By: Peter Gregorian
January 18, 2025
BMW’s latest offering in the electric luxury sedan market, the 2025 BMW i5 xDrive40, perfectly combines cutting-edge technology, refined design, and performance for the Canadian consumer. The 2025 BMW i5 brings the best of BMW’s innovation into a sleek and sophisticated package. After spending an electrifying week with the i5, courtesy of BMW Canada, it is clear that the future of electrification with BMW is bright.
The 2025 i5 xDrive40 delivers a commanding presence on the road with its bold exterior. Finished in Brooklyn Grey Metallic, the color beautifully highlights the car’s sculpted lines and aerodynamic silhouette. BMW’s design language shines with features like the Illuminated Kidney Grille, a standout option that adds a futuristic glow to the car’s iconic front face. The M Sport package, standard on this model, enhances its aggressive stance with sharper styling elements and 20-inch Aero Wheels in a contrasting black-grey finish, which complement the car’s sleek proportions. From every angle, the i5 carries an executive demeanor—one that means business.
Step inside the 2025 BMW i5, and it becomes clear that luxury and comfort were prioritized. The optional Dark Violet/Atlas Grey Merino Leather upholstery, combined with the Open Pore Ash Grey-Blue Fine-Wood trim, elevates the cabin’s ambiance with a luxurious feel. The choice of materials is nothing short of premium, delivering a rich, tactile experience that feels unmistakably BMW. The panoramic glass sunroof enhances the spacious feel of the cabin, while excellent sound insulation creates a near-silent interior, even without the use of double-paned windows.
The cabin feels like a true sanctuary, effortlessly blocking out wind and road noise, making it an ideal space for long drives or commutes. Unfortunately, while the seats offer multi-way adjustability and lumbar control, they fall short in providing sufficient lower back and thigh support, leaving longer drives less than perfectly comfortable. On a practical note, the i5 shines with a generous trunk space of 489 litres (17.3 cubic feet), adding versatility to its luxury-focused cabin.
BMW continues to redefine the driving experience with an arsenal of cutting-edge technology. The digital cockpit, which includes a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen, provides a sleek and modern interface for controlling vehicle systems and entertainment. The iDrive 8.5 system, while visually impressive, can feel cluttered, as navigating through the menus can be challenging when looking for specific functions or drive modes. Thankfully, BMW’s voice command system comes to the rescue with its fluid, plain-language recognition, allowing users to bypass the menu complexity with simple voice prompts.
Other standout features include the Head-Up Display, which projects critical information into the driver’s line of sight, and Video Augmented Reality Navigation, which makes following directions intuitive and easy. These elements combine to deliver a technology-rich driving experience that is both futuristic and practical.
The 2025 i5 xDrive40 houses an 84.3 kWh net high-voltage battery and dual electric motors, producing a combined 389 horsepower and 435 lb-ft of torque. True to BMW’s performance pedigree, the i5 offers exhilarating acceleration—launching from 0-100 km/h in a respectable 5.4 seconds—delivering power immediately and effortlessly, pinning occupants to their seats during spirited driving.
Despite its 2,295-kilogram curb weight and 2,995 mm wheelbase, the i5 handles remarkably well. The chassis dynamics are outstanding; it rotates confidently through corners with agility that belies its size. The rear-axle air suspension ensures the car maintains a smooth ride over harsher road surfaces while retaining the sporty handling for which BMW is known. This combination of ride comfort and cornering prowess makes the i5 equally adept at highway cruising and dynamic driving, standing out as one of the most engaging luxury EVs in its class.
BMW has equipped the i5 with a suite of technology that makes everyday commuting more tolerable. BMW’s Advanced Driver Assistance Package includes adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology for a semi-autonomous driving experience, especially with the Active Lane Change feature.
As a fully electric vehicle, the i5 eliminates traditional fuel costs while offering competitive energy efficiency. Natural Resources Canada rates the i5 at a combined 2.5 Le/100 km. With its 84.3 kWh battery, the i5 boasts an impressive range of 428 kilometres, making it ideal for both daily commutes and longer trips, helping mitigate range anxiety.
From a pricing standpoint, the 2025 BMW i5 starts at $83,700 in its xDrive40 trim. However, tacking on the options that our test vehicle had—like the Premium Essential Package ($5,900), Advanced Driver Assistance Package ($2,500), upgraded two-tone Merino Leather ($2,900), Open Pore Ash Grey trim ($250), 20-inch Aero Wheels ($1,000), Comfort Seats ($1,000), and Illuminated Kidney Grilles ($500)—quickly drives up the price to $97,750, just shy of the 2025 BMW i5 M60 xDrive starting price of $98,957.20.
Overall, the i5 delivers a thrilling and refined EV driving experience, ideal for those looking for a balance of performance, luxury, and practicality in an electric sedan. With its exceptional chassis dynamics, which make it a joy to drive, BMW continues to prove why its vehicles remain benchmarks in their segments, and the i5 is no exception.
