BMW i5 sedan or i5 Touring: here are the pros and cons
The BMW 5-Series is one of the best-selling premium sedans in the last 50 years and its wagon counterpart is almost equally loved by customers around the world. But what if you had to choose between the two body styles in their current EV guise? Similar, yet so different, we'll try to break down which model is more suitable for you.
We tested both in the new i5 M60 xDrive drivetrain to better understand the advantages of each body style. The front three quarters are exactly the same, so the rear is where the differences are.
Both deliver a stellar, modern driving experience, combined with enormous power in the M60 powertrain. The i5 M60 xDrive Touring prioritizes trunk space over aesthetics and efficiency, but how big of a gap is there?
Both versions of the i5 look menacing on the road!
Efficiency is a key deciding factor when buying an EV, so it’s only natural we compare the i5 versus the i5 Touring in that category thanks to our model for calculating range at different speeds and ambient temperatures, based on the real-life tests we perform. First we will show you both results compared next to each other as tested and afterwards you can see how they compare under equal conditions.
Range test results
- 37 mph
- 56 mph
- 81 mph
BMW i5 M60 Touring
BMW i5
As expected at lower speeds the two are essentially identical, the differences well within the testing margin of error. However, as soon as the 62 mph threshold is surpassed, the worse aerodynamics of the Touring come into play and hinder its efficiency and, in turn, range.
The i5 Touring has worse drag coefficient due to its flat rear end, but even at 87 mph the difference is just 5%. The more aerodynamic i5 sedan glides through air more smoothly, which is what you get in exchange for the more limited trunk space.
The noise is also affected by the drag and with the two cabins identically insulated you can see the kind of difference that makes. The sedan i5 offers one of the quietest rides in the industry, but the i5 Touring isn't too far behind, even at the highest 81 mph testing speed.
Cabin noise test results
- 37 mph
- 56 mph
- 81 mph
BMW i5
BMW i5 M60 Touring
When it comes to acceleration, we tested the i5 M60 with 601 hp and AWD in both models, meaning that they’re both exceptionally quick off the line. The sedan takes just 3.6 seconds for the sprint to 62 mph, while the i5 Touring is a tad slower at 3.8 seconds. Obviously it's not the kind of difference you can feel in real life and they both offer plenty of power. Still, the bragging rights go to the i5 M60 sedan.
0-62 mph acceleration test results
BMW i5
BMW i5 M60 Touring
Vehicles that accelerate quickly must also be able to stop confidently, which sadly neither of the i5 iterations excels at. Both took around 40 m (131'3") for a complete stop from 62 mph, which is a disappointing result. In daily situations braking is adequate, but we expect a lot more in emergency situations.
Braking distance test results
BMW i5 M60 Touring
BMW i5
Now for the category which the i5 Touring comfortably wins. With all seats up, the i5 sedan offers 17.3 ft³, whereas the Touring shines with 20.1 ft³. Once the seats get folded, the i5 Touring reaches up to 60 ft³ of usable space. While BMW doesn’t give an exact figure of the trunk capacity for the sedan with the rear seats folded, it is obvious that the space is much smaller than in the Touring and far less usable due to the irregular size.
At the end of the day the choice boils down to whether you are ever going to need that extra space. If yes, even rarely the difference between the i5 and i5 Touring is not that big in any of the other categories so it's clearly going to work well for you. They drive in a similar manner and offer identical creature comforts.
Otherwise, the better looks of the sedan, along with its slightly superior efficiency make it the default choice. Not to mention that you'll be saving a couple thousand euros.
Feel free to share your opinions and tell us which one you prefer in the comments section!
From the team behind
GSMArena.com
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