BMW India recently launched i5 LWB in the country at a starting price of Rs 79.6 lakh (ex-showroom). Interestingly, even the First Edition, limited to just 99 units, is available at the same price. It is currently the only long-wheelbase electric sedan on sale in India, leaving it without any direct rivals. Within BMW’s India portfolio, i5 LWB is positioned below the recently launched i7.
For India, BMW i5 LWB is offered exclusively in eDrive35L M Sport trim, with four exterior colour options to choose from. I spent a day with the Phytonic Blue example, driving it in and around Pune across varied conditions. With its extended wheelbase, premium positioning and electric powertrain, i5 LWB promises to combine rear-seat luxury with BMW’s traditional focus on the driving experience. Here’s how well it delivers.
BMW i5 LWB Review
In terms of pricing, BMW India seems to have struck the right cord. I say this because Rs 79.6 lakh (Ex-sh) starting price for this India-spec M Sport version brings immense value for buyers. For contrast the ICE 5 Series in 530 Li configuration powered by a 2.0L Turbo Petrol starts from Rs 76.6 lakh (Ex-sh). This pricing is thanks to the fact that BMW i5 LWB is assembled in India at BMW’s Chennai plant.
Where design is concerned, there are no surprises with i5 LWB. It looks pretty much the same as ICE 5 Series, except for a few bits and pieces here and there. Unlike BMW i4, i5 LWB does not get the polarizing design. Illuminated Kidney Grille looks glorious and it is something that I can personally get behind (not like that). I also liked the Aluminium Satinated finish on window frame and C Pillar trim along with Pearl Chrome on the grille and bumpers.
Dimensions-wise, BMW i5 LWB is a long boy measuring 5,175 mm in length, 2,156 mm in width, 1,520 mm in height along with 3,105 mm in wheelbase. It has a stately presence and the more I saw it, the more it grew on me. I liked Hofmeister kink and 5 labelling on C Pillar, BMW kidney iconic glow, adaptive LED headlights, gloss black inserts, M-exclusive front and rear bumpers and even the 20-inch M aero wheels (245-section front, 275-section rear).
Chauffeur Driven Experience
Rear seats are of primary importance on a long wheelbase vehicle and BMW i5 LWB with a stretched wheelbase is aimed at accommodating chauffeur-driven buyers in extreme comfort. In that regard, there is a lot to like in the backseat of BMW i5 LWB. There is oodles of space here, thanks to the long wheelbase and a host of features and creature comforts. BMW i5 LWB has got the fundamentals of a chauffeur-driven vehicle, just right.
For example, quad zone climate control allows rear occupants to set their own individual temperatures and blower speed. There are AC vents on the floor, on B Pillars and AC vents for your feet as well. The touch panel which controls rear climate zones also houses a switch that operates a sun shade for the glass roof. Rear centre armrest has sliding cup holders that pop out along with a wireless charging pad. BYOD system allows rear seat entertainment screens too.
There’s a transmission tunnel at the rear which might make centre passengers uncomfortable. Even the shape of rear bench which protrudes outwards for centre passenger ensures discomfort on longer journeys. So, BMW i5 LWB is like a 2+1 where rear occupants are concerned. Outer rear occupants are much more comfortable as these sculpted seats offer supreme comfort and support. The neck pillow offered on our unit was just lovely.
While the space and comfort is appreciated, chauffeur-driven rear occupant will not feel like they’re the boss. I wished there was a more comprehensive rear seat experience with attributes like rear winged headrests, electric boss mode, powered rear sunshade and window blinds, rear ventilated seats and powered recline for more comfort. Also, I would have liked some physical infotainment controls for rear occupants.
This way, BMW i5 LWB feels like it was made for driver / owner who has some important people to ferry around occasionally and not a full-fledged chauffeur-driven vehicle. If you fit this description (like I do), you’re in for a treat. Both front seats are powered with 2 memory settings. For driver, steering position is stored in the memory too because BMW i5 LWB gets an electrically adjustable steering wheel. Only front seats are ventilated, interfaced with the infotainment screen.
I5 LWB gets a backlit BMW Interaction Bar in glass finish seen on the dashboard and door trims. Dashboard and door trims get lovely soft touch materials, but door pockets are not lined with felt, which is a glaring omission. Front centre armrest has storage underneath and the centre console is a little busy, featuring gear selector, iDrive controller and rotary volume dial along with a few haptic enabled touch controls for media and others.
