- The revised BMW i5 promises an 8-9% efficiency improvement thanks to several smaller upgrades.
- Depending on the version, the WLTP range will increase by up to 29 miles (47 km). EPA figures aren’t out yet.
- BMW is also upgrading the onboard charger in its plug-in hybrids, which will make charging them quicker.
We liked the BMW i5 a lot as both a wagon and a sedan, but found it could do with a bit more range. BMW must have been listening, because 2025 i5s are getting a range boost. Starting this March, all i5s will get efficiency improvements that improve range across the board.
The i5’s WLTP range will go up by as much as 29 miles (47 kilometers) thanks to 9% improvement in efficiency. BMW has not released EPA figures for the new models, but we do expect these upgrades to affect U.S.-market i5s as well. But BMW still hasn’t announced any plans to bring the wagon to the States, so don’t hold your breath there.
Much of the newfound efficiency comes from silicon carbide semiconductors in the car’s power electronics. They have improved thermal performance, can operate at higher voltages, allow better energy transmission and generally make all of the high-voltage components operate more efficiently.
BMW will also equip the revised i5 with low-rolling-resistance tires and more aerodynamic wheels/ Combined with new, optimized wheel bearings that sap less power, these upgrades help the i5 go further on a charge. It will be interesting to see the effect of the new electron-saving tires on the i5’s handling, which is known to be excellent for a vehicle in its class.
With the new 19-inch aerodynamic wheel and tire combo, the single-motor i5 eDrive40 achieves a WLTP electricity consumption figure of 18-17.9 kWh/100 km (3.45-3.47 miles/kWh), while the xDrive40 dual-motor model is rated at 19.5-19.4 kWh/100 km (3.19-3.20 miles/kWh). These figures represent 8% and 9% improvements, respectively. Note that WLTP figures tend to be optimistic, however. We’ll have to see how things shake out on the tougher EPA cycle.
BMW also added similar upgrades to the iX crossover. The 2026 iX has been restyled to keep it up to date, while the big-battery model’s EPA range has also been increased, reaching 340 miles (up from 307 miles). BMW says the new iX is 10% more efficient than the pre-refresh model.
In March 2025, BMW will also begin producing plug-in hybrids with a more powerful onboard charger. The X1, 2 Series Active Tourer, 7 Series and XM will get 11-kW onboard chargers, up from 7.4 kW. BMW says this “will result in significantly reduced charging times,” but it doesn’t say how much faster they will charge. It currently takes around two and a half hours to charge an X1 plug-in hybrid’s 18-kWh battery, so it could probably dip below the two-hour mark with the more powerful charger.
