2023 BMW X5
| Fuel Efficiency | 1.9 - 12.5 / 100km |
|---|---|
| ANCAP Rating | 5-star |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Fuel Efficiency | 1.9 - 12.5 / 100km |
|---|---|
| ANCAP Rating | 5-star |
| Warranty | 5 years |
About the BMW X5
The BMW X5 is one of the original luxury SUVs. Debuted in 1999, the car is now into its fourth generation, and goes head-to-head with everything from the Mercedes-Benz GLE to the Audi Q5.
Petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid power are offered, and an electric take on the X5 is expected in the near future.
Summary
Smooth, torquey engines
Refined interior
Feels good to drive
Some confusing cabin bits
BMW warranty isn't good enough
Some rivals are better equipped
Video Review
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2021 BMW X5 review
The BMW X5 has a long history as one of the sportiest luxury SUVs on the market. But we've found that it's not hard to find yourself regretting big wheel options with a super firm ride to match its sporty looks. So, what happens when you are a little more restrained with your wheel choices? Paul Maric gets behind the wheel of the 2021 BMW X5 to see if it can be a little more civilised when it needs to be.
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BMW X5 Range Guide
The xDrive25d comes standard with the following equipment:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Satellite navigation
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless phone charging
- 10-speaker sound system
- Adaptive suspension
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- Head-up display
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Keyless entry and start
- Ambient lighting
- Leatherette upholstery
- Power tailgate
- Heated front sports seats
- Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 20-inch alloy wheels
The xDrive30d and xDrive40i add the following:
- M Sport brakes
- Adaptive M suspension
- Vernasca leather upholstery
- Panoramic sunroof
- Sensatec-wrapped instrument panel
- Mesh-effect interior trim
- M Sport exterior appearance package
The xDrive45e adds:
- Adaptive air suspension with automatic self-levelling
The M50i Pure adds:
- 22-inch alloy wheels
- M Sport exhaust
- M Sport differential
The M50i adds:
- BMW Laserlight headlights
- 16-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system
- Soft-close doors
- Leather-wrapped instrument panel
- Four-zone climate control
The M Competition adds:
- Merino leather upholstery
- 21-inch (front) and 22-inch (rear) alloy wheels
- Active M differential
- Active exhaust
- Adaptive M suspension
- BMW Gesture Control
Price & Specs
Interior
There’s a big step up in cabin ambience when you go from an X3 to an X5.
Every surface is covered in leather, leatherette or soft-touch plastic, right down to the farthest reaches of the dashboard and doors, while the pillars are upholstered in cloth. You grip a nice, chunky leather-wrapped wheel and sit in plush, supportive seats.
The switchgear looks and feels nice, particularly the weighty, knurled metal iDrive controller. Piano black trim is mercifully limited to a few buttons around the shifter, including the buttons for the different drive modes.
These buttons all kind of blur together, and we’d like to see a more prominent drive mode selector. The use of piano black also suggests these buttons are touch-capacitive, but they’re not.
In contrast, the steering wheel buttons are large and clearly labelled. Behind the wheel are the paddle shifters, which have a shiny metal look on the front but a matte feel at the rear.
There’s plenty of storage up front, including an easy-to-miss cubby on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, a fairly spacious centre console bin with a rubberised floor, and bottle holders that can easily swallow the likes of a Voss bottle.
You’ll find a single USB-A outlet at the base of the centre stack near a 12V outlet, with a USB-C outlet in the centre console bin. A couple more outlets wouldn’t go astray.
In terms of technology, the X5 stacks up well. The digital instrument cluster is attractive and easy to read, while the 12.3-inch infotainment system is quick and responsive. It’s controlled via touch inputs or the iDrive controller on the centre console.
Parking is a doddle in the X5. There’s a semi-autonomous parking assist system, while the standard parking view has numerous active guides. You can change camera angles and there’s also a surround-view camera. All the footage has a high resolution.
Even the simple act of unlocking the X5 is effortless. It features Comfort Access keyless entry, which means it unlocks as you approach it if you have the key in your pocket or purse, and locks as you walk away.
Step into the back and there’s a comfortable rear bench with ample legroom and toe room. There’s also plenty of headroom despite the presence of the massive panoramic sunroof.
Rear-seat passengers have USB-C outlets on the front seatbacks, plus air vents, a 12V outlet, and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders and a shallow storage cubby.
The bottle holders in the doors are a touch smaller than those up front but still accommodate large drink bottles. Other storage includes a couple of small shelves at the rear of the centre console, plus seatback map pockets.
The X5 has a clever split tailgate, which provides you with a handy ledge that can double as a seat at a tailgate party or an emergency changing table.
