Driven: 2024 BMW i5 M60 – BMW’s Best-Ever Electric Car Is Officially a Tesla Killer

The i5 epitomizes BMW’s commitment to the future of mobility, while also serving as a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to excellence. It wouldn’t be overstating it to say that BMW bet the house on this car the moment they decided to build the all-new 5 Series and the i5 as identical siblings.

Right now, the M60 xDrive is the flagship specification of the i5 range, and you can think of it as sort of an “M5 Light”, although on paper, it’s just as quick to 60 mph (97 kph) as an F10 BMW M5. This speaks to what we might be able to see from a future fully electric M5, which we can expect to arrive sometime after 2030.

So, what would be the gasoline-powered equivalent of this i5 by say, G30 standards? Undoubtedly the M550i xDrive. Itself one of the best all-round BMW sedans of all time. The two share nearly identical 0-60 mph acceleration times, and similar driving characteristics too. Pricing would have been comparable, with the 2024 i5 M60 currently retailing from $84,100, while a 2022 M550i would have set you back upwards of $76,800.

Still, it’s important to note that BMW could turn up the juice even more for the i5, should they choose to build an even quicker specification than the M60. There’s really nothing stopping them.

Design Evaluation

Our test car was beautifully specified, featuring the M Sport Pro package with its red M Sport calipers, Shadow Line trim and carbon fiber elements. Visually, this is a great-looking sedan, and it’s clear by now that you simply cannot order a new 5 Series / i5 without that M Sport body kit, because it’s not going to look anywhere near as good as it should.

I’ve also grown to like the BMW Iconic Glow feature for the exterior, which illuminates the front “grille”. At first, I thought it was too much of a gimmick, but the light signature coming from that front grille looks a lot better than the one we saw on our Mercedes E 400 e tester from a few weeks back.

Then there’s the Oxide Gray Metallic colorway ($650 option), which I have to say, is one of the best hues I’ve ever seen on a car. Not necessarily best-looking, just best – in the sense that you rarely need to wash this thing because the car is literally the same color as...dust? On a more serious note, Oxide Gray Metallic does work well together with the Shadow Line accents, creating a powerful contrast that draws you in.

One unfortunate fact was that we didn’t get to see the car with its factory-spec dual tone 20” M aero wheels. Instead, it was fitted with winter tires wrapped around a set of silver triple-spoke 19” wheels, the actual entry-level wheels that you’d otherwise find on the “regular” i5. They still looked pretty good though.

In terms of how the i5 M60 compares visually to say, the Mercedes-AMG EQE (arguably its biggest rival), I’d say most people would favor the BMW. Both cars look futuristic, yet the general aesthetic of the EQE is way quirkier and less aggressive looking. For me, a fast executive sedan should look both elegant and dynamic, even imposing. The i5 M60 ticks all those boxes, whereas the EQE, while it does feature a very interesting design, is more of an acquired taste.

I look forward to seeing what Audi does with the upcoming A6 e-tron, which is set to challenge both the i5 and the EQE in the midsize executive segment.

Speaking of this segment, I guess you can slot the Tesla Model S in there as well. On paper, it’s comparable in size and wheelbase to both the i5 and the EQE. The price tag is comparable too, but more on that later.

Bottom line, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the flagship-spec BMW i5 is currently the best-looking car in its class. As for how it looks compared to previous flagship 5ers, like the G30 M550i or M5, or even the F10 generation, well, it’s a whole different animal, with a different design language and bigger "everything". But remember what I told you about the G60 5 Series’ styling during our review of the 2024 520d xDrive? While mildly controversial now, it might end up becoming a one-off wonder that people will go on to appreciate for decades to come.

Interior Assessment

As previously stated, our test car was well-specified, where aside from standard goodies such as ambient lighting, wireless charging for your mobile device, the leather-wrapped M steering wheel, or the anthracite headliner, you also got optional extras like the panoramic glass roof, tinted windows, a head-up display, electric sun blinds, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, M-spec seat belts, ventilated front seats (heated front & rear as part of the Comfort package), plus the Innovation and Travel packages.

In total, nearly €28,000 worth of options, and it showed. Compared to that previously mentioned 520d xDrive model, this i5 M60 seemed a bit more expensive, interior quality-wise. It didn’t feel like a whole different car, but a few nicer touches here or there go a long way toward improving your on-board experience.

In terms of dashboard design and overall build quality, the i5 M60 was strong on both ends, but I still think BMW could have done better. Various surfaces, like the door panels or everything that goes on behind the steering wheel, feel more plush on the G30 5er than they do on the new G60. Whatever.

What I most certainly did love about this car was just how supremely comfortable those seats were. Whether you had it in some type of Individual mode or even Sport mode where the bolsters hug you tight before you set off, you could spend hours in this i5 and not feel any aches or pains, which I couldn’t say about that W214 E-Class I drove earlier this month.

I also enjoyed the Copper Brown/Atlas Gray Merino leather upholstery combo (a $2,450 option). Looked great, felt great, and worked well alongside the BMW Individual Fine Wood Open Pore and Silver Bronze accents.

As for how much room there is for backseat passengers, worry not. You’ll have plenty of knee and legroom even if you’re over 6 feet tall. Besides, the sheer size of the new 5 Series cannot be ignored – it's almost as big as the F01 7 Series and it shows. It’s also noticeably bigger than the equivalent E-Class, so do with that information as you please.

Driving Take

The i5 M60 is a breeze to drive. In a way, it doesn’t feel too different to the gasoline-powered 5 Series, but once you put your foot down and that horizon starts approaching you at an alarming rate, then you realize just how much power there is to play with here.

It’s all courtesy of a dual-motor setup, working alongside an 84.4 kWh battery (81.2 kWh usable capacity), putting down a total of 593 horsepower (601 ps) and up to 605 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque with either the Boost function or Launch Control. Unless you have a stopwatch with you, it gets difficult to tell if you’re accelerating with everything the powertrain has to give you.

The i5 M60 feels just as quick even when you drive in whatever “normal” mode you prefer, although the soundtrack it plays for you when you launch in Sport Mode adds to the drama. It is so fun launching this thing off the line! On paper, it’ll get you to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, which in a car that weighs nearly 2.4 tons (5,370 lbs) is wildly impressive.

I kept trying to compare the acceleration with that of other cars I’ve driven that featured the exact same 0-60 sprint time, and for some reason I thought back to the Ferrari 599 GTB, although trust me when I say that those official times aren’t necessarily what you’ll see in real-world conditions. Both the i5 M60 and the Ferrari 599 share this commonality – they're both a little quicker than advertised.

Where the similarities stop is once you get up to speeds of over 75 mph (120 kph). The i50 M60 remains brutally fast, but the acceleration slowly dims down when compared to a gasoline-powered naturally aspirated V12 engine like you get in that Ferrari (which also happens to weigh a lot less). Anyway, I’m not trying to compare the two, they’re completely different cars.

In the corners, the i5 M60 (once you put it in Sport mode) knows how to tighten things up. The front end allows you to be confident with your input, while the rear feels precise – the xDrive all-wheel drive system’s rear-biased sensation is greatly appreciated. There’s also not a lot of body roll, although you might struggle to find that “loving feeling” where the car just shrinks around you when you go around corners – like the E60 M5 or even the F10 M5. The i5 M60’s size is something you’re constantly aware of.

To be fair, I don’t think BMW ever intended to have the i5 compete with past M5 models in any way, shape or form. I mean, they’ll be coming out with a brand-new M5, and that’s going to be the flagship specification for the entire G60 range. With the i5, it’s more about striking a perfect balance between luxury, comfort and performance. This is both a great weekend car, and a great daily. It ticks just about every box from a driving standpoint.

Everyday Living

Despite being an excellent product for daily driving, the i5 M60 does fall short when it comes to range. Yes, you can mitigate your losses through brake regen and consistent one-pedal driving, but you’re not going to get anywhere near the claimed range, especially if you don’t pre-condition the battery. And even if you do, BMW boldly claims that you can drive for 256 miles / 412 km (EPA rating) on a single charge, and you just can’t. Don’t even get me started on the WLTP rating of 321 miles (516 km).

You’d need to drive rather conservatively (and efficiently) to get anywhere near 200+ miles, and if you like playing with the Launch Control function from time to time, well, just forget about range. Hopefully you’ve got a wall charger in your garage, so the car is often at 100% when you leave home in the morning.

Otherwise, you’ve got to deal with the public charging infrastructure, which has its pros and cons. Thankfully, the i5 M60’s battery is quite “flexible” when it comes to charge times. You can go from nothing to 100% charge in a little over 4 hours even with 22 kW charging, and thanks to the CCS connector and its ability to handle 205 kW, getting from 20% to 80% capacity can take as little as 25 minutes.

So, while range anxiety could still be something you need to overcome with this specification of the i5, so-called “charging anxiety” shouldn’t be.

As for pricing, our test car cost €127,468 taxes included – from a base price of €99,603, plus the €27,865’s worth of optional extras. It’s safe to say that you’ll be getting a much better deal if you purchase your i50 M60 in the United States, where pricing kicks off from $84,100. That’s the equivalent of €77,000, which believe it or not, is what I consider normal value for this flagship-spec i5. The fact that we’re forced to overspend in various other markets (Eastern and Western Europe alike) is both annoying and predictable.

Also, don’t think for a second that a lot of thought didn’t go into that $84,100 MSRP. The i5 M60 is positioned smack dab in the middle of what you’d pay for a dual-motor Tesla Model S ($74,990) and the tri-motor Model S Plaid ($89,990).

Technically, the closest rival to the i5 is still the Mercedes EQE, although it’s a bit tricky to end up with matching specifications. For example, you can only get the EQE 500 4MATIC sedan for the price of the i5 M60, where the Merc comes with a combined 402 horsepower and a 4.5-second 0-60 time. Meanwhile the Mercedes-AMG EQE sedan, with its 617 horsepower and 701 lb-ft of torque, costs upwards of $106,900.

I think the i5 M60 offers better value, especially when it comes to performance. It’s almost as quick as the AMG-spec EQE, but for the price of the EQE 500. You even get more trunk space in the Bimmer: 17.3 cu.ft (490 liters) vs. 15.1 cu.ft (430 liters) for the Benz.

Test Drive Roundup

BMW is just getting started with the G60 5 Series/i5 range. The M5 is on its way, and like I said before, there’s still room for the i5 to grow (they can still add more power, maybe even a bigger battery). Also keep in mind that I didn’t call the i5 M60 a “Tesla Killer” in the title of the piece just for effect.

Sure, the Model S (in any spec) is quicker, offers more range, and a better infrastructure, so it wouldn’t be difficult for anyone to argue that it’s the better EV, when compared to the i5 M60. However, as far as I’m concerned, the BMW is the better car. Not only is it more comfortable, but also a great deal more luxurious, and in a world where most premium EVs are "fast enough", you really need to start looking at the whole picture before spending all that money.

Pros

• Comfort
• Tech
• Performance

Cons

• Range
• Controversial design