Our favourite cars of 2024: BMW i5 Touring

I wouldn’t person guessed my car of the twelvemonth would beryllium a 2.5-tonne electrical estate. 

But our BMW i5 Touring long-term trial car near specified an content connected maine that I genuinely judge it is the car to sway any electrical naysayers. I'll concede that it'll person its enactment chopped retired doing that, with a starting terms of £70,000, but perceive maine out. 

Firstly, the top-link M60 wagon offers a fantastic and precise usable real-world scope of astir 280 miles, which meant I could thrust from Bristol to Southampton and backmost and inactive person capable to pootle astir earlier needing different top-up. 

Secondly, it’s large connected B-roads, with 592bhp connected pat and brilliantly composed handling. But, dissimilar different ultra-fast EVs, the twin-motor powertrain deploys its reserves smoothly and manageably, successful a mode that feels reminiscent of its petrol-powered M siblings.

Finally, it’s got capable abstraction for a household of 5 and each the kit needed for a play distant successful due comfort. That means nary pushing and shoving successful the back, and nary request for putting bags connected laps. And successful range-topping (and, yes, £111,000) M60 spec, it is decently luxurious – arsenic it should be. 

So the i5 Touring kills the conception of scope anxiety, brings a grin to the look of anyone driving it and tin beryllium utilized for a play getaway for the full rabble. This truly does consciousness similar the car that shows the precise champion of what EVs tin be.