Bigger, sleeker, and now boasting fully-electric power for the first time - this is the new and updated BMW 5 Series Touring estate.
BMW revealed its facelifted 5 Series Saloon late last year, a vehicle that covers all bases with petrol, plug-in hybrid and 'i5' electric powertrains.
And now it’s the turn of the 5 Series Touring as the Saloon’s more practical sibling steps into the limelight.
The first thing you need to know is that the 5 Series Touring has grown in size, a move that ‘emphasises its dynamically stretched proportions’ while ‘increasing the amount of space available in both rows of seats’, says BMW.
The Touring also has the longest wheelbase in its class, which means more leg, shoulder and elbow room in the rear while you also get a large 570-litre boot. That luggage space just beats one of the Touring’s biggest rivals, the Volvo V90, which weighs-in with a 560-litre boot.
The regular, petrol and diesel-powered 5 Series Touring will be available in the Autumn of this year and we don’t yet know much about it. But it’s coming.
The fully-electric Beemer estate will arrive much sooner, in May of this year, while the plug-in hybrid Touring will arrive fashionably late at the back end of this year.
So, it’s the fully-electric i5 Touring that you can get excited about first.
It’ll initially be offered in two different guises - the entry-level BMW i5 Touring ‘eDrive40’, or the performance BMW i5 Touring M60.
The eDrive40 gets power of 340 hp, 400 Nm of torque, and a range of up to 348 miles between charges, courtesy of a 81.2 kWh battery.
There aren’t that many electric estates on the leasing market right now so it’s tough to compare it with competitors but the incoming Volkswagen ID.7 Touring is expected to have a range of around 382 miles.
The more potent i5 Touring M60, meanwhile, has less range, at up to 314 miles, but gets MUCH more power, at 601 hp and 795 Nm.
It’s enough to see the electric 5 Series estate accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and then on to a top speed of 143 mph. And it means the estate i5 M60 is almost as quick off the mark as the petrol-powered M3 Competition Touring, which hits 62mph in 3.6 seconds.
Besides the range-topping M60, which is classed as its own trim level, there are three other grades to choose from; Sport Edition, M Sport, M Sport Pro.
You can expect standard features such as 19-inch alloys and vegan upholstery, while the M60 adds larger 20-inch alloys and goodies like a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with up to 18 loudspeakers.
The BMW i5 Touring and the plug-in hybrid models also feature rear-axle air suspension, including automatic self-levelling to help smooth-out the UK’s potholed roads.
The electric 5 Series Touring supports charging at up to 205 kW, which should make energy replenishes relatively rapid.
At the heart of all versions of the 5 Series Touring is BMW’s ‘Curved Display’, which comprises a 12.3-inch dash display and a 14.9 inch infotainment touchscreen. Sport seats are fitted as standard, as is a new flat-bottomed steering wheel.
You can also expect a full suite of driver assistance and safety tech, including Parking Assistant with start monitoring, Trailer Assistant and Reversing Assist Camera, all fitted as standard.
Prices for the BMW i5 Touring begin at £69,040, with leasing prices to be announced shortly. Watch this space.
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