Front seat occupants get to operate the 14.9-inch infotainment screen running BMW OS 8.5. This 12.3-inch driver’s cluster offers excellent resolution along with slick and snappy UI. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are projected wirelessly and handling audio duties is Bowers & Wilkins 17-speaker system with peak output of 655W. I felt like the sound only got punchy and appealing at mid-to-high volumes, but not complaining at all. Wireless charging pad, USB Type-C ports, adaptable cup holders, hidden AC vents, damped AC vent direction controls are notable too.
In pursuit of minimalism, BMW has incorporated many of the crucial functions directly into the infotainment screen. Even the dedicated switches outside of the infotainment screen like hazard switch, memory settings are all haptic enabled touch surfaces. Sure, there is iDrive wheel if you want physical controls. It can get intuitive with time and feel like second nature. The Interaction Bar, illuminated speaker grille, ambient lighting and other elements are nice.
Powertrain & Range
Powering the BMW i5 LWB is a 81.6 kWh battery pack which is capable of 160 kW DC fast charging along with 11 kW AC home charging. Range promised from the BMW i5 is 669 km on a single charge. Our unit had clocked 600+ km already and the cluster was showing an estimated range of 346 km with 88% SOC which dropped to 236 km when battery reached 64% SOC with sedate and some spirited driving.
The battery sends juice to a single motor rated at 268 bhp of peak power and 410 Nm of peak torque. This motor drives rear wheels only. Acceleration is sort of mental on BMW i5, considering a 268 bhp single motor setup. BMW promises a 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds and I was hitting 100 km/h under 6.5 seconds too (cluster indicated speed in Boost Mode). BMW i5 LWB picks up speeds like nobody’s business, especially in Boost Mode.
Boot space is one area where I felt like BMW could have done further optimisation or launched the i5 Touring (Estate) instead of i5 LWB Sedan. That is because spare wheel eats up considerable space, making it less practical. There’s some additional storage underneath its false floor, though. Rear tailgate is electrically operated with anti-pinch and it shuts electrically as well. There is space for a frunk under the bonnet, but BMW has not utilised it in any way.
Drive & Dynamics
Zipping through traffic and getting heavy on the throttle are rewarding experiences on this electric sedan. Steering is light and it can weigh up depending on the Drive Mode you’re in. Steering is direct and inspires a lot of confidence to aim this long boy into corners. Despite the added weight and length, BMW i5 LWB is still lively to drive and has minimal body roll. I5 LWB for India rides on air suspension, which made me forget that it rides on 20-inch wheels.
BMW i5 LWB has struck the right cord for the perfect balance of composure and comfort. It will behave when you want it to behave, but can be unleashed for a sporty ride and it will oblige. Ground clearance was a little bothersome, especially in this long wheelbase avatar. It reached my usual shoot location which has a bit of an off-road section without any issues, but it scraped on speed breakers twice, making you do some circus while clearing the tall ones.
Braking is another area where BMW i5 LWB impressed me. It has a strong bite and it does not feel wooden like in some EVs. Brake pedal offers great feel and progression and it induces a lot of confidence. Regen was well judged and in D mode, energy recuperation is adaptive and it worked well. ADAS suite worked well during our short test, but we need to drive it more to test its efficiency more. I didn’t get the digital key of this i5 LWB, but I have used digital key in other BMWs and they work reliably.
Should You Buy One?
If you’re an owner-driver looking for a luxury electric sedan but regularly have family, friends or business associates occupying the rear seats, BMW i5 LWB makes a compelling case. Rear passengers get excellent space and comfort, but this isn’t quite a full-blown chauffeur-focused luxury sedan. Interestingly, that’s also what makes it appealing – i5 LWB hasn’t sacrificed the driver’s experience in its pursuit of rear-seat comfort.
At Rs 79.6 lakh, and with ICE-powered 530Li starting only Rs 3 lakh lower, i5 LWB also makes an unusually strong value proposition within BMW’s own range. It isn’t flawless – more rear-seat adjustability, better boot packaging and additional ground clearance would have made it more complete – but the combination of performance, comfort, space and driving dynamics is difficult to fault.
