Face-lifted 2024 BMW X5 And X6 SUVs Revealed

Making their debut this week are refreshed 2024 BMW X5 and X6 premium SUVs duo. Both sport a host of mild revisions including styling tweaks, the adoption of BMW’s new curved displays, as well as revised powertrains that includes both mild- (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setups.

First off, exterior revisions in both see them rocking revised front and rear bumpers, and reprofiled headlamps with redesigned daytime running lights (DRLs). The signature and massive kidney grilles remain the same size, but it now has redesigned slats in Pearl-effect Chrome, and illuminated via cascade lighting when specified with the Iconic Glow package.       

Customers can choose from a variety of new colours where the palette now includes the metallic shades Blue Ridge Mountain, Brooklyn, Skyscraper, and Frozen Pure. The X6 M60i xDrive offers Isle of Man Green Metallic, while Marina Bay Blue Metallic is an option for the X5 M60i xDrive.

Moving inside, the cabin changes are similar across both the X5 and X6, which are being produced at BMW's Spartanburg plant in the US alongside the flagship X7. Both now get BMW’s latest curved displays that are perched atop a minimally altered dashboard that sees additional touch controls added to the centre console's air conditioning controls.

The curved displays consist of a 12.3-inch instrument display panel and a 14.9-inch infotainment touch screen that form part of the standard BMW Live Cockpit Plus system, which also includes a cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system. These run on the latest BMW iDrive 8.0 system as well.

Beyond that, there’s also a head-up display (HUD) unit with augmented reality functionality, a panoramic glass sunroof with LED illumination, glass applications for various controls, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

This time around, the X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, and X6 xDrive40i receive BMW’s new generation 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six MHEV mill. These are primed with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system featuring an electric motor that generates an additional 12 HP and 199 NM.

While the six-cylinder used in these models previously served up 335HP and 450NM, partial electrification now sees those figures raised to 375 HP and 519 NM instead. According to BMW, the X5 and X6 xDrive40i can sprint from 0-60 MPH (96KM/H) in just 5.2 seconds, thus marking a slight improvement of the outgoing model’s ability to do the same in 5.3 seconds.

The X5 and X6 M60i xDrive models, on the other hand, continue to employ 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8s, but these are now primed with similar 48-volt mild-hybrid systems too. The mill still outputs 523 HP and 750 NM, thus allowing 0-60 MPH (96 KM/H) despatched in 4.2 seconds.

On to the PHEV front and the refresh sees a new X5 xDrive50e variant replace the previous xDrive45e. The total system output from the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six and electric motor is now 483 HP and 700 NM, up from the outgoing model’s 389 HP and 600 NM numbers.

Its updated electric motor produces 194 HP (145 kW) and 380 NM, but can temporarily offer 449 NM too. 0- 60 MPH (96 KM/H) in this model is done in just 4.6 seconds versus 5.3 seconds previously. Crucially, the PHEV’s battery has also increased from 17.1 kWh to 25.7 kWh now, and it also accepted AC charging inputs of up to 7.4 kW. As for electric range, this setup now promises up to 64 KM of which.

All three powertrains are paired with 8-speed automatic transmissions that’s now primed with an electric oil pump and torsion dampers for smoother shifts. With the available M Sport package, there's a Sprint setting that automatically shifts into the lowest usable gear, puts the powertrain in its sportiest mode, and gets the full electric boost from the MHEV system too.

Last but not least, the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package includes Highway Assistant as part of its list of driving assistance features. Up to 200 metres of the vehicle's driving can be recorded and replayed by Parking Assistant Professional. This indicates that a driver can command the vehicle to travel to them using the My BMW App on a smartphone.

Both models will debut publicly at the Amelia Concours d’Elegance next month before production commences in April at the automaker's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.