The M60 is the high-performance version of the BMW i5. This electric car is available as a saloon or an estate – we’ve been driving the more practical five-door version. It’s a mighty quick machine, with four-wheel drive and a kerbweight of almost 2.5 tonnes. So, how well does the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring tow?

Does it offer something that the less extreme i5 models don’t and is it among the best electric tow cars? Let’s put it to the test and find out.

Towing ability

There are some big numbers on the i5 Touring’s spec sheet. It weighs 2425kg and has a 2000kg towing capacity, which is high for an electric car. The real eyebrow-raisers are the 601hp power output and 605 lb ft of torque. But the 80kg noseweight is on the low side for a car of this size and weight.

To see how the i5 performs, we borrowed a Swift Elegance Grande 835 from Spinney in Warwickshire. With a Mass in Running Order of 1922kg, it’s one of the biggest and heaviest tourers in the Swift range, so this was a car/caravan match that would put the BMW to the test.

The BMW from the rear
It’s an estate, not an SUV, but it’s similar in terms of its weight and overall size, with all-wheel drive, too

Even so, the i5 M60 towed it with ease, which is something you’re always going to want from one of the best cars for towing a caravan. The BMW pulled up to 60mph as if it were towing a lightweight Swift Basecamp, not a big twin-axle.

The car’s power output looks intimidating, but so long as the throttle is treated with respect, it’s very easy to tow with the i5 M60, which, when you’re looking for the best tow car for a 2000kg caravan, will be something you will almost certainly look for. Most of the performance can be kept in reserve, because even with a combined weight of almost 4.5 tonnes, the two motors don’t need to work to their maximum.

Driven this way, your passengers would never know that the car has such crazy performance potential. It feels like any other upmarket electric car, with a quiet cabin at speed and impressive stability.

The dash and steering wheel
Twin screens span the dash and they are split between functional controls and entertainment

Being heavy helps, as does carrying the weight low down. It really does feel unshakeable at 60mph. If you are caught behind a slow-moving lorry on a motorway incline the BMW is back up to the motorway maximum in moments.

We had no difficulty making hill starts or pulling away from junctions. The xDrive four-wheel-drive system will help in the wet, too.

Low-speed work is excellent and the reversing camera gives a good view of the towball to begin with, but we found it switched to an overhead view just before the towball was directly under the hitch. Don’t miss our advice on reversing a caravan, either, if you want some advice on the manoeuvre.

You can also take a look at my pick of the towing equipment that can help you enjoy a stress-free time on the road.

Solo driving

The i5 M60 is capable of acceleration that’s well beyond anything you might need on the public road. Pulling a paddle behind the steering wheel activates ‘Boost’ mode, giving access to maximum power for 10 seconds. It’s a bit of a gimmick, and while the performance is undeniably jaw-dropping it’s a bit overkill for a road car.

The car comes with BMW’s ‘IconicSounds’ feature, which uses artificial noises to fill the void left by the lack of an internal combustion engine. It’s an interesting idea, but something of a love-hate feature. It can be switched off.

Without it, the i5 is commendably quiet at speed. The big wheels and tyres kick up some road noise, but not enough to disturb the cabin.

The interior in the BMW
Tan with grey leather-clad interior is an acquired taste, but there’s plenty of head- and legroom in the back for tall adults

The ride is on the firm side, as you’d expect of such a sporty car, but not uncomfortably so. As when towing, if the i5 M60 is driven smoothly and with restraint, whoever comes along for the ride won’t realise the car’s performance potential.

It is a big car, at over five metres long. As it’s an estate with a relatively low-slung driving position it’s not as easy to place the car’s extremities as it is in an SUV. That’s not too much of an issue when parking, thanks to the front and rear sensors and cameras.

On country roads, the car’s weight takes the edge off its agility but it corners with grip and composure.

Space and practicality

There’s more than enough room inside for tall drivers, even with this model’s panoramic sunroof. With a wide range of adjustment to the seat and wheel, those of shorter stature should be just as comfortable.

The dash is dominated by the twin screens, one for driver information and one for infotainment. The displays blend together to give the appearance of one large screen. Many features are controlled through the infotainment screen. It takes a little while to find the trip computer, for example. Fortunately, the voice control function can be used for many tasks, such as adjusting the air conditioning.

The seat controls for the back seats
Passengers in the back get individual air-con and heated seat controls, plus two USB charge points for phones and kit

Passengers in the back should also be comfortable. There’s plenty of head- and legroom for adults. Four-zone air-con is standard on the M60, with separate temperature controls for the left and right sides of the rear cabin.

The boot in the BMW
Wide boot, deep sill, but as you would expect on a 5-metre car it’s a decent size, especially if you make use of the split seats

Boot space is a healthy 570 litres with the rear seats upright, which is more room for bags than in an Audi A6 e-tron Avant.

Buying and owning

At over £100,000, the i5 M60 Touring is one of the most expensive tow cars we’ve ever tested. Whether it is worth that amount depends on how much you value the staggering power and performance. We’d be inclined to look at less extreme models such as the i5 eDrive 40 priced from £70,945, although this has a 1500kg towing limit.

As the M60 sits in group 49 of 50, it will be expensive to insure. However, running costs should be low provided that you recharge at home.

The official range is 321 miles, although we achieved closer to 280 miles in solo driving. Towing the big Swift dropped that distance to 138 miles. As with any electric vehicle, the practical challenges of recharging in the middle of a towing journey remain a hurdle to overcome (see what I had to say about how to charge an EV while towing for tips on this).

Alternatives to consider

You could take a look at the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor, a luxury SUV EV which tows with stability and has a comfortable interior.

Or, if you’d be interested in an EV with a lower maximum towing limit, how about the Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD? I thought it was a superb tow car, and one that had been improved with improved range and towing capacity.

See what I made of a plug-in hybrid from BMW too, when I put the BMW 530e M Sport Pro Touring to the test recently.

Technical specification of the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring

  • Model tested: i5 M60 xDrive Touring
  • Price: £100,095
  • Kerbweight: 2425kg
  • 85% of kerbweight: Above max tow
  • Gross vehicle weight: 2960kg
  • Max towing limit: 2000kg
  • Gross train weight: 4960kg
  • Towball limit: 80kg
  • Price of towball and electrics: £1200
  • Boot size: 570-1700 litres
  • Payload: 535kg
  • Test conditions: Dry
  • Battery capacity: 81.2kWh
  • Power: 601hp
  • Torque: 586 lb ft
  • Official range: 321 miles
  • Towing range: 138 miles
  • CO2 emissions: 0g/km
  • First year car tax: £10
  • Second year car tax: £640
  • Insurance group: 49E
  • Euro NCAP overall protection rating: 5/5

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Caravan magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things caravan related.