BMW X5

The new X5 has an angularly modern and clean-cut dashboard design, linked to a low-rising centre console (media controls, notch-style gear selector, drive mode selector, engine Start/Stop button).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees leatherette upholstery in two (single-tone: Black – X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport/dual-tone: Black-Tartufo – X5 xDrive50e M Sport) colour schemes with contrast trims (Black: ‘Fineline’ Fine-wood, High-Gloss: Metal, Black).

Equipped are the BMW Curved Display (single-pane glass – instrument cluster, infotainment), an ambient light system (BMW My Modes: multi-colour) and air-conditioning vents (slim: centre – angular: corners).

Inclusively, the layout is minimalistic and airy, with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

One half of the BMW Curved Display, installed is a 12.3-Inch LCD fully digital driver display (instrument cluster), with a BMW Heads-Up Display (HUD).

The system runs on BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5 – QuickSelect) and supports the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (Intelligent Personal Assistant: voice recognition, command, gesture – Augmented Reality View: BMW HUD), BMW My Modes (settings – interior, drive) and BMW Connected Package Professional (My BMW smartphone app: remote access).

Comfortably plush, the interior sees leatherette (‘Sensafin’ – décor-stitched) upholstery in two (single-tone) colour schemes (Black: X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport – Tartufo: X5 xDrive50e M Sport).

The front gets electric-powered (driver-/passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-memory) Sport seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (40:20:40 split-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front: base carrier, clothes hanger, folding table, tablet holders, universal hook – rear), a panoramic glass roof (electric: tilt, slide, open/close) and an M headliner (Anthracite).

The five-seater crossover (mid-size luxury SUV – crossover SUV) offers generous cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear). 

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is an M Sport steering wheel (three-spoke-round), wrapped in leather (‘Veganza’ – Black) with contrast trims (High-Gloss: Metal, Black) and an M emblem (bottom spoke).

Features are multi-function (media, Bluetooth, voice recognition, vehicle settings), paddle shifters and column adjustments (electric: tilt, telescopic, memory).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., Storage Compartment Package (side door/seat back/armrest pockets, partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console spaces, glovebox).

Included is the Travel and Comfort System (front headrest-mounted: base carrier, clothes hanger, folding table, tablet holders, universal hook).

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are six USB ports (two: front – four: rear), one 12 V socket (front) and one wireless charger (centre console).

The boot comes with an electric-powered (contactless – sensor, remote/key fob, tailgate button) tailgate (Comfort Access Package). 

Variant X5 xDrive40i M Sport opens to 650-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,870-Litres (rear seats down) load capacities.

Variant X5 xDrive50e M Sport opens to 500-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,720-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Included is a Luggage Compartment Package (electric rolling cover, automatic anti-slip rail, BMW load floor mat).

Weighing in at 2,240 KG (X5 xDrive40i M Sport) and 2,495 KG (X5 xDrive50e M Sport), the new X5 measures at 4,935 MM long, 2,218 MM wide, 1,765 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,975 MM.

Sportily aerodynamic, its exterior parades a solidly wide stance, emphasised by sharply rounded and cleanly cut contours.

The front-end sees a formed bonnet (BMW emblem), angular quarter panels (raised fenders, air intake) and a sculpted bumper (BMW Iconic Glow kidney grille: illuminated surrounds – air intakes: large-central, vertical-corners).

Accentuations, M Sport Package, body trims (Aluminium: grille, side window surrounds – Gloss Black: air intakes, front window surrounds, side mirror arms), roof rails (Satin Aluminium) and BMW emblem (Black-Blue-White).

Athletically broad, it continues the solidly wide profile, emphasised by horizontally angular and sharply rounded surfaces.

The rear-end sees a mildly dipped roofline (shark fin antenna, roof-edge spoiler), a middle-notched upright tailgate (BMW emblem) and a sculpted bumper (diffuser, corner exhausts).

Accentuations, M Sport Package, body trims (Aluminium: side window surrounds, diffuser, exhaust surrounds – Gloss Black: rear window surrounds – body-colour: shark fin antenna), roof rails (Satin Aluminium) and BMW emblem (Black-Blue-White).

Sleek and sharp, the headlamps are housed inward-tilted with pointed edges. Installed are full LED units (adaptive).

Features are automatic On/Off, Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), High-Beam Assistant (HBA), cornering/welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Thick and three-dimensional, the tail lamps are housed rectangularly round with wide wraparound edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). 

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with the Expanded Exterior Mirror package (automatic anti-dazzle, automatic dipping, memory), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor – BSM) and turn signals (LED).

Fitted are ventilated (front, rear) disc brakes (M Sport Brakes), featuring coloured callipers (High-Gloss Blue – X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport).

Aiding the setup is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Sportily designed, mounted is a set of 21-Inch V-spoke Style 915 M Bicolour (Black-Silver) M light-alloy rims, wrapped in 275/40 R21 (front) and 315/35 R21 (rear) Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR run flat tyres.

The new X5 features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistant Professional, Active Cruise Control with Stop/Go, Steering Control Assistant, Lane Control Assistant, Emergency Stop Assistant, Automatic Speed Limit Assist, Lane Change Assistant, Lane Keeping Assistant with Side Collision Prevention, Front-Rear Crossing-Traffic Warning, Evasion Assistant, Intersection Warning with City Braking Function, Wrong-Way Warning and Traffic Light Recognition (X5 xDrive50e M Sport).

Under Parking Assistant Professional, grouped are Park Assist (Automatic parking: parallel/perpendicular), Active Park Distance Control, Reversing Assistant, Lateral Parking Aid, Manoeuvring Assistant and Surround View Camera (remote 3D view – 360-degree).

Other systems. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Hill-Descent Control (HDC) and High-Beam Assistant (HBA).

Passive safety includes eight airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (anchors, pretensioners, reminders), ISOFIX (two – outer-rear-seat), interior camera (occupant sensing), High-Beam Assistant (HBA), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (automatic anti-dazzle: interior/exterior), side mirrors (automatic dipping, BSM, memory), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), door ajar warning, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic headlamps (On/Off/low-/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), run flat tyres and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Four drive modes at the driver’s disposal (COMFORT, SPORT, ECO PRO, ADAPTIVE).

Included is the BMW My Modes (PERSONAL, SPORT, EFFICIENT, RELAX) interior drive setting.

Completing the BMW Curved Display, installed is a 14.9-Inch touchscreen central display (infotainment). 

The system runs on BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5 – QuickSelect) and supports the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (Intelligent Personal Assistant – voice recognition, command, gesture), BMW Connected Package Professional (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, My BMW smartphone app: remote access), BMW My Modes (settings – interior, drive), BMW ConnectedDrive Services (intelligent emergency call, teleservices), Bluetooth and navigation.

Entertainment is channelled via a Harmon Kardon surround sound system (X5 xDrive40i M Sport: 464 W, 16 speakers – X5 xDrive50e M Sport: 525 W, 17 speakers).

The new X5 underpins two powertrain setups (Mild-Hybrid: MHEV – Plug-in Hybrid: PHEV).

First setup (MHEV – X5 xDrive40i M Sport) nestles a (B58) 3.0-Litre in-line six-cylinder 24-valve, direct-fuel injection turbocharged DOHC petrol engine (381 HP/280 KW, 540 NM) and a 48 V mild-hybrid technology.

Second setup (PHEV - X5 xDrive50e M Sport) cocoons a (B58) 3.0-Litre in-line six-cylinder 24-valve, direct-fuel injection turbocharged DOHC petrol engine (309 HP/230 KW, 450 NM) and an electric motor (145 KW/194 HP, 280 NM).

Total system output (482 HP/359 KW, 700 NM).

Mated to the setup is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels (X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport), via BMW’s xDrive All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 5.4 seconds (X5 xDrive40i M Sport) and 4.8 seconds (X5 xDrive50e M Sport). Top speed is electronically capped at 250 KM/H (X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport).

The fuel tank capacity is at 83-Litres (X5 xDrive40i M Sport) and 69-Litres (X5 xDrive50e M Sport), and the fuel consumption is rated at 9.3 L/100 KM (X5 xDrive40i M Sport) and 2.3 L/100 KM (X5 xDrive50e M Sport).

Powering the e-motor (X5 xDrive50e M Sport) is a Lithium-Ion battery (29.5 KWH), enabling an electric driving range of 110 KM (WLTP).

Charging via AC (Type 2 – 7.4 KW) takes 4.5 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC).

The new X5 features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless entry, electric-tailgate, engine Start/Stop button), Luggage Compartment Package (electric rolling cover, automatic anti-slip rail, BMW load floor mat), interior camera (occupant sensing), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (automatic anti-dazzle: interior/exterior), side mirrors (automatic dipping, BSM, memory), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), door ajar warning, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic headlamps (On/Off/low-/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents, rear controls), steering wheel (multi-function, paddle shifters, electric column adjustments, EPS), electric-powered (