With its eighth generation (G60), BMW's legendary 5 Series gained a fully electric version for the first time in its history: the BMW i5. One of the most ambitious players in the premium electric sedan market, the i5 takes on rivals like the Mercedes EQE and Tesla Model S with the 5 Series' handling heritage and BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology. So how much range does the i5 actually deliver in real-world use, how long does it take — and how much does it cost — to charge at public stations in Turkey, and where does the current price tag stand? In this review, we cover all of it with concrete numbers.

The BMW i5 Lineup: Which Versions Are Available?

In Turkey, the BMW i5 is sold primarily with two main powertrain options:

i5 eDrive40: The rear-wheel-drive, single-motor entry version. It produces 340 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, completing the 0–100 km/h sprint in 6.0 seconds.
i5 xDrive40: The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version. It delivers 394 horsepower and 590 Nm of torque, with a 0–100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds. The Touring (station wagon) body style also comes with this powertrain.

Above these sits the i5 M60 xDrive, which has appeared on Turkish price lists at various times: with over 600 horsepower, it is the electric representative of the M performance family.

Both main versions share the same battery: 81.2 kWh of net usable capacity. That's above the class average, and it forms the foundation of the i5's long-distance character.

Range: On Paper and in the Real World

WLTP Figures

i5 eDrive40: 497–582 km (depending on wheel size and equipment)
i5 xDrive40: 487–581 km
i5 xDrive40 Touring: 468–561 km

Thanks to the efficiency of its single motor, the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 is the range champion of the family. With 19-inch wheels and standard equipment, its WLTP figure approaches 580 km — which, on paper, means it can comfortably cover the Istanbul–Ankara route on a single charge.

Real-World Expectations

WLTP figures reflect laboratory conditions; in real-world use, consumption varies with temperature, speed and driving style. For a premium sedan in the 2.2-tonne class like the i5, a realistic average consumption is around 17–20 kWh/100 km. Based on that:

City and mixed driving: roughly 420–480 km
Highway cruising at 120–130 km/h: roughly 350–400 km
Winter conditions: expect an additional range drop of around 15–25%

In short, the i5 is an electric sedan that can comfortably deliver over 400 km in real life — genuinely fit for long-distance travel.

Charging Performance: How Fast Does the i5 Charge?

One of the i5's strongest cards is on the charging side. The technical specs:

DC fast charging (maximum): 205 kW
10% → 80% DC charging time: around 30 minutes (at a sufficiently powerful station)
AC charging: 11 kW standard (22 kW optional)
Range gained from a 10-minute DC charge: approximately 150 km, according to BMW

The 205 kW peak power makes the i5 one of the fastest-charging vehicles among 400-volt-architecture cars. But keep in mind that to receive that power, the station also needs a DC unit that supports at least that level; if you plug into a 60 kW charger, no matter how capable the car is, you won't exceed 60 kW.

Time and Cost at Public Stations in Turkey

Let's make it concrete. Charging the i5 from 10% to 80% means 70% of the 81.2 kWh net battery: around 57 kWh of energy. Using current per-kWh rates on Turkey's public charging networks (taking ADZE Charge tariffs as an example: AC 9.40 TL/kWh, DC 40–60 kW 12.40 TL/kWh, DC 120–200 kW 13.40 TL/kWh), the math works out as follows:

Station Type	Power	10%→80% Time	Approx. Cost
DC fast charging	120–200 kW	~30 minutes	~765 TL
DC mid-power	40–60 kW	~1 hour	~705 TL
AC (car draws 11 kW)	11 kW	~5 hours 15 min	~535 TL

A few practical takeaways:

On long trips: At a DC station above 150 kW, you can go from 10% to 80% in the time it takes for a coffee break (~30 min); the cost is around 765 TL, and the range gained is roughly 300 km in real-world use.
Cost per 100 km: At ~18 kWh/100 km consumption, that's around 240 TL with DC fast charging and around 170 TL with AC. Considering that a similarly sized petrol sedan's fuel cost per 100 km is significantly higher at current fuel prices, the running-cost advantage is clear.
AC charging at home or work: Reaching a full battery from empty with 11 kW AC overnight takes about 7.5–8 hours. This is the most economical scenario for routine use; saving DC fast charging for long trips is the right strategy for both your budget and battery health.