There’s 650L of boot space, and you can pull a couple of levers to drop the second row and increase that to 1870L. There’s also a 12V outlet back here.
Exterior
Most BMW X5 models in Australia come with the M Sport package, which brings body-coloured bumpers and sportier air intakes up front.
Wheels up to 22 inches are offered, but the base 20-inch wheels aren't exactly small.
BMW X5 Colours
The BMW X5 is available in the following colours:
- Alpine White
- M Carbon Black metallic
- Black Sapphire metallic
- Mineral White metallic
- Phytonic Blue
- Arctic Grey
- Dravit Grey metallic
- Tanzanite Blue metallic
- Ametrine metallic
Cost of Ownership
BMW offers a five-year/80,000km servicing plan for X5 models priced at $2250. It covers the replacement of fluids and filters, though the replacement of brake pads and discs and wiper blades is covered only under a more expensive Plus plan, priced at $5950.
How it Drives
Road noise is nicely muffled, with tyre roar only really present on coarse-chip, high-speed rural roads.
The X5 can’t completely disguise its size but it never feels ungainly. It’s surprisingly easy to pilot even in tighter urban confines, with the steering lightening up at lower speeds. While it doesn’t quite feel like a sports sedan on a set of tight curves, the X5 responds quickly to inputs.
The X5 has a firm ride but there’s enough suspension travel to make long-distance touring comfortable, and the car feels neither too harsh nor too floaty. It soaks up the bumps and ruts of inner-city road work zones and poorly surfaced suburban streets, though it occasionally felt a little jostled about on a couple of rural roads.
The lane-keeping assist aids long-distance touring, and was only ever tripped up by particularly sharp curves.
The adaptive cruise control set-up in the X5 is particularly noteworthy. If you have it activated and drive past a speed sign, the traffic sign recognition system will display the new speed and you’ll be given the option to press a single button to adjust the adaptive cruise control speed accordingly.
The Caring Car function, accessible via the iDrive system, proved to be more than just a gimmick. On a lengthy jaunt out of Melbourne, we activated the Vitalize mode which changed the ambient lighting colour, played some dramatic music, and pumped continuous strong bursts of cold air into the cabin.
It’s actually a pretty clever idea if you’re feeling a little worn from hours of driving but aren’t quite tired enough to need to pull over.
While many X5s will only do duty in big cities, BMW offers a towing package that bumps up braked towing capacity from 1900kg to 3500kg.
Speaking of options, we wouldn’t bother with the Enhancement Package, which adds 22-inch alloy wheels and a sports exhaust. The larger wheels will surely impact ride quality, while the xDrive30d sounds good enough already.
BMW X5 Safety Rating
The BMW X5 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2018 – though the rating only applies to six-cylinder diesel models.
It received a score of 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 75 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 71 per cent for safety assist.
All BMW X5 models come standard with the following safety equipment:
- Autonomous emergency braking (low/high-speed) with pedestrian/cyclist detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Front and rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keep assist
- Reversing camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Surround-view camera
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Front and front-side airbags
- Curtain airbags for the first and second rows
- Driver’s knee airbag
BMW X5 Lifecycle
The current generation BMW X5 was launched in November 2018 and is currently 66 percent through its lifecycle. The last update was a facelift that was launched in July 2023 with the next model expected in 2026.
BMW X5 Options
BMW offers a wide range of additional options.
The M Sport package, optional on the xDrive25d, adds:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Vernasca leather upholstery
- M Sport brakes
- Adaptive M suspension
- M Sport exterior appearance package
On seven-seat vehicles, it adds adaptive air suspension and deletes the panoramic glass sunroof.
Optional on the xDrive30d is the xOffroad package, which adds:
- Extended front underbody protection
- Mechanical differential lock
- Off-road driving modes
- Adaptive air suspension
The xDrive30d’s Enhancement Package adds:
- 22-inch alloy wheels
- M Sport exhaust
The Indulgence Package, available on the xDrive30d, xDrive40i, M50i and M Competition, adds:
- Soft-close doors
- Ventilated front seats
- Massaging front seats
- Heated front and rear seats
- Skylounge panoramic glass roof (M Competition)
Options on all bar the M50i Pure include:
- Skylounge panoramic glass sunroof
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated rear seats
- Rear-seat entertainment package
- 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system
- BMW Gesture Control
- BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition
Extended Merino leather upholstery is available on all bar the M50i Pure, with leather used on the front and rear seats, front seatbacks, front doors and centre armrest.
Standalone options on the xDrive25d, xDrive30d, xDrive40i and xDrive45e include:
- Third row seating with adaptive air suspension
- BMW Laserlight headlights
- 16-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system
Remote start is also optional on the xDrive40i, M50i and M Competition.
