17/05/2026

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026

To get the full 340PS, flick this paddle.

BMW’s interaction bar can be quite bright at night.

an executive ambience that feels suitably modern. The return of the panoramic glass roof also helps. BMW’s OS 8.5 isn’t my favourite to use, mainly due to the widgets looking like Android phones a decade ago and it’s touch-screen biased, so the rotary knob feels like secondary control. But just as before, not everything inside matches the asking price. Some of the lower plastics and certain touchpoints still do not feel expensive enough for a car costing close to RM400,000 with BSRI. This was true of the earlier imported car, and it remains true here. This is where the market has become more challenging for BMW. The i5 still counters with better engineering depth and a more complete driving experience than many newer EVs, but some rivals now do a better job of delivering that immediate sense of luxury and wow fac tor for less money. Plusher materials, more dramatic cabins, more obvious gadgetry. BMW’s response is not to beat them at their own game, but to remind you that polish is more than just what you can see and touch in the first five minutes. Everything about how it has been cali brated feels considered. The throttle is smooth, the body control is excellent, and the rear-axle steering helps disguise the car’s size without drawing attention to itself. It is one of those cars that does not need to shout about its engineering because you feel it in the way it settles over a bump, the way it changes direc tion, and the way it stays composed when lesser cars might start to feel heavy or unsettled. THE VERDICT The 2026 BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro CKD is still one of the most complete executive EVs you can buy if you care about how a car actually drives. It still feels like a BMW, it still rides beautifully,

BMW OS 8.5 feels more intuitive to use via touch than the rotary knob.

and it still sets the benchmark for how to tune a big electric sedan. Its cabin quality remains a little incon sistent in places, and some newer entrants may offer a stronger luxury impression for less, but as a complete driver’s car in this segment, it remains the benchmark.

B&W sound system is good, but doesn’t have the wow factor.

SPECIFICATIONS Battery: 83.9kWh NMC

Power: 340PS Torque: 430Nm

Transmission: Single-speed Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive

Charging: 22kW AC / 205kW DC PRICE (as tested): RM392,300 with BSRI We like: Superb suspension tuning, cohesive handling, natural brake and throttle calibration, strong sense of 5 Series DNA, lower CKD pricing makes it easier to justify. We don’t like: Controversial styling, some cabin materials still feel under whelming for the price, newer EV rivals offer a stronger luxury impres sion for less.