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BMW i5 vs BMW i7
Selected trimeDrive40 M SportChange trim357 mi · 83.9 kWh · £67,795
Selected trim50 xDriveChange trim452 mi · Not available · £104,230
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW i5 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the BMW i7 stays competitive across the board.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW i5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW i5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
Valuei5
i5
5.6
i7
4.2
Motorway Rangei5
i5
5.4
i7
4.6
Familyi5
i5
7.6
i7
3.6
Chargingi5
i5
5.2
i7
4.3
Cost Per Milei5
i5
6.4
i7
0
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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BMW i5
BMW i7
Length
BMW i55,060mm-331mm
BMW i75,391mm
Width
BMW i51,900mm-50mm
BMW i71,950mm
Height
BMW i51,515mm-29mm
BMW i71,544mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW i5eDrive40 M Sport | BMW i750 xDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,060 mm | 5,391 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,900 mm (better) | 1,950 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,192 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,544 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.3 m (better) | 13.1 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 500 mm spare (better) | 450 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW i5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
BMW i7
- At 5,391 mm, longer than 100% of saloon EVs we track.
- 452 mile WLTP range, longer than 85% of saloon EVs we track.
- 3,215 mm wheelbase, longer than 100% of saloon EVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport |  BMW i7 50 xDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.06m | 5.39m+331mm |
| Width | 1.90m | 1.95m+50mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.19m |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.54m+29mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.00m | 3.21m+220mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 490L | 500L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.3m (better) | 13.1m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,195kg (better) | 2,715kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 83.9kWh | Not available |
| Range (WLTP) | 357 mi | 452 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 205kW | 250kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £67,795 (better) | £104,230 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2023+ | 2026+ |
* BMW i7: Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-05. Limited-production / halo / pre-launch / new-brand models are typically rated some time after general sale.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW i5eDrive40 M Sport | BMW i750 xDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 357 miles | 452 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 297 miles | 362 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min (better) | 34 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 205 kW | 250 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 22 kW (better) | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 81.2 kWh | Not available |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BMW i5
eDrive40 M Sport
BMW i7
50 xDrive
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users86%
Safety Assist78%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - BMW i7 50 xDrive
BMW i7 50 xDrive
Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-05. Limited-production / halo / pre-launch / new-brand models are typically rated some time after general sale.
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW i5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
BMW i7
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW i7 worth the extra £36,435 over the BMW i5?
The BMW i7 costs £36,435 more than the BMW i5. For that premium it adds 95 miles more WLTP range, 45 kW faster peak rapid charging and 85 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW i5 comes out ahead overall.
What are the BMW i5 and BMW i7 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 297 miles for the BMW i5 and 362 miles for the BMW i7 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BMW i7 goes roughly 65 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-34 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW i5 or the BMW i7?
The BMW i5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 50 mm narrower than the BMW i7. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 500 mm of total clearance for the BMW i5 and about 450 mm of total clearance for the BMW i7. The BMW i5 also turns in a 0.8 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW i5 or the BMW i7?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW i5 and 84% for the BMW i7. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among long-range EVsWhere the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW i5 and BMW i7 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .