  • M Sport pedal covers in stainless steel
  • M door sill kickplate
  • Rear headrests
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Through loading system with 40/20/40 rear seat backrest split
  • Velour floormats
  • Wireless charging tray
  • 3 rear three point seatbelts
  • Active protection
  • Airbag deployment is controlled with respect to the intensity and scope
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • Brake assist
  • Brake energy regeneration
  • Cornering brake control (CBC)
  • Crash sensor activating central locking release, hazard warning lights, fuel cut off and interior lighting
  • DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
  • Driver and front passenger airbags
  • Driver central airbag
  • Driver/front passenger side airbags
  • Dynamic Traction Control - DTC
  • Dynamic brake control
  • Electromechanical parking brake with automatic drive away release and auto hold function
  • Electronic brake force distribution
  • Engine drag torque control
  • Front and rear brake discs with interior ventilation
  • Front and rear curtain airbags
  • Front head restraints with anti-whiplash
  • Head airbags for first and second row seats
  • Hill start assist
  • Locking of doors after driving off
  • M Sport brake in blue high gloss painted brake callipers with monochrome logo on front calliper
  • Mechanical child proof lock on rear doors
  • PC iBrake PostCrash approach control warning with light braking function
  • Side impact protection
  • Trailer stability control
  • Two tone horn
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • Warning triangle and first aid kit
  • Acoustic glazing
  • Adaptive LED Headlights
  • Automatic cornering lights
  • Automatic windscreen wipers and automatic headlight
  • BMW selective beam
  • Body colour door handles
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • Dynamic brake lights with LED technology
  • Electric adjustable door mirrors
  • Electric front and rear windows with fingertip open/close + anti-trap facility and comfort closing function
  • Follow me home headlight function
  • Headlight elements in blue
  • Heated windscreen washer jets
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED third brake light
  • Light colour close to that of ordinary daylight
  • Optimum, homogeneous illumination of the road
  • Rear boot
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Solid paint
  • 8 speed automatic steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles
  • BMW TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine
  • M sport suspension
  • Stop/start button
  • Alarm system
  • BMW Digital key with 1X physical key fob, 1X Setup card and 1X service card
  • Locking wheel bolts including wheel bolt adapter
  • DAB tuner
  • Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system
  • Ambient lighting pack - 5 Series/I5
  • Connected package professional - 5 Series/I5
  • Driving assistance pack - 5 Series/I5
  • Expanded exterior mirror package - 5 series/I5
  • M Sport exterior styling pack - 5 Series/I5
  • M high gloss shadow line pack - 5 Series/ I5
  • 19" M light double spoke bicolour black grey alloy wheels - Style 935 M
  • Tyre repair kit plus
  • Dark silver M accent combined with Aluminium Rhombicle - dash & door

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.