Compare the2025 BMW i5VS 2025 Lexus ES

The i5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The ES doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The i5’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The ES doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the i5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning with Brake Intervention, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the i5 and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The BMW i5 weighs 1179 to 1557 pounds more than the Lexus ES. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The i5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the ES’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i5 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 43 percent more BMW dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the i5’s warranty.

The i5 has more powerful engines than the ES:

As tested in Motor Trend the i5 eDrive40 electric motor is faster than the Lexus ES:

On the EPA test cycle the i5 gets better mileage than the ES:

The i5 can travel with zero emissions for 239 to 295 miles (dependent on model). The ES has to start its internal combustion engine after only 1.6 miles.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the i5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the ES Hybrid.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW i5 higher (10 out of 10) than the Lexus ES (4 to 6). This means the i5 produces up to 25 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ES every 15,000 miles.

The i5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ES doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the i5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

The i5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES are solid, not vented.

The i5 stops much shorter than the ES:

For better traction, the i5 has larger standard tires than the ES (245/45R19 vs. 215/55R17). The i5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (F:255/35R21 & R:285/30R21 vs. 235/45R18).

The i5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The i5’s optional 255/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the ES F Sport’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the i5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES. The i5’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the ES F Sport.

The i5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The i5 M60 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The ES doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The i5 M60 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the ES.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i5’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the ES (117.9 inches vs. 113 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the i5 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ES.

The i5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the ES’ (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the i5 more stable handling and braking.

The i5 M60 xDrive handles at .96 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The i5 M60 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 4.5 seconds quicker than the ES 300h (23.9 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The i5 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

The i5 has a much larger trunk than the ES (17.3 vs. 13.9 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the i5’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the ES’ useful trunk space.

The i5’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the ES, the i5 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The i5’s standard Comfort Exit raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the ES.

The i5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The ES’ optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The i5’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The BMW i5 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the ES.

The i5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the ES. The i5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES.

The i5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the ES.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW i5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the ES.

The i5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The ES doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW i5 and the Lexus ES, based on reliability, safety and performance.