Cyndie tests How much progress is really in the BMW i5?

BMW was a pioneer in electric cars, but for some time now Cyndie has had the feeling that not much is possible. In her test with the new BMW i5, she finds out whether this is true.

"In the last five years, electric cars have come a long way. They are faster, have more range and the technology behind them is simply very impressive," she explains.

But at first glance at the technical data of the i5, Cyndie is amazed.

"Instead of being faster and having more range, the i5 is slower and has less range. So, at first I thought I'd misread it," remarks Cyndie.

Because there is no predecessor, Cyndie compared the data with the BMW i4 from 2021. At that time, it had a range of up to 590 kilometers. The new i5 only manages a maximum of 582 kilometers.

Other brands such as Polestar manage to achieve significant improvements within the same model with a facelift.

Software instead of range

While BMW has made little progress in terms of range and speed, the focus appears to be on software.

Cyndie praises the new Plug & Charge function, which makes charging much easier.

"BMW makes charging easier for us. I think that's really great," says Cyndie.

Plug & Charge eliminates the usual step of using a charging card or an app to start the charging process. Instead, the electric vehicle communicates directly with the charging station as soon as it is connected.

The new highway assistant, which is only legal in Germany, is also an impressive innovation: "I can get on the highway and let go of my hands completely without the car grumbling or an alarm going off. And I really like that."

It is not yet known when the assistant will also become legal in Switzerland.

Driving comfort - the tried and tested remains

The BMW i5 also remains true to its roots in many respects.

"The BMW i5 drives like a 5 Series should. It's comfortable, convenient and has good suspension," says Cyndie, describing the driving experience.

Conclusion: A step forward, but not far enough?

BMW has focused on certain aspects of the i5, such as ride comfort and software, and is showing progress here.

But in terms of efficiency, especially in terms of range and speed, the big leap has not been made. And that's exactly what Cyndie doesn't exactly see: "The BMW i5 is the long-distance car, so I wonder if BMW wouldn't have been better off focusing on range?"