The Fifth-Generation BMW X5 Is Available With Five Powertrains
The BMW X5 may be a best seller, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.
The German luxury marque unveiled the fifth generation of the mid-size SUV on Wednesday. The popular model has been treated to a drastic makeover for 2027, and will be available with one of five different powertrains.
The X5 has been a consistent success since its introduction in 1999, so it wouldn’t have been all that surprising if the latest version of the SUV only received a minor update. Instead, BMW has gone for radical change and brought it in line with the other vehicles from its second “Neue Klasse” era, the 3 Series, X3, and, to a lesser extent, the refreshed 7 Series.
2027 BMW X5
BMW
The new X5, though basically the same size as its predecessor, features more dramatic proportions and a more sculpted shape than its predecessor. The biggest changes can be found up front, where the SUV, like its smaller sibling, the X3, is outfitted with narrow, vertically oriented kidney grills. The double-X-shaped headlights are all new, though. Other fresh additions include winged door handles and a one-piece liftgate in place of the two-piece clamshell unit the model has utilized since launch.
The interior of the X5 has also undergone a significant redesign. The new-look cabin is similar to that of the new 7 Series, including the brand’s new Panoramic iDrive display that runs along the bottom of the windshield from A-pilar to A-pilar. It’s accompanied by a 17.9-inch infotainment system and an optional 14.6-inch passenger screen. Despite being around the same size as the fourth-gen X5, the new version does feature slightly more legroom for those in the back. The vehicle is also equipped with a large panoramic sunroof standard.
Inside the all-new X5
BMW
The X5 will eventually be available with five different powertrains: gas, plug-in hybrid, battery, diesel, and hydrogen. The fourth won’t make it stateside, while the last, which will feature a fuel cell system developed by BMW and Toyota, is expected to arrive at a later date (2028, according to Motor1.com). Three different trims will be available at launch in the U.S. The X5 40, which is available with rear- and all-wheel-drive, comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-six that makes 394 hp and 428 ft lbs of torque. The all-wheel-drive X5 50e xDrive pairs that same flat six with an electric motor, and make 489 hp and 516 ft lbs of torque. The all-electric iX5 60 xDrive, which is the first EV version of the model, features a dual-motor setup that makes 578 hp and 593 ft lbs of torque. Its range is estimated to clock in at around 435 miles.
BMW plans to begin deliveries of the all-new X5 in October, according to Car and Driver. Pricing for the X5 40 will start at $71,250, the X5 50e xDrive at $78,950, and the iX5 60 xDrive at $81,250.
Click here for more photos of the 2027 BMW X5.
BMW