Note: Charging networks update their per-kWh rates from time to time; it's worth checking your network's current tariff in the app before setting off.

eDrive40 or xDrive40? A Comparison

Feature	i5 eDrive40	i5 xDrive40
Power	340 hp	394 hp
Torque	400 Nm	590 Nm
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive	All-wheel drive (xDrive)
0–100 km/h	6.0 s	5.4 s
Battery (net)	81.2 kWh	81.2 kWh
WLTP range	497–582 km	487–581 km
DC charging (max)	205 kW	205 kW
Price (2026, M Sport)	~6.94 million TL	~7.75 million TL

The table tells a clear story: the two versions share the same battery and the same charging hardware; the differences lie in power, drivetrain and price. If range is your priority and all-wheel drive isn't essential for snow and ice, the eDrive40 makes the sensible choice with both longer range and a price roughly 800,000 TL lower. For those living in harsh winter conditions that all-season tires can't handle, and those wanting more dynamic performance, the xDrive40's 590 Nm of torque is convincing.

Turkey Prices: The Current Picture

According to official price lists announced in 2026, the BMW i5 lineup's Turkey prices are at the following levels (April 2026 list):

i5 eDrive40 M Sport: 6,940,900 TL
i5 eDrive40 Edition M Sport: 7,372,800 TL
i5 xDrive40 M Sport: 7,751,700 TL
i5 xDrive40 Edition M Sport: 8,154,600 TL
i5 xDrive40 Touring M Sport: 7,915,300 TL
i5 xDrive40 Touring Edition M Sport: 8,318,800 TL

BMW Turkey updates its price lists monthly, and changes can occur during the year depending on exchange rates and the special consumption tax (ÖTV) base; confirming the current list with a dealer before purchase is a must. Additionally, the lower motor vehicle tax (MTV) for electric cars compared to equivalent petrol models, and the reduced maintenance items (no oil, filters, timing belt and so on), create a balance in total cost of ownership that goes beyond the sticker price.

Driving and Living With It: Is the 5 Series Character Intact?

The most-asked question about the i5 is whether the electric transformation has diluted the 5 Series' "driver's car" identity. The short answer: no. With its center of gravity kept low thanks to the floor-mounted battery, the i5 preserves the classic BMW balance in the rear-wheel-drive eDrive40. The adaptive suspension successfully disguises the 2.2-tonne mass in corners.

Inside, the curved panel combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen (BMW Curved Display) comes with the iDrive 8.5 interface. Rear legroom does justice to the long wheelbase (2,995 mm); boot capacity is 490 liters in the sedan and 570 liters in the Touring. The one point of criticism is the lack of a front trunk (frunk) in the electric version — you use the underfloor boot compartment for charging cables.

Who Is It the Right Choice For?

To sum up the BMW i5:

Pros: WLTP range of up to 582 km, one of the fastest-charging cars in its class at 205 kW, 5 Series comfort and driving quality, a strong equipment list
Cons: a price tag beyond the 7 million TL mark, weight exceeding 2.2 tonnes, no front trunk

For a driver covering 50–100 km daily, with AC charging available at home or work, and taking intercity trips a few times a month, the i5 offers a package that effectively eliminates range anxiety. Thanks to Turkey's rapidly growing DC fast-charging infrastructure, routes like Istanbul–Ankara and Istanbul–Izmir can easily be planned with a single stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many km does the BMW i5 really go on a full charge? The WLTP figure ranges from 468 to 582 km depending on the version. In real-world use, expect roughly 420–480 km in mixed driving and about 350–400 km cruising at 120–130 km/h on the highway. A drop of around 15–25% from these figures is normal in winter.

How long does the BMW i5 take to charge at a public station? At a DC fast-charging station of 150 kW or more, it goes from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes (the car's supported peak is 205 kW). The same charge takes about 1 hour on a 40–60 kW DC unit and over 5 hours on an 11 kW AC socket.

How much does it cost to charge a BMW i5? Going from 10% to 80% requires around 57 kWh of energy. At current public charging tariffs, that comes to roughly 765 TL with DC fast charging and about 535 TL with AC. Cost per 100 km is around 240 TL on DC and around 170 TL on AC; tariffs may change over time.

How much does the BMW i5 cost in Turkey? According to 2026 price lists, the entry version i5 eDrive40 M Sport starts at around 6.94 million TL; the xDrive40 M Sport is around 7.75 million TL, while the Touring-bodied versions sit in the 7.9–8.3 million TL band. Since prices are updated monthly, confirm the current list with a dealer.

Conclusion

The BMW i5 carries the 5 Series' half-century sedan tradition into the electric era while raising the bar for its class in range, charging speed and driving quality; with its 81.2 kWh battery and 205 kW charging capability, it feels right at home on Turkey's long highways. On your journeys, you can charge your i5 in minutes at ADZE Charge stations, serving all across Turkey with more than 50 locations and over 850 sockets.

Cover image: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

BMW i5 Electric Review: Range, Charging Time and Turkey Pricing