2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive Review

In Malaysia's luxury executive sedan market, the options for electric vehicles have never been many—either traditional brand fuel-to-electric models focused on business, or tech-savvy new players lacking driving refinement. The arrival of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive has filled the niche of "luxury + performance + electric." The core selling point of this car is embedding BMW's signature driving dynamics into an electric platform while retaining the comfort and features of an executive sedan. During this test drive, we focused on evaluating its overall performance in daily commuting, highway cruising, and mountain road driving to see whether it truly lives up to being both the "ultimate driving machine" and an "executive sedan."

From the exterior, the i5 M60 xDrive continues the executive demeanor of the 5 Series lineup but incorporates more electric-specific elements in the details. The front adopts a closed double-kidney grille surrounded by fine chrome trim, paired with sharp adaptive LED headlights on both sides, making it highly recognizable. The side profile features smooth lines, with perfectly balanced proportions of a four-door coupe. The 21-inch multi-spoke M sport wheels, combined with blue brake calipers, underscore its performance identity. The rear design is relatively simple, with full-width LED taillights embedding a BMW badge in the middle, while the rear bumper's diffuser decoration and dual chrome exhaust tips (decorative) further enhance the sporty feel. The overall style is neither overly aggressive nor too plain, aligning well with the positioning of a luxury executive sedan.

Stepping inside, the familiar BMW interior layout greets you, but the materials and technological features have been upgraded. The dashboard combines soft-touch molding, Nappa leather, and metal trims, with a high-quality feel wherever you touch. A 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central touchscreen form a unified display. The screen resolution is high, the iDrive 8.5 system's operation logic is clear, supporting voice control and gesture operation with a very fast response time. The multifunctional steering wheel features an M sport design, feels solid to grip, with left buttons controlling driver assistance and right buttons managing multimedia, making blind operation easy. The seats use M sport leather material, with 16-way electric adjustment, heating, and ventilation functions in the front seats. The lumbar support and lateral bolstering are well-designed, ensuring comfort even during long drives.

In terms of space, the i5 M60 xDrive measures 5060mm×1900mm×1450mm (Note: The original height data of 1050mm was incorrect and should be approximately 1450mm), with a wheelbase of 2995mm (Note: The original wheelbase data of 2856mm was incorrect and should be 2995mm). The rear legroom exceeds two fists, while headroom leaves about one fist of clearance. Even passengers standing 185cm tall will not feel cramped in the back seat. The rear central armrest comes with a control panel to adjust air-conditioning temperature, seat angle, and multimedia, while offering two Type-C charging ports and independent air-conditioning outlets. The trunk has a capacity of 470L with a regular opening, large enough to fit two 28-inch suitcases and a carry-on case without issue, meeting the needs for daily use or business trips.

In terms of power, the i5 M60 xDrive is equipped with dual electric motors at the front and rear, delivering a total system power of 442kW and a maximum torque of 795N·m (Note: The original torque data of 400N·m was incorrect and should be 795N·m). Its official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 3.8 seconds. During actual driving, the moment the accelerator is pressed, the power response is immediate, with no turbo lag associated with traditional fuel engines. Even in Comfort mode, it starts briskly, making urban commuting and following traffic no problem at all. Switching to Sport mode, the power output becomes even more aggressive—the strong push-back feeling is noticeable with a heavy foot on the accelerator, inspiring great confidence during high-speed overtaking.

The performance handling is the highlight of the i5 M60 xDrive. The steering wheel is precise with minimal play, and the feedback force varies with speed, being light at low speeds and stable at high speeds. The chassis uses a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned towards sporty performance while retaining a certain level of comfort. When going over speed bumps or rough roads, the suspension quickly filters out vibrations without excessive bouncing. On mountain roads, the body remains stable, with well-controlled body roll, maintaining good trackability even on consecutive curves. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system also performs well on slippery roads, with no slippage during acceleration and strong traction.

In terms of range, the i5 M60 xDrive has a battery capacity of 81.2kWh (Note: The original data of 67kWh is incorrect, it should be 81.2kWh), and the official CLTC range is about 600km. In our actual tests, the energy consumption during city commuting (air conditioning at 24°C, medium energy recovery) was about 18kWh/100km, while on the highway (110 km/h), it was about 22kWh/100km, with an overall range achievement rate of around 85%. For fast charging, using a 120kW DC charger, it takes just 30 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. Slow charging (11kW) takes 7.5 hours to fully charge, making daily recharging fairly convenient.

When it comes to driving comfort, the performance of the i5 M60 xDrive is commendable. Noise control inside the cabin is excellent — below 60km/h, wind noise and road noise are nearly imperceptible, and at 120km/h on the highway, wind noise mainly comes from the A-pillar, but it is still within acceptable limits. The energy recovery system offers three adjustable levels, with the highest setting providing a near-one-pedal driving experience, where releasing the accelerator quickly decelerates the car, ideal for congested city roads. The lowest setting feels similar to the coasting experience of a fuel-powered car, making it more comfortable for highway cruising. The seats are also very comfortable; the rear seat cushions are soft, and the backrest angle is just right, making long-distance journeys less tiring.

In summary, the core strengths of the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive are clear: first, it retains BMW's hallmark driving dynamics with responsive power and a solid chassis, making it the best in driving experience among electric executive sedans in its class. Second, it is fully equipped, balancing a sense of technology and luxury, with rear-seat comfort that meets executive-class standards. Third, its range performance is stable and recharging is convenient, making it suitable for daily use. Comparing it with competitors like the Mercedes EQE 53 and Tesla Model S, the i5 M60 xDrive offers better handling, more practical features, and a more competitive price (with a suggested retail price of RM 480,000, approximately RM 50,000 less than the EQE 53).

This car is suitable for two types of customers: first, those who enjoy driving and seek performance but also need a luxury car that can balance business and family needs; second, those who are unsatisfied with traditional fuel-powered executive vehicles and want to try electric cars while valuing brand reputation and driving quality.

All in all, the 2024 BMW i5 M60 xDrive is an electric executive sedan with "no obvious shortcomings" — it combines the smoothness and quietness of an electric car, the performance and handling of the M series, and the comfort and luxury of an executive sedan. If you're looking for an "all-rounder" electric vehicle in the luxury executive sedan market, it's definitely worth considering.