Overview
- BMW has introduced the i5 Long Wheelbase in India and begun deliveries of the eDrive35L M Sport, which is priced at Rs 79.60 lakh.
- The car adds 110 mm of wheelbase and rear air suspension to create a notably more spacious and plush rear cabin aimed at passengers rather than drivers.
- BMW equips the i5 LWB with an 81.6 kWh battery, a rear motor with 410 Nm of torque, and a claimed range of up to 669 km under the MIDC cycle.
- Road tests praise the rear comfort, ride quality and tech-rich cabin but note practical trade-offs including a reduced usable boot because of a space-saver spare, no outer-seat recline, and raised centre seating due to the battery tunnel.
- Reviewers found the i5 LWB less engaging to drive than the petrol 530Li, citing slightly slower acceleration and an unnatural feel in the brake and regen transition, and the model fits BMW India’s wider push for long-wheelbase, electrified products that now make up a growing share of sales.