A used-car bargain? 2025 BMW i5 eDrive 40 review

BMW i5 eDrive 40 review summary

Price and value

The entry-level i5 cost about £80,000 new. The reviewed car is 18 months old, has 10,000 miles and costs £38,000—less than half its original price.

Despite reservations about its size, styling and driving dynamics, the reviewer considers it a genuine second-hand bargain at that price.

Key features

• Battery: 81kWh, with a claimed range of 374 miles. The reviewer expects around 300 miles in real-world use.
• Charging: Fast charging peaks at 205kW; a 10–80% charge takes roughly 30 minutes.
• Performance: Rear-wheel drive, 340hp and a 0–62mph time of about six seconds.
• Weight: Around 2.2 tonnes.
• Boot and towing: The saloon has a 490-litre boot, useful side compartments and space underneath for charging cables. It can tow up to two tonnes, though towing reduces range. An estate version is also available.
• Equipment: LED headlights, a reversing camera, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two wireless charging pads and, on this car, a Harman Kardon sound system.

Driving and efficiency

The i5 is comfortable, quiet and refined, particularly on motorways. The reviewer says it feels almost like a 7 Series. Its rear-wheel-drive layout makes corner exits more entertaining than in a heavy front-wheel-drive EV, while body roll is kept in check.

However, it is not especially exciting to drive. The steering is very light and offers little feedback, while the car’s weight dulls its dynamics compared with older BMWs.

BMW’s adaptive regenerative braking adjusts deceleration according to traffic and the road ahead. This makes the car easy to drive and reduces the need to use the brake pedal. Driving modes include Sport, Personal and Silent, and a temporary boost paddle provides maximum acceleration for overtaking.

The reviewer found the car efficient and expects around 300 miles of real-world range.

Cabin and practicality

The interior is comfortable and well finished, with soft leather, a high centre console, a sporty driving position and plenty of steering-wheel adjustment. Storage is good, including large door bins. The Harman Kardon audio system is praised as punchy and enjoyable on longer journeys.

The large infotainment system offers many features, but its menus can be distracting and difficult to use while driving. The reviewer recommends voice commands; the speed-limit warning can also be switched off by voice. This example does not have radar cruise control.

Rear-seat knee, head and foot room are generally good, and there are USB-C ports and accessible ISOFIX points. However, a large floor hump makes the footwell cramped, especially for the middle passenger. Children should be fine, according to the reviewer, but three adults may find the back uncomfortable. Some rear-seat trim also feels cheap and poorly designed.

Drawbacks and comparisons

The i5 is more than five metres long, making it awkward to park in smaller UK supermarket spaces. The reviewer dislikes the styling, including the illuminated grille, and doubts it will become a classic BMW design. Despite its electric layout and large bonnet, there is no front boot.

The i5 has substantially more power than the basic petrol 520i: 340hp versus just over 200hp. The faster, dual-motor M60 xDrive can reach 62mph in 3.8 seconds, but it cost well over £100,000 new.

The i5 is about 200kg lighter than the M5 mentioned in the review, but it remains a heavy car.

Verdict

The i5 eDrive 40 is a spacious, refined and capable all-round electric saloon. Its bulk, dated-feeling driving dynamics and some interior and technology frustrations keep it from being especially exciting. At £38,000, however, its steep depreciation makes it a strong used-car bargain.

Reviewer’s overall view

The reviewer praises the i5’s comfort, refinement, efficiency, adaptive regenerative braking, technology and used price. Their main reservations are its styling and size, lack of a frunk, distracting infotainment, missing radar cruise control and less engaging handling than expected from a BMW.

No numerical rating or score is given.