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BMW i5 vs VW ID.7
Selected trimeDrive40 M SportChange trim357 mi · 83.9 kWh · £67,795
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW i5 leads on charging speed, while the VW ID.7 leads on value for money, family practicality and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW i5 if...
- you need the fastest charging of these options
Choose the VW ID.7 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.7 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueVW
BMW
5.6
VW
6.5
Motorway Range
BMW
5.4
VW
5.8
Too close to call
FamilyVW
BMW
7.6
VW
8.4
ChargingBMW
BMW
5.2
VW
4.1
Cost Per MileVW
BMW
6.4
VW
7.1
City DrivingVW
BMW
1.3
VW
3.2
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
VW ID.7
Length
BMW i55,060mm
VW ID.74,961mm-99mm
Width
BMW i51,900mm
VW ID.71,862mm-38mm
Height
BMW i51,515mm-21mm
VW ID.71,536mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
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.
VW ID.7
- Boot space of 532 L is bigger than 85% of saloon EVs we track.
- Uses 142 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 90% of saloon EVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport |  VW ID.7 Pro Match Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.06m | 4.96m-99mm |
| Width | 1.90m | 1.86m-38mm |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.54m+21mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.00m | 2.97m-24mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 490L | 532L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.3m (better) | 12.5m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,195kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 83.9kWh (better) | 77kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 357 mi | 380 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 205kW (better) | 200kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £67,795 | £51,035 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | Saloon |
| Available | 2023+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW i5eDrive40 M Sport | VW ID.7Pro Match Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 357 miles | 380 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 297 miles (better) | 281 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 205 kW (better) | 200 kW |
| Home AC charging | 22 kW (better) | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 142 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 81.2 kWh (better) | 77 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
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.
BMW i5
eDrive40 M Sport
VW ID.7
Pro Match Plus
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BMW i5
All 3 videos
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 - VW ID.7 Pro Match Plus
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant95%
Child Occupant88%
Vulnerable Road Users83%
Safety Assist80%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BMW i5
eDrive40 M Sport
Owners love
- Owners describe it as superbly refined and stable on the motorway, and more relaxing than a Tesla Model 3.
- It feels like a proper 5 Series to drive, with a composed ride and good balance for its size.
- Owners report better real-world range than they expected: about 220-280 miles in winter and over 300 in summer on the eDrive40.
Watch out for
- Many owners point to cost-cutting inside: unlined door pockets, no sill plates, one wireless charging pad and cheaper stalks than the previous 5 Series.
- It is very long and wide, which makes parking and narrow roads awkward.
- Useful equipment such as adaptive cruise control, the surround cameras and rear heated seats came in expensive option packs.
Owner tips
- Choose 19-inch wheels rather than 20-inch for range and ride.
- Check which option packs a used car has: adaptive cruise and the surround cameras were not standard.
VW ID.7
Pro Match Plus
Owners love
- Owners praise the comfort and quiet: a smooth ride (especially with DCC adaptive suspension) and a spacious, well-finished cabin with lots of rear legroom.
- Efficiency is excellent for the size: around 3.6-4.6 miles per kWh and 330-400 miles in mixed driving.
- The infotainment is much improved over earlier ID. models, with few complaints.
Watch out for
- Range drops sharply above 70 mph and in winter (about 190 miles at 75 mph in one test).
- The VW app is weak: limited journey data and awkward with more than one driver.
- UK cars lack some features offered elsewhere, such as remote parking and kick-to-open boot.
Owner tips
- Plan on 330-350 miles in real use, less on fast motorway runs and in winter.
- Smaller wheels (19 or 20 inch rather than 21) noticeably help range.
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW i5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.7
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW i5 worth the extra £16,760 over the VW ID.7?
The BMW i5 costs £16,760 more than the VW ID.7. For that premium it adds 40 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.7 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW i5 or the VW ID.7?
The VW ID.7 is £16,760 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £152 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.7 comes out roughly £16,800 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 297 miles for the BMW i5 and 281 miles for the VW ID.7 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The BMW i5 goes roughly 16 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW i5 or the VW ID.7?
The VW ID.7 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 38 mm narrower than the BMW i5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 538 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.7 and about 500 mm of total clearance for the BMW i5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW i5 or the VW ID.7?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW i5 and 84% for the VW ID.7. 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.
More BMW i5 comparisons
More VW ID.7 comparisons
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 VW ID.7 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 rank among long-range EVsWhere the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW i5 and VW ID.7 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.
GuideBuying a Used BMW i5 (2023 on): eDrive40 vs M60, Saloon vs Touring, Recalls & What to Pay
A used BMW i5 buyer’s guide: eDrive40 or M60, saloon or Touring, the option packs to check, the braking-system recall, battery warranty left, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used VW ID.7 (2024 on): Pro vs Pro S vs GTX, Fastback vs Tourer, Recalls & What to Pay
A used Volkswagen ID.7 buyer’s guide: the 77 kWh Pro, 86 kWh Pro S and GTX, fastback vs Tourer estate, the Match Plus update, recalls, warranty left, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay (nearly-new ones are a third off) and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .