BMW’s pioneering sports activity vehicle is back. And as with its predecessors, the new X5 promises to be one of the most intelligent, efficient and evolved examples of the premium SUV species to date
The evolution of the BMW X5 has been a slow but steady process. The development with each generation has been subtle, but the cumulative effect has been quite substantial. Take another look at a picture of a first-generation X5. You’ll be amazed by the metamorphoses BMW’s original SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) has undergone over the years.
For one thing, the X5 is now quite a bit bigger than it used to be. In fact, the whole X-range has grown to such an extent that the current X3 is just about the same size as the original X5. The X5’s dimensions have swollen also significantly. The latest model is 4886mm long, a whopping 226mm longer than the original X5, and 30mm longer than the outgoing model.
Its styling has also evolved. It remains similar in appearance to the previous X5, but its contours have been stretched, moulded and massaged to create a softer, more streamlined overall appearance.
The most noticeable changes to the exterior are a new one-colour kidney grille and headlight units that wrap around the front and stretch right to the border of the grille.
The front bumper design now consists of more horizontal lines, emphasising the vehicle’s wide stance.
Inside, this design focus on horizontal lines is also immediately obvious. The dash appears quite wide and flat, emphasising the width of the interior. An HD flatscreen sits atop the dash, above the centre console.
What is probably most interesting about the new X5’s exterior and interior is that both elements now offer loads of personalisation options.
Two new “design worlds” for the exterior and interior of the new BMW X5 can be ordered as an alternative to the standard specification. The Design Pure Experience options offers items such as under-body protection elements in brushed stainless steel, newly designed air-intake bars in matt silver and a rear trim strip which, like the kidney-grille bars, comes in matt silver.
Inside, it offers things such as Nappa leather trim, including extended features in Mocha/Black with contrast stitching, plus interior trim strips in textured high-quality wood.
The Design Pure Excellent option offers under-body protection elements and wheelarch surrounds painted in the body colour of the vehicle, black kidney-grille bars with high-gloss chrome fronts, T-shaped bars for the outer air intakes and louvres for the lower aperture, plus a chrome trim strip for the rear apron and chrome adornments for the side windows. The exterior mirror bases, B-pillars and C-pillars all feature high-gloss black trim.
Inside, it boasts Nappa leather trim, including extended features in Ivory White with contrast stitching, wood interior trim elements in American Oak, leather surfaces for the instrument panel, and door panels in Atlas Grey with contrast stitching. The lower section of the instrument panel comes in matching Ivory White.
Under the bonnet, five engine variants will be available. The first is the 4395cc petrol xDrive50i with a new generation of the V8 BMW engine, which offers 330 kW of power and 650 Nm of torque. The second engine is the BMW X5 xDrive30d with a revised six-cylinder in-line diesel unit that generates 190 kW and 560 Nm of torque. The 30d is joined by the xDrive 40d, which provides 230 kW and 630 Nm of torque. The second petrol mill is the xDrive 35i, which boasts 225 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque. The final engine is the BMW X5 M50d M performance oilburner with tri-turbo six-cylinder in-line engine, which offers 280 kW and 740 Nm of torque. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic shifter.
PRICING | xDrive35i | xDrive30d | xDrive40d | xDrive50i | M50d |
STANDARD | 762 000 | 777 000 | 881 500 | 972 000 | 1 026 000 |
EXCELLENCE | 777 200 | 792 200 | 892 300 | 982 800 | NA |
EXPERIENCE | 782 500 | 797 500 | 898 200 | 988 700 | NA |
M SPORT | 808 000 | 823 000 | 919 000 | 989 900 | NA |