REVIEW: BMW i5 Touring eDrive 40 M Sport – One Car, Two Identities

In Singapore, wagons have always been a bit of a niche choice—probably because some people think they look like hearses. Limited demand means manufacturers haven’t exactly been rushing to flood the market with options, leaving wagon fans with little to choose from.

The BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 M Sport arrived in Singapore in late 2024. With its M Sport trim and performance DNA, beautiful curves which are as far as possible from any hearse association, could it finally convince more people to jump on the *ahem* bandwagon?

The Case for a Performance Wagon

Personality 1: The High-Tech Family Wagon

Imagine this: soothing ambient lighting fills the cabin, setting the mood for a relaxed drive.

Tap the pedal moderately, and the fully electric BMW i5 glides forward with effortless smoothness. So smooth, in fact, that you don’t even realise how fast you’re going—until you notice the traffic police next to you giving you a friendly wave.

The suspension works like magic, absorbing every hump and bump without breaking a sweat. Your baby, who finally dozed off after 30 minutes of relentless crying, stays asleep, blissfully unaware of any road imperfections. No sudden jolts, no rude awakenings—just uninterrupted peace. And through it all, the cabin remains whisper quiet. The soundproofing is top-notch—you barely hear a thing from the outside world. No road noise, no wind noise, nothing to disrupt the calm as you ferry your wife and child to wherever wife and child need to go.

Meanwhile, in the 570-litre boot behind, two strollers, three tins of milk powder, an entire box of diapers, three dozen wet wipes, and an army of plush toys are neatly stowed away, ready for any baby-related emergencies.

For a moment, you might even forget you’re in a BMW. It feels more like something more comfort-minded, like a Lexus.

Personality 2: The Adrenaline Machine

Then, night falls. You drop your wife and child off. The door closes, and for the first time all day, finally you get some me time; it’s just you and the car.

You take a deep breath, turn the knob to sport mode, and the atmosphere inside shifts instantly. The seat cushions tighten around your waist, as if the car itself is bracing for what’s to come—or maybe just giving you a reassuring hug for finally letting it stretch its legs.

Your fingers find the boost paddle. A quick tap, and for the next 10 seconds, an extra surge of torque is at your command.

The ambient lighting shifts to an aggressive red. You press the accelerator, and the IconicSound by Hans Zimmer fills the cabin. The car leaps forward, pushing you back into your seat. As the speed climbs, the sound intensifies—deep, rich, and bass-heavy, a symphony of power designed to make your pulse race.

Up ahead, a sweeping left-hand turn. No one in sight.

You remember that you paid for the M Sport trim. No point letting that 8mm lowered suspension go to waste.

You keep your foot on accelerator. The car holds firm, planted like it’s glued to the road. Minimal body roll, zero hesitation. The rear stays locked in, the rear-wheel-drive system gripping the tarmac with confidence, the car seemingly saying, “This is what I was made for.”

For a moment, it feels perfect. Just you, the road, and a machine that understands exactly what you want it to do.

Before you know it, you’re powering through the exit, grinning ear to ear.

The night is yours. The possibilities are endless.

Until your phone rings.

Your wife asks, “Why haven’t you parked? When are you coming home to change the diaper?”

A wonderful place to be

High-Tech Family Wagon or Adrenaline Machine, the cabin of the BMW i5 Touring is a wonderful place to be in.

See it for yourself. Pan, pinch, spin and swipe the below around for a 360-degree immersive experience.

Inside, BMW’s latest cabin design is on full display, headlined by the curved display—a sleek combination of a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 14.9-inch digital instrument cluster.

Despite BMW’s shift towards touchscreen controls, you still get physical buttons for the most commonly used functions. This means you can adjust key settings without taking your eyes off the road, something every driver will appreciate.

Then there’s the BMW Interactive Light Bar, running across the dashboard and doors, adding a sci-fi-inspired glow throughout the cabin. It’s largely aesthetic with the exception of lock and climate controls situated on it), but it does make the car feel more high-tech and luxurious.

And of course, the main reason anyone buys a wagon—the boot space. To be more precise, 570 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 1,700 litres with the 40-20-40 split-fold seats laid flat.

But while most of the materials in the cabin feel premium and well-built, there’s one glaring omission—the signal stalk.

To put it bluntly, it feels cheap. The plastic is light, hollow and completely lacks heft. Brush your fingers against it, and it feels like a toy made from the least possible amount of plastic. This is my only gripe about this BMW.

Does it look good on the outside?

The design of the BMW i5 Touring strikes a rare balance—it looks elegant as a city dweller, effortlessly blending into upscale urban settings with its sleek lines and modern proportions.

At night, it transforms into something even sexier, with its sharp LED lighting and the signature BMW glow giving it undeniable road presence.

At the same time, the long, muscular stance and practical wagon shape give it a subtle ruggedness, making it look just as at home pulling up to a workshop as it does in a high-end shopping district.

Quiet Flex

Now, I’m not talking about the car’s quietness as an EV or its flexibility as a wagon. I’m talking about its price.

At S$415,888 (as of 6 Feb 2025), this is far from being an affordable car. In fact, you could buy a moderately well-situated four-bedroom HDB flat for the same money. Yet, to the untrained eye, it looks like just another BMW. It looks expensive, sure—but does it look S$415,888 expensive? Probably not.

And that’s exactly the point. If you know, you know. Quiet luxury is the trend now. Buying this car is like wearing a $100,000 watch that only true watch collectors recognise. It’s not about shouting for attention—it’s about quiet confidence, subtle sophistication and knowing you’ve got something special without needing validation.

That’s the true essence of a quiet flex.

The Final Takeaway

So, if you love cars, enjoy spirited driving, and refuse to let starting a family drain the joy out of being behind the wheel, this might just be the perfect car for you. It handles better than an SUV while offering just as much, if not more, space. You get best-in-class driving dynamics, solid performance, and that unmistakable BMW sheer driving pleasure—all without sacrificing practicality.

At its high price tag though, just make sure you can afford the instalment without triggering a divorce.

Key Figures

Battery Capacity	81.2 kWh (Lithium-ion)
Range (WLTP)	548 km
Torque	400 Nm
Power	250 kW (335bhp) 0-100km/h in 6.1s
Boot Space	570 – 1700 L
Price (with COE)	S$ 415,888 (Feb 2025)

 

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