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The BMW press cars are parked in a functional, completely dark grey hall in Garching near Munich. Our test car sits next to the somewhat obese iX, the chunky i7 and the i4 with the buck teeth. The i5 is perhaps the first BMW in a long time that is actually pretty.

Although the kidney grille design remains massive, it is more pleasing and finely drawn. The proportions fit. Everything looks more like a classic BMW again.



Amid all the design experiments we have seen from Munich in recent years, the i5 is a lovely ray of hope. It seems to be heading in the right direction. As different as the current BMWs appear on the outside, they are very similar on the inside: Lots of crystal look, (too) much glossy plastic, but still a very high-quality finish.

The buttons on the left of the steering wheel control the assistance systems, while the infotainment, speedometer and head-up display are on the right. The speedometer display is flush with the wide central display, which can still be operated using the familiar rotary-push control. Unfortunately, the iDrive buttons are no longer haptic buttons with a matt finish, but a large, shiny, greasy surface.

The seating comfort is decent, especially in the rear seat, which is often neglected in other electric saloons. Due to the battery being built into the floor, many manufacturers sacrifice either legroom or headroom for rear-seat passengers. The i5, on the other hand, has a neat thigh rest, a good leg angle, plenty of headroom and sufficien.

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