The X5 was BMW’s first SUV, arriving in 1999 at a time when fans of the brand thought straying from sports sedans would mark its demise.
BMW even labelled the X5 a “Sports Activity Vehicle” in an attempt to distance it from the standard rugged off-roader of the era when luxury-focused SUVs were just beginning to emerge.
BMW didn’t go out of business and with more than 3.1 million sold worldwide, the X5 is one of the company’s most successful models. It’s also the latest to get its landmark “Neue Klasse” update, which is quickly expanding through the lineup.
Inside the advanced new powertrain and technology
Inside the advanced new powertrain and technology on the iX3, which charts a new course for BMW
BMW takes a big step forward with the all-electric iX3, the first of its Neue Klasse vehicles
Now in its fifth generation, the X5 gets a smaller version of the kidney grille set in a black wraparound mask that integrates the headlights and is a nod to BMW from the 1960s. The daytime running lights incorporate an “X” graphic, which can be turned off through the infotainment screen if you don’t like it.
There will be four powertrain options available,
There will be four powertrain options available, but not all right away, including an inline-6 (starting at $95,000), V8, plug-in hybrid and, for the first time, a fully electric version.
The X5 is larger and looks more muscular than the outgoing model and I think it looks the best out of the “Neue Klasse” vehicles revealed so far. It’s also heavier, more luxurious and incorporates more technology, which would seem to stray further from its original ethos of being the sports sedan of SUVs.
“It’s a completely new car but it’s still a driver’s car, and that’s what it’s always been, but we also wanted to increase the comfort for passengers,” says Christoph Kohl, a powertrain project leader for BMW.
It depends on how you option it, he
It depends on how you option it, he says, and with the breadth of powertrains on offer, a customer can have the X5 experience they want whether that orients toward sharp handling or comfort.
The electric iX5 gets 570 horsepower from dual electric motors and borrows suspension technology from the sporty BMW XM, Kohl says, including active anti-roll bars and four-wheel steering.
Despite its considerable 2,890-kilogram curb weight, much of that coming from its massive 144-kilowatt-hour battery, it feels light on its feet and tremendously quick thanks to the instantaneous application of 594 lb-ft of torque to the ground through all four of its wheels. Kohl says the “heart of joy” supercomputer combines all driving functions into one ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and greatly increases processing speed.
In dynamic mode, cornering feels nearly flat
In dynamic mode, cornering feels nearly flat with little of the typical SUV wallow owing to electronic roll stabilization. Ride quality, regardless of drive mode, is always comfortable, as it should be.
The battery, which is the company’s largest so far, is a product of customers wanting more range, Kohl says. It has the capability of charging at peak speeds approaching 460 kilowatts, which is faster than anything currently available in Canada. At that speed, it can replenish 273 kilometres of range in 10 minutes. Total range hasn’t been officially confirmed but is expected to come in at more than 730 kilometres.
The electric iX5 will serve as the current top trim, but the X5 40 xDrive, which is powered by an updated three-litre turbocharged inline-6 combined with a 48-volt mild hybrid system is expected to be the volume seller in Canada.
The B58 inline-6 gets bigger turbos, new intercoolers
The B58 inline-6 gets bigger turbos, new intercoolers and a new cylinder head and makes 394 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque but was still remarkably fuel efficient during our rather spirited drive slicing up and down the arid mountains near Borrego Springs in southern California.
The biggest changes with X5 come inside. There’s completely new dashboard that gets rid of the gauge cluster and ubiquitous BMW rotary controller and replaces it with the “panoramic vision” display, which is a sharp projection at the base of the windshield stretching from pillar to pillar.
The large centre screen is positioned close to the driver and is ergonomically shaped to make it easier to reach and, for the first time, there’s an optional passenger screen. The panoramic display is split into three sections with the one closest to driver meant to take the place of a gauge cluster. The other two sections are customizable from a set of widgets that will continue to grow and include items such as weather, altitude, tire pressures and an AI-based assistant. The new operating system is easy to use but I miss the old tactile rotary controller and wish there were more physical buttons.
There’s more space inside for passengers and cargo
There’s more space inside for passengers and cargo than in the iX3, the seats are plusher and you can get soft pillows for the rear headrest and armrest. The model we drove had leather and microsuede on the doors and dashboard, magnetic phone chargers for front and rear passengers and magnetic phone/tablet mounts that can be attached to the back of the front seats.
It also seems that every luxury car maker has been trying to reinvent the door handle. The X5 gets new pressure activated handles on the door pillars that BMW says is a modern interpretation. “It helps maintain the character lines [in the side profile] without any breaks or disturbances,” says Maximilian Huber, a product manager for BMW.
Automatic doors, he says, which are an option on the new X5, were another reason for the electric handles. The doors can be activated by pushing on the handles instead of pulling, and the driver’s door can be closed by stepping on the brake pedal. A convenience I never knew I needed. You can also open and close all four doors at the same time from the infotainment screen and, in case of an electrical failure, there are easily accessible manual door handles under the armrest.
The X5’s split-tailgate is also missing here,
The X5’s split-tailgate is also missing here, a decision BMW knows might not go down so well with some.
Kohl says some customers loved it because they could use it as a seating area and others didn’t because loading cargo was difficult whether the bottom portion was open or closed. “So we changed it, but we designed the rear so that it’s still possible to tailgate and sit inside the cargo area,” he says.
All versions of the new X5 will be built at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. The iX5 doesn’t have a confirmed arrival date for Canada but will begin global production in December. The plug-in hybrid version and V8 are coming next year.
Tech specs
- Base price: $95,000
- Engine: Three-litre turbocharged inline-6
- Horsepower/torque (lb-ft): 394/428
- Transmission/drive: Eight-speed automatic/all-wheel drive
- Curb weight: 2,366 kilograms
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 9.6 city, 8.4 highway, 9.1 combined
- Alternatives:Mercedes GLE, Lexus RX and TX, Audi Q7
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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