BMW i5

BMW i5: which version to buy

If you are choosing a BMW i5, the catalogue has one generation (from 2023-05-01, still in production), one body (Estate 5-door), and four electric versions. There is no second generation to “wait for” in these data. The decision is which of the four specs matches the job: two identically named 81.2 kWh eDrive40 cars that are not the same car, one 83.9 kWh xDrive40, and one M60 81.2 kWh xDrive.

If you are choosing a BMW i5, the catalogue has one generation (from 2023-05-01, still in production), one body (Estate 5-door), and four electric versions. There is no second generation to “wait for” in these data. The decision is which of the four specs matches the job: two identically named 81.2 kWh eDrive40 cars that are not the same car, one 83.9 kWh xDrive40, and one M60 81.2 kWh xDrive. Displacement, cylinders, layout, boost, tank, city/highway/combined consumption, eco class, and range are not measured on every version — they are electric drivetrains with CO2 0. Prices, lease, used listings, and 0–60 figures are not in this sheet.

Generations — what actually changed (one generation)

1 generation (start 2023-05-01, stop not measured): Estate 5-door, 4 versions. No restyling is listed as a separate generation. Every version below shares independent spring suspension front and rear, ventilated disc brakes front and rear, 136 mm ground clearance, and wheels 245/45 R19 plus 275/40 R19. Gearbox on all four is Automatic with 1 speed. Fuel and engine type are Electro. The spread is power, torque, drive, mass, 0–100, and top speed — not body style and not a later generation.

BMW i5 specs: engine, horsepower, torque, drive (version names exact)

There is no “engine cc / engine size / engine capacity” number in the data: displacement is not measured on all four. “BMW i5 engine type” in this catalogue is Electro, not a cylinder count. Do not treat the two 81.2 kWh eDrive40 rows as duplicates: same name, same 340 hp and 430 Nm, different kerb mass and 0–100.

Power per litre cannot be calculated: there is no litre figure. Weight per horsepower (kerb kg ÷ hp) can:

• 81.2 kWh eDrive40 at 2180 kg: 6.41 kg/hp
• 81.2 kWh eDrive40 at 2130 kg: 6.26 kg/hp
• 83.9 kWh xDrive40 at 2280 kg / 394 hp: 5.79 kg/hp
• M60 81.2 kWh xDrive at 2305 kg / 601 hp: 3.84 kg/hp

The M60 is the only version that drops below 4 kg per horsepower. The lighter eDrive40 is 0.15 kg/hp better than the heavier eDrive40 at the same 340 hp.

Performance: 0–100, top speed, consumption

0–60 is not measured (only 0–100 is). Range is not measured. MPG / consumption is not measured on all four.

Arithmetic that matters when choosing:

• Lighter 81.2 kWh eDrive40 vs heavier 81.2 kWh eDrive40: −0.1 s to 100, same 193 km/h. That is the entire performance gap between the two namesakes.
• 83.9 kWh xDrive40 vs lighter 81.2 kWh eDrive40: −0.6 s (5.4 vs 6.0), +22 km/h top speed (215 vs 193).
• M60 81.2 kWh xDrive vs 83.9 kWh xDrive40: −1.6 s (3.8 vs 5.4), +15 km/h (230 vs 215).
• M60 81.2 kWh xDrive vs lighter 81.2 kWh eDrive40: −2.2 s (3.8 vs 6.0), +37 km/h (230 vs 193).
• M60 81.2 kWh xDrive vs heavier 81.2 kWh eDrive40: −2.3 s (3.8 vs 6.1), +37 km/h.

If the only number you care about is 0–100, the M60 is 2.2–2.3 s quicker than either eDrive40 and 1.6 s quicker than the xDrive40. If you only need to beat 6 s, the lighter eDrive40 already does 6.0; the heavier one is 6.1.

Dimensions, weight kg, clearance, tank, wheels

Length/width/height in cm are not measured. Weight distribution is not measured. Tank is not measured (electric; no tank figure). Ground clearance is 136 mm on all four — buying a heavier or more powerful version does not change clearance in these data. Wheels are the same 245/45 R19 and 275/40 R19 on all four.

Payload is 610 kg on three versions and 590 kg on M60 81.2 kWh xDrive (20 kg less). The M60 is the heaviest kerb (2305) and heaviest gross (2895). Versus the lightest car (2130 kg eDrive40) that is +175 kg kerb and +155 kg gross. Versus 83.9 kWh xDrive40, the M60 is only +25 kg kerb and +5 kg gross — almost the same mass class, very different power.

“Weight in tons” from these kg figures: 2.130–2.305 t kerb, 2.740–2.895 t gross. lbs conversion is not measured in the source.

