BMW’s design team seems a little restless. In just the past few years, they have unveiled (and started to roll back) massive changes to its classic and beloved kidney grille, launched concept designs for future cars like the Vision Neue Klasse, and released crazy-looking vehicles like the BMW XM. But between those headline-making announcements, the company has also been plugging away at new and modern vehicles that both push BMW design forward, while remaining true to what drivers have loved from BMWs of the past – and there’s perhaps no better embodiment of that than the BMW i5 EV.

What’s Old Is New Again

After BMW started rolling out new cars with oversized kidney grilles, the backlash was immediate. While the kidney grille is an iconic aspect of BMW design, many fans hated the company taking that design element and stretching it to oversized proportions. Thankfully, the all-electric BMW i5 retains a much more classic look, at least in overall shape.

The “sportier” grille on the BMW i5 M60

The car is actually available with two kidney grille designs – depending on the trim you get. The higher-end i5 M60 that I recently drove has a slightly sportier kidney grille that has accent lighting around it. Sure, the accent lighting is a little over the top – but you can turn it off in the car’s settings, if you so choose. That grille is coupled with a secondary lower grille. The i5 eDrive40 variant is a little more traditional, with a standard kidney grille and no lower grille at all – a look that I actually prefer.

The overall shape of the car as a whole is very BMW too. The vehicle has a long nose and short rear, with a slight curve at the front that culminates in the slanted, slim headlights. The headlights look great – mean looking and stylish, without being too thin, like those on the iX.

Rear of the BMW i5 M60

The i5 that I drove came in the stunning Brooklyn Grey Metallic – a finish that could well be my favorite BMW color. It isn’t quite as vibrant as some of the bright blue BMW colors out there, but it retains the overall feel of a white BMW while looking slightly more modern.

What’s New Is… New

There’s no doubt that the exterior of the BMW i5 is designed to look and feel like classic BMWs while adding some modern flares. Step inside the vehicle, however, and you’ll find a much bolder approach to updating design.

Some of this is great news for modern drivers. The i5 features a large and vibrant 14.9-inch infotainment display, which is stunning. That’s not to mention the beautiful stitched leather upholstery that adorns the seats, center console, and elements of the dashboard. And, I really like the accent lighting that stretches across the front of the interior, even if it can feel a little gaudy at times.

The crystal control knob in the BMW i5

But it’s not all good news. Like other modern carmakers, BMW has removed physical climate controls in favor of mostly digital ones. This isn’t always a bad decision – some carmakers have designed their software in a way that allows drivers to always have access to climate controls, no matter what is being shown on the screen. BMW has not taken this approach, which, frankly, is the bare minimum. Drivers will have to tap at least a few times to make the changes that they want to make – and when your software is sluggish at the best of times, that’s not only frustrating, it can verge on becoming downright dangerous.

Some of the interior design I’m neutral about. Everyone seemingly has an opinion on the crystal knob in the center console for software controls, but I just… don’t. I don’t use it – instead sticking with using the touch screen. But, I also don’t hate it.

The Future of BMW Design

It’s a little unclear exactly where BMW will go from here. However, the company did offer some insight into the future of its design through the Vision Neue Klasse concepts that it recently released.

Look closely and you’ll notice a physical grille work has been replaced by layers of light to conjure the identifiable hallmarks of the BMW kidney grille, an effect modernized by the diagonal slash of two headlights at each corner.

Obviously, unlike the i5, Vision Neue Klasse is just a concept, and there’s no reason to expect that BMW is going to release a car that looks much like those any time soon. But if it does move in that direction, hopefully it retains what drivers have long loved about BMW vehicles and keeps functionality in mind, especially when it comes to things like easily accessible physical controls.

For more information on the BMW i5, head to bmwusa.com.

Christian de Looper is a consumer tech reporter based in sunny Santa Cruz, California. Christian has reported on tech for over 10 years, with bylines in many of the largest tech publications, including Digital Trends, Forbes, CNN Underscored, Tom’s Guide, and PCMag. Christian has an obsession with how tech companies balance great design with great functionality, and lives at home with his wife, daughter, and cat.