BMW has taken the wraps off an all-new X5, and the headline act is the first fully electric version of the big SUV, the BMW iX5.
The new X5 is the fifth generation of the car that helped establish BMW’s now hugely important SUV business when it first arrived back in 1999. This latest version brings a much sharper Neue Klasse-inspired look, an entirely redesigned interior and, for the first time, a choice of electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol, diesel and eventually hydrogen power.
UK buyers will get the all-electric iX5 60 xDrive, the X5 40d mild-hybrid diesel and two plug-in hybrids when the new model reaches showrooms in spring 2027. BMW says a hydrogen-powered iX5 will join the wider line-up later, while some overseas markets will also get a mild hybrid petrol X5. A fully electric M Performance version is also planned for further down the line.
open image in galleryThe big news for EV fans is the iX5 60 xDrive. It has a huge 141kWh battery, two electric motors, four-wheel drive and a combined output of 578bhp. BMW claims a maximum range of up to 525 miles, which would put it right at the front of the queue for long-distance electric SUVs.
Performance is suitably brisk, too, with 0-62mph taking 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. More usefully for family trips, BMW says the iX5 can charge at up to 460kW. At a suitable rapid charger, that should allow a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 23 minutes, while BMW claims up to 217 miles of extra range can be added in 10 minutes.
The iX5 will also be capable of bidirectional charging, so its battery can be used to power electrical items and potentially feed electricity back into a home or the grid, depending on the equipment and services available. It will have a 655-litre boot, expanding to 1,850 litres with the rear seats folded, plus a useful 53-litre storage space under the bonnet.
open image in galleryBMW has given the X5 a fresh look without losing the big, upright stance that has always been part of its appeal. The new car is 4,994mm long and gets a taller front end with a vertically mounted illuminated kidney grille, alongside new double-X daytime running lights.
The grille and lights form part of a new welcome sequence, while the light signature can be changed so the double-X graphics are either on display or replaced by a more conventional diagonal design. BMW has also introduced new BMW Winglet door handles, set into the pillars rather than sitting proud on the doors. They can be used to open the new electrically powered doors, while soft-close doors are available as an option.
At the back, the rear lights stretch across almost the whole width of the car, while buyers will be able to choose from 11 paint colours and wheels measuring up to 23 inches. M Sport and M Sport Pro versions will offer a more aggressive look, while the X5 M60e plug-in hybrid is the sportiest version initially confirmed for the UK.
Inside, the new X5 gets a large central screen, a new head-up display and BMW’s latest Panoramic iDrive system with information projected across the lower edge of the windscreen, similar to that in the new iX3 and i3 models. There is also an optional passenger screen, allowing the person in the front seat to watch streamed entertainment while travelling. A built-in privacy system can dim the display if the driver looks across at it.
The cabin has been redesigned with a cleaner layout, a broad illuminated strip running across the dashboard and new materials including glass and, rather unusually, slate. BMW says it is the first car maker to offer slate as an interior trim surface. Standard equipment includes a panoramic glass roof and sports seats, while buyers will be able to add massaging and ventilated seats, rear seat heating and an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system with support for Dolby Atmos.
open image in galleryThe plug-in hybrid line-up will consist of the X5 50e xDrive and the hotter M60e xDrive. Both use a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, with a 26.5kWh usable battery giving the 50e an electric-only range of up to 63 miles. It has 489bhp and can reach 62mph in five seconds.
The M60e raises output to 612bhp and 800Nm of torque, enough for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. Despite that performance, BMW claims an electric range of up to 61 miles.
For drivers covering big motorway miles, the X5 40d xDrive remains in the line-up with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine and 48V mild-hybrid assistance. It produces 313bhp and 670Nm of torque, gets from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and has a claimed economy figure of up to 40.4mpg.
BMW says all versions of the new X5 will come with adaptive suspension as standard, while the electric and plug-in hybrid models can be specified with more advanced chassis technology including air suspension and rear-wheel steering. Driver assistance kit will include adaptive cruise control, lane control and parking assistance as standard, with an optional Motorway Assistant offering hands-free Level 2 driving support at speeds of up to 81mph.
open image in gallery“With its imposing presence and flawless symbiosis of comfort and driving pleasure, the BMW X5 became a global bestseller,” says Dr. Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. “And now the latest generation also benefits from the technologies in the Neue Klasse and the widest possible range of drive systems. As a result, I’m sure the new BMW X5 will set the benchmark in its class once again and write the next chapter in its success story.”
The new BMW X5 will be built at BMW’s Spartanburg factory in the US, which has produced every generation of X5 since the original model arrived in 1999. The iX5 will be the first electric BMW made at the plant.