Which BMW i5 version to choose (and why, by the numbers)

Start here if you want the lightest RWD electric estate. Choose 81.2 kWh eDrive40 at 2130 kg kerb / 2740 kg gross / 6.0 s / 193 km/h / 340 hp / 430 Nm / RWD. It is 50 kg lighter than the other 81.2 kWh eDrive40, 150 kg lighter than 83.9 kWh xDrive40, and 175 kg lighter than M60 81.2 kWh xDrive. Same 340 hp as its namesake, same 1-speed Automatic, same 136 mm clearance, same wheels. You give up AWD and you give up 54 hp versus xDrive40 and 261 hp versus M60. You do not give up payload versus xDrive40 (610 kg both).

Do not pick the other 81.2 kWh eDrive40 unless the sheet you are matching is the 2180 kg car. The second 81.2 kWh eDrive40 is 340 hp, 430 Nm, RWD, 193 km/h — identical on paper until mass and sprint: 2180 / 2790 kg and 6.1 s. Versus the 2130 kg eDrive40 you pay +50 kg kerb and +0.1 s for no extra horsepower, no extra torque, no extra top speed, no extra drive wheels. Payload is still 610 kg. If a listing only says “eDrive40”, ask which kerb mass it is; the name in the database is the same string twice.

Choose 83.9 kWh xDrive40 when you want AWD without the M60 power step. 83.9 kWh xDrive40: 394 hp (+54 vs either eDrive40), 289 kW, 590 Nm (+160 vs eDrive40’s 430), AWD, 5.4 s, 215 km/h, kerb 2280, gross 2890, payload 610. Battery energy in the name is 83.9 kWh versus 81.2 on the other three (+2.7 kWh in the label). Versus the light eDrive40 you add 150 kg and cut 0.6 s and add 22 km/h. Versus M60 you are 207 hp and 230 Nm down, 1.6 s slower, 15 km/h slower, but 25 kg lighter at the kerb and 20 kg more payload (610 vs 590). Drive is the same AWD. If the question is “AWD touring car, not the peak output,” this is the only non-M60 AWD row.

Choose M60 81.2 kWh xDrive only if the extra power is the point. M60 81.2 kWh xDrive: 601 hp, 442 kW, 820 Nm, AWD, 3.8 s, 230 km/h, 2305 / 2895 kg. Versus 83.9 kWh xDrive40: +207 hp, +153 kW, +230 Nm, −1.6 s, +15 km/h, +25 kg, −20 kg payload. Versus light 81.2 kWh eDrive40: +261 hp, +192 kW, +390 Nm, −2.2 s, +37 km/h, RWD→AWD, +175 kg. kg/hp drops from 6.26 to 3.84 (−2.42 kg/hp). The battery label stays 81.2 kWh — you do not get the 83.9 figure of xDrive40. Power rpm and torque rpm on the M60 are not measured (eDrive40 quotes 8000 / 5000). There is no M50 in these data; do not shop a horsepower that is not in the table.

What “the extra” buys, without prices

This catalogue has no price, lease, or used-sale figures. What you can count is mass, power, and time:

• Extra 50 kg on the heavy 81.2 kWh eDrive40 buys 0 hp and 0.1 s worse 0–100. That is a specification twin, not an upgrade.
• Extra 150 kg and AWD on 83.9 kWh xDrive40 versus light eDrive40 buys +54 hp, +160 Nm, −0.6 s, +22 km/h, and +2.7 kWh on the nameplate.
• Extra 25 kg on M60 81.2 kWh xDrive versus xDrive40 buys +207 hp and −1.6 s — the steepest power-per-kilo step in the line.
• Extra 175 kg on M60 versus light eDrive40 buys the full 261 hp gap and AWD.
• Clearance, wheels, brake type, suspension type, gearbox type, and CO2 0 do not change with version. You cannot buy more 136 mm or a different tyre size from this sheet.

Reliability, problems, used, range, engine sound

Not measured in the source: reliability, known problems, range, engine sound, engine bay layout, engine cover, 2024 vs 2025 horsepower split (all four versions start 2023-05-01 with stop not measured), PDF spec cards beyond this table, and any petrol/diesel configuration. A used BMW i5 in this catalogue is still one of these four rows; the used market does not add a fifth power figure here.

Short rule: two 81.2 kWh eDrive40 cars — take 2130 kg / 6.0 s unless you must match the 2180 kg / 6.1 s sheet. Need AWD without 601 hp: 83.9 kWh xDrive40. Need the lowest 0–100 and highest hp/Nm: M60 81.2 kWh xDrive. There is no later generation in the data to leapfrog this choice.