BMW X5 Warranty
The X5 is covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. That’s pretty dismal, considering several luxury brands have moved to five-year warranties.
BMW X5 Infotainment
You’ll find a single USB-A outlet at the base of the centre stack near a 12V outlet, with a USB-C outlet in the centre console bin. A couple more outlets wouldn’t go astray.
In terms of technology, the X5 stacks up well. The digital instrument cluster is attractive and easy to read, while the 12.3-inch infotainment system is quick and responsive. It’s controlled via touch inputs or the iDrive controller on the centre console.
Voice inputs work well, too – you can press the voice prompt button on the steering wheel and say an address and the navigation system will instantly search for it. The ‘clicks’ the infotainment system makes are also less annoying than the tinny sounds that come from the GLE’s touchscreen.
Our only complaint about the infotainment is regarding the map graphics. They can look a bit cluttered, and when you’re navigating somewhere your route is partially highlighted in white instead of being given a different colour.
BMW X5 Boot Space
There’s 650L of boot space, and you can pull a couple of levers to drop the second row and increase that to 1870L. There’s also a 12V outlet back there.
BMW X5 Fuel Economy
The BMW X5 uses 6.7L/100km in the xDrive25d on the combined cycle, the xDrive30d uses 7.2L/100km, the xDrive40i uses 9.2L/100km, the M50i models use 11.5L/100km, and the M Competition uses 12.5L/100km.
The xDrive45e uses 2.3L/100km and has an electric-only range of 87km on the stricter WLTP cycle.
Depending on the variant, view the 2023 BMW X5 fuel usage below.
All Highway, City, and Combined figures below are litres per 100km
| Variant | Series | Style | Fuel Type | Highway | City | Combined | E10? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xDRIVE30d xLINE MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | DIESEL | - | - | 7.8 | - |
| xDRIVE30d M SPORT MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | DIESEL | - | - | 7.8 | - |
| xDRIVE40i M SPORT MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 9.2 | - |
| xDRIVE50e M SPORT PHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | UNLEADED PETROL/ELECTRIC | - | - | 1.9 | - |
| M60i MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 11.9 | - |
| M COMPETITION MHEV | F95 LCI | 4D WAGON | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 12.5 | - |
BMW X5 Dimensions
The 2021 BMW X5 measures 4922mm long, 1745mm tall and 2004mm wide on a 2975mm wheelbase.
The M Competition is 4938mm long, 1748mm tall and 2015mm wide.
Depending on the variant, the 2023 BMW X5 measures as below.
| Variant | Series | Style | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Wheelbase (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xDRIVE30d xLINE MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4935 | 2004 | 1765 | 2975 |
| xDRIVE30d M SPORT MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4935 | 2004 | 1765 | 2975 |
| xDRIVE40i M SPORT MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4935 | 2004 | 1765 | 2975 |
| xDRIVE50e M SPORT PHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4935 | 2004 | 1765 | 2975 |
| M60i MHEV | G05 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4935 | 2004 | 1765 | 2975 |
| M COMPETITION MHEV | F95 LCI | 4D WAGON | 4948 | 2105 | 1762 | 2972 |
The 2023 BMW X5 has a braked towing capacity from 2700kg to 3270kg depending on the variant and an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg.
BMW X5 Market Fit
The BMW X5 is categorised as a Large SUV and has a price range of $134,900 to $241,900. There are currently 3 other options in the Large SUV segment, those that fit within a similar price range include:
BMW X5 Sales Data
With 3173 sales in 2021, the BMW X5 was comfortably the best seller in its class.
Should you buy the BMW X5
It’s pretty clear to see why the BMW X5 remains so popular.
Its handling is relatively nimble for such a large SUV, its cabin is classy, comfortable and spacious, while its torquey inline-six turbo-diesel deftly combines performance and fuel economy.
Competitor Analysis
The BMW X5 is the classic large luxury SUV benchmark. It goes head-to-head with the Audi Q7, which packs a bit more space inside and a more confident seven-seat option, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE with its high-tech cabin.
The Genesis GV80 and Volkswagen Touareg offer more equipment for less money, but don't have the allure of a BMW badge.
BMW X5 Interesting Facts
BMW was inspired to build the original X5 after its acquisition of the Land Rover brand back in 1994. The German brand sold Land Rover in 2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Variants from previous years
2022 BMW X5 2021 BMW X5 2020 BMW X5 2019 BMW X5 2018 BMW X5 2017 BMW X5 2016 BMW X5 2015 BMW X5 2014 BMW X5 2013 BMW X5 2012 BMW X5