ELECTRIC ESTATES

See, it's not all SUVs in the electric era. Audi's new A6 Avant e-tron goes toe to toe with BMW's i5 Touring

- OLLIE KE

Close run battle, this. And that's not a surprise, is it? For all recorded time, comparing big German bizniz barges has been like agonising over shades of off-white in the paint aisle. The BMW 530d M Sport Almond Ivory... or the Audi A6 S line Elephant's Breath? Sorry love, better grab a tester pot to be sure we don't prefer Mercedes E-Class AMG Line Waiting Room Beige.

But it is incredible how equal the latest evolutions of A6 and 5-Series are, because here we have the two polar opposite views the car industry is currently arguing over - how to build an EV.

Option one: BMW's one size fits all masterplan. Build a car to accept every powertrain choice going. Into this immense, awkwardly angular bodyshell, BMW stuffs petrol and diesel engines, hybrids, or this totally electric solution, the i5.

That's why you sit a little bit higher than you're used to in a 5-Series - because about 300kg of cells need room to lie down. It's why this car is punctured by grilles - in case this body contained an engine. It also explains the XXL overhangs and traditionally long bonnet (with no front boot stowage beneath it, meaning the charging cables get in the way of shopping and knot the dog's legs). And the 'classic' plutobarge look means the aero is none too clever.

So there are compromises, and not just for the i5. All 5-Series (including the infamously porky M5) are now stupidly heavy, because the basic structure has been armour plated in case it needs to carry monumental e-flab.

But the upshot is BMW only has to build one car called a 5-Series. The factory is happy, the badging department is pleased, and you don't need a treasure map to negotiate BMW's website.