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I recently received a call invitation by BMW of North America to test-drive the G60 5-Seies.
The models I drove were the I5-eDrive40, and the 590hp i5 M60 xDrive. (This will be a quick driving impression, I have already covered my take on the interior quality and space, I am still quite impressed.) First off, BMW deserves first place for coming up with a classy yet sporty interior design for the 5er as an EV/ ICE vehicle. This is one of the very few EVs that does not come across as a disposable appliance on 4-wheels IMO. It comes across better than a host of other EVs in this regard. Finally sitting in the driver seat, you sit deep in this car. The driver position is excellent as most journalists have noted. The new I-Drive 8.5 is an improvement over 8.0. The system is comprehensive, snappy, and easy to use once you get the learning curve. The only downside of this system is there still seem to be a fair bit of menu diving. The very basics seem to be a little more improved compared to 8.0 with graphics and ease of use. One element took me by surprise. The steering wheel adjustment seems fine but the seat controls have a slow molasses response to them. You take your hand off the desired position and for a split second the seat continues to slow then comes to a stop. It reminded me of a very old Mercedes in this aspect.
I am going to start with the i5-eDrive40 because this is the one I drove first. in Comfort-Mode.
Pulling off the lot into the street, I could not believe the weight I was feeling. This is the very first EV I have ever driven and Lord did it feel heavy! It weighs in at 4916lbs (2229kgs) and I felt every bit of it. Wafting around the streets, still in Comfort Mode.
The i5 eDrive 40 seemed to move around under me which did not inspire any sort of confident sporty driving.
After a bit, I finally put it in Sport Mode. It felt more confident and a little more sure-footed in city driving. The throttle response around town and on the freeway comes on strong but there seems to be a delay in tip-in for safety measures so you don`t feel like you are losing control. Power comes on great at any speed. It feels like it has way more than the listed 340hp. The i5 eDrive 40 has a nice steering weight to it going through a series of turns but like the previous 5-Series, there is little feedback information coming through the steering. In Sport Mode you almost don`t miss the steering feedback because the whole car, as big as it is, is letting you know what's going on, it is almost telepathic in this regard.
Driving the i5 M60 compared to its eDrive40 is a night and day difference!
This car might be 333lbs (151kgs) heavier but the way it masks and manages its weight is quite an achievement. In Comfort Mode, it instantly felt for more tied down than the eDrive 40. In Sport Mode, it felt almost athletic. The seat bolsters pump out and the steering sharpens up. The ride quality on both the cars are quite similar, supple and firm without being floaty. I finally got to drive it on the freeway and boy is the M60 quick with neck-snapping acceleration! The brakes felt twice as capable as the eDrive40 and the overall experience is much more dynamic, controllable, and just fun. For its weight of 5249lbs (2380kg) The i5 M60 is a surprisingly capable driving tool, around town and on the highway. It is positively entertaining.
Reguarding the appearance, the new 5er doesn`t look as bad in the metal as it does in photos IMO.
The new 5er is a capable, well-rounded great driving car in general that certainly checks all the boxes in driving pleasure, and most other key areas. If you want pure driving thrills in a luxury sports EV sedan, get the i5 M60. The i5 eDrive 40 felt like something your father would drive in comparison.
