2025 BMW i5 M60 first drive review

I know EVs are fast, but I just didn’t expect the madness that the i5 was about to unleash on my senses. A monkey could launch it – left foot pushing down on the brake, right foot slammed to the floor and let go of the brake when you’re ready. You’re never ready. All four of the i5’s tyres chirrup for a split second as the AWD system grips the road – not that you can hear over Hans Zimmer’s orchestral might. A baritone boom hits you off the line, building into a crescendo as the speed rockets towards the illegal. There’s no let up. EVs usually run out of steam at some point but not this one. We could have been knocking on 200kmph and it would have still sucker punched my guts if I asked for it. This was not even a full-blown M car…

I was really concerned about the BMW 5 Series going soft. Elsewhere in this magazine, we’ve put it up against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and while I’m not going to spoil the verdict for you, there’s no hiding the fact that the regular 5 has knelt at the altar of comfort and forsaken its core identity of being a driver’s sedan. So much so that you can’t get a 5 Series with the shorter wheelbase in India any more. LWB all the way. But the i5 is a different animal.

BMW i5 M60: Power and performance

The M60 badge on its boot means business. Short wheelbase, proper dynamics and serious horsepower. How much, you ask? 593bhp and 795Nm. Bumped up to 820Nm with launch control, or if you pull the annoyingly asymmetrical paddle on the steering wheel. These EVs are heavy but numbers such as these make those multiple tonnes feel insignificant, as all that power talks. The acceleration is brutal, getting you up to 100kmph in just 3.8 seconds. That’s quicker than the F10 M5. It isn’t as exciting as it would be with a throbbing V8, no arguing that. Even Hans Zimmer’s genius can’t match the symphonic brilliance of intake and exhaust but the immediacy and savagery that it packs is quite something. The i5 also has a 230kmph top speed, so it’s no Bahnstormer but it is plenty for our speed limits.

BMW i5 M60: Range and dynamics

Oh, all that is powered by an 83.9kWh battery that promises a 516km WLTP range. Which you can never hit because the i5 just begs you to use its acceleration all the time. Even more surprising was how comfortable it was. You’d think that a machine that can put in sub-4 second 0-100kmph runs would shatter your spine but the only thing it is shattering is your misconceptions; it rides so well over our roads. There’s a genuine comfort that has been tuned into the suspension, a clear indicator that this is not a full-blown M machine and more an everyday performance car. It rounds off bumps beautifully, it remains unfazed by the lumpiness that an average Indian road throws at it and stays composed at both low and high speeds. Often I winced thinking I’d hit a small, unexpected pothole or a change in tarmac level too hard but the i5 just soaks it all up effortlessly. The dynamic dampers with their infinitely adjustable valves help, no doubt. The best part? All that was lost from the 5 Series in terms of dynamics, is retained here. The wheelbase is 110mm shorter than the standard 5’s, making it immediately feel more nimble. Add to that the fact that rear wheel steering is standard and you really have a sharp tool at hand.

Again, not M5 sharp but the intention here isn’t to be a top shelf performance monster. It is to bring genuine driver engagement, while remaining comfortable and effortless. It delivers on all those counts. The i5 disguises its weight well in the bends and proves to be a willing dance partner. EVs are usually soulless things but not this one. I genuinely felt a connection and kept looking for reasons to get back into the driver’s seat. I didn’t have to be doing pull after pull, it’s so incredibly impressive in everyday driving as well.

BMW i5 M60: Cabin and comfort

Looks much better than the LWB too — the shorter wheelbase makes the 5 look more proportionate and the M styling pack really works. The illuminated grille sprinkles a bit of drama in there. The insides are much like the 5’s but with a smattering of carbonfibre and sports seats. I wouldn’t spec my upholstery in white though, BMW does give you darker options thankfully. Space in the rear is obviously less than the 5 LWB but that is a trade-off I would willingly make.

BMW i5 M60: Verdict and pricing

The i5 M60 is to the 5 Series what the M340i is to the 3 Series. It adds heaps of performance, without too much of a compromise in terms of comfort. In case of the i5, you lose the engine entirely but what it represents is exactly what the M340i does. A halfway point to the mental M car that will eventually make it here. The clincher is the price. A cool ₹1.2 crore. And being an EV, some states will exempt you from road tax and registration. I think that’s a steal deal for a near 600 horsepower BMW.