Video: BMW i5 fares worse at moose test than the larger, heavier XM

The Spanish test crew from km77.com has posted a new review on YouTube dedicated to the all-electric MBW i5 sedan. The battery car was examined for steering ease and sudden obstacle avoidance (the so-called moose test). It somehow performed worse than the bulkier BMW XM.

During both tests, the drivers praised the car for precise and sharp handling. Perhaps even too sharp: one of the drivers admitted that one had to spend a little time to get used to the car being so direct with steering. It may be a large and heavy EV, but it feels much lighter and smaller on the road.

The slalom run succeeded in 23.9 seconds – the same time as the Abarth 500е, the BMW iX1 and the China-made BYD Han. However, while the latter two models had all-wheel drive when km77 tested them, the BMW i5 was an entry-level RWD spec.

The moose test didn’t go as well. The best result was 73 km/h (45.4 mph), still considerably below the required passing speed of 77 km/h (47.8 mph). The XM also failed at the test, but it at least hit a better top speed of 74 km/h (46 mph). Commenting on the runs, the driver pointed out that he didn’t feel the ESP interfering too much with his driving. For the most part, the sedan remained stable as is.