BMW i5 LWB review: The electric 5 Series makes a strong case

BMW's first locally produced electric sedan stretches the 5 Series formula into long-wheelbase EV form. Its near-parity pricing with the ICE 5 Series LWB sharpens the case for switching.For 54 years, the 5 Series has been one of the most definitive products in the BMW range. Since its debut in 1972, eight generations have carried BMW’s core philosophy through changing times: performance, comfort, technology, and, importantly, the ability to look good doing it all. If you wanted a sedan that could be entertaining on a Sunday and comfortable enough to be chauffeur-driven on Monday, the 5 Series was usually near the top of the list. The front silhouette is a familiar one to the other 5 Series models on sale. Not too long ago, I was standing next to the 5 Series LWB and telling you what makes it tick. Now, there is a rather interesting addition to that formula: the first-ever BMW i5 LWB. It is BMW India’s first locally produced electric sedan and the second locally assembled BMW BEV after the iX1 LWB. BMW also positions it as the only long-wheelbase BEV sedan in its segment. The green number plate along with the badging is a giveaway for i5 LWB. That brings us to the obvious question: is this still a 5 Series, or is BMW giving you a more affordable way into i7 territory? And, perhaps more importantly, is the price tag good enough to make the switch to electric seem like an easy one? To answer that, let’s start with what makes the i5 LWB different.What’s new on the i5 LWB? Does it look the part?At first glance, the i5 LWB is unmistakably a 5 Series. The large kidney grille dominates the front, complete with BMW’s illuminated 'Iconic Glow' treatment, while the integrated ‘i’ logo gives away the electric powertrain. The adaptive LED headlamps use Matrix technology and 12 LED elements, with cornering lights, low and high beam functions and adaptive highway and motorway modes. Bigger alloy wheels look the part. A marked improvement from the ones introduced on the 5 Series LWB. The profile is familiar too, with the long bonnet, flowing roofline and Hofmeister kink. BMW has reinterpreted the kink for the LWB, while the prominent shoulder line and muscular rear haunches give the car more visual width. The ‘Sky Lounge’ panoramic glass roof also adds to the car’s visual appeal. The 20-inch M Light alloy wheels add plenty of presence and are wrapped in 245/45 R20 tyres at the front and wider 275/40 R20s at the rear. The relatively generous 4.3-inch sidewall is always a welcome addition on Indian roads. Once again, a familiar sight for BMW enthusiasts. Looks unique, and left field. The numbers tell the bigger story. The i5 LWB measures 5,175mm in length and has a 3,105mm wheelbase, while its width is 1,935mm without the mirrors and its height is 1,520mm. The extra length is not merely about making the car look bigger. It is there to liberate more space inside, particularly for those who are likely to spend more time in the rear seat. At the rear, four slim horizontal LED elements continue the modern BMW theme. There are no exhausts, obviously, while the eDrive35L badge identifies this particular version. The i5 LWB comes with an 81.6kWh battery pack. It's good for a claimed range of 669km (MIDC). There is also a First Edition 1/99, limited to just 99 units. It adds a dedicated rear-seat entertainment package with a tablet and holder, along with Titanium Bronze exterior accents, BMW Individual Silver Bronze detailing, Fineline open-pored fine-wood trim and a special ‘FIRST EDITION 1/99’ engraving. It is a nice way of making the launch cars feel special, but the regular i5 LWB is where the broader story lies.How’s the back seat experience?The rear bench is a comfortable place to be, with excellent knee room and good headroom. Like most EVs, the battery underneath the floor means you sit slightly knees-up, but there is so much space that it isn’t a major issue. BMW has sculpted the rear seats with extended support, added Alcantara headrest cushions and designed the seating position around a 31-degree torso angle for long-distance comfort. The panoramic Sky Lounge glass roof features illuminated graphics that work with the ambient lighting to create different lighting scenarios. It is one of those features that sounds slightly gimmicky on paper but adds considerably to the atmosphere inside the cabin, particularly from the rear. The Alcantara headrests are a welcome addition on long journeys. Tan leather looks classy. The rest of the rear-seat equipment follows the same theme. There is four-zone climate control with rear touch controls, a wireless charging tray integrated into the centre armrest, a Wi-Fi hotspot and BMW’s 'Travel & Comfort' system with a universal holder for your own tablet. The First Edition takes this a step further with its dedicated tablet and holder setup. Then there is the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. With 17 speakers, a 655-watt amplifier, illuminated B&W badges and Logic 7 surround mode, it is more than capable of turning the rear cabin into a rather good private listening room. Retractable charging pad is a thoughtful touch. Decent storage under the armrest. Up front, the cabin itself is typical modern BMW. The 12.3-inch curved display, BMW Interaction Bar, crystal-glass elements and ambient lighting give it a properly premium feel without becoming excessively flashy. I particularly like the richness of the digital instrument cluster and the way its presentation changes with the selected driving mode. BMW’s horizontal screen arrangement also works better for me than some of the enormous portrait-oriented displays becoming common in newer cars. The i5 LWB scores well when it comes to rear-seat comfort. Plenty of knee and headroom for an average-sized adult. There are, however, a few omissions. The rear seats don’t offer powered recline, there are no rear sun blinds, and there is no massage function. Those are small details, but at this price point and given what the i5 LWB is trying to achieve, they matter. Still, if the rear seat is where the i5 LWB makes its strongest case, the driving experience is where it reminds you that this is a BMW first and a chauffeur car second.What’s it like to drive?From behind the wheel, the first thing you notice is the sheer size of the i5 LWB. It feels like a substantial car when you’re turning into a corner or manoeuvring through tighter roads, but the additional length never becomes intrusive. A major reason for that is the rear-axle air suspension. It automatically maintains the optimal ride height and continuously adapts when passengers or luggage are added, keeping the car level and preserving ride comfort and stability. It feels odd not to have a throbbing petrol motor under the hood, doesn't it? A sign of the times. BMW has increased ground clearance by 18mm over the global model and paired that with the relatively generous tyre sidewalls and rear air suspension. The result is a car that is considerably better suited to Indian roads than its low-slung silhouette might suggest. I went over some fairly serious speed breakers around Gurgaon and scraping the underside hasn’t been an issue. There's no need to worry about E20 compliance here. The suspension also works nicely with the car’s 50:50 weight distribution. That balance is noticeable when you push it through a corner, where the i5 LWB remains composed despite its size and weight. It is not a small car pretending to be agile, but there is enough control and precision here to make a quick stretch of road enjoyable. Performance, however, isn’t the headline. The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive i5 LWB produces 272bhp and 410Nm, taking it from 0-100kmph in 6.7 seconds. That is properly quick by normal-car standards, but this isn’t an M60, and it certainly isn’t trying to be an electric M5. It is a rear-wheel-drive, single-motor electric sedan, so there is still fun to be had, just with a restraint befitting a well-behaved executive. The ride quality is extremely well judged for a large sedan-shaped electric vehicle. Kudos to BMW! Honestly, the i5 LWB is about effortless progress. On a well-laid-out highway, it feels even more at home: stable, quiet and remarkably settled. The BEV drivetrain also contributes to excellent NVH levels, which suits the character of the car particularly well. Moreover, the i5 LWB is underpinned by the Gen5 BEV eDrive platform, which comes with high-strength aluminium housing and improved energy efficiency. It feels flexible and forgiving, both on the highway and within city limits. The interface changes based on the driving mode. Clean and simple UI. The 81.6kWh battery is another major strength. BMW claims up to 669km on the MIDC cycle, putting the i5 LWB among the longest-range cars in its segment. A 160kW DC charger takes the battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 33 minutes, while an 11kW AC wallbox takes roughly eight hours for a full charge. Regenerative braking is adaptive in its default setting, and this is one area where I would have liked a little more control through the pedal shifters. That being said, there is a way to dial it down via the touchscreen. There is composure around bends. Balance between handling and ride quality is respectable. The technology extends beyond the powertrain too. Driving Assistant Plus brings Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, while the safety suite includes lane-change warning, front and rear collision warnings and cross-traffic warning. Parking Assistant Professional adds a 3D surround view, autonomous manoeuvring and Remote Control Parking, with reversing assistance of up to 200 metres. BMW has also equipped the i5 LWB with Digital Key Plus, allowing compatible smartphones to unlock and access the car, while access can also be shared with friends or a chauffeur. There is even an interior camera that can be accessed remotely through the My BMW app or the car’s display, adding another layer of convenience and security. The typical 5 Series look up front. Looks both menacing and stately at the same time. Of course, not everything works for me. The almost invisible air vents look futuristic but aren’t the easiest to operate, while I’m still not completely sold on the shape and varying thickness of BMW’s latest steering wheel. It has plenty of feel, but the design isn’t quite my cup of tea. But these are minor irritations in a car that gets the fundamentals right. The i5 LWB feels substantial without being cumbersome, comfortable without becoming disconnected and quick without constantly reminding you that it can be.VerdictIs the i5 LWB still a 5 Series? A resounding yes. And at Rs 79.60 lakh (ex-showroom), it is perhaps the most ingenious one. The i5 LWB costs only around Rs 3 lakh more than the ICE 5 Series LWB, which makes the decision considerably more interesting than simply asking whether you want an electric BMW or a petrol one. For that money, the i5 LWB gives you a 669km claimed range, rear-wheel drive, 272bhp, 410Nm, excellent rear-seat space, rear-axle air suspension, India-specific ground-clearance adaptation and a cabin that feels every bit as special as a modern 5 Series should. There's a lot to like about the i5 LWB. Its sensible, no-nonsense approach will have plenty of takers. Yes, there are omissions. No rear sun blinds, powered rear-seat recline or massage function means it doesn’t quite deliver the full luxury experience you might expect from a car designed with the back seat in mind. And if outright performance is your priority, the i5 M60 remains the obvious choice. But for everyone else, this i5 LWB makes a remarkably strong argument. It isn’t an i7 on the cheap. It is a 5 Series that has traded some performance for more space, greater range, exceptional refinement and everyday usability. And because BMW has priced it only slightly above the ICE 5 Series LWB, it doesn’t feel like you’re paying a massive premium just to go electric.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine - EndsPublished By: Abhinav JakharPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 12:30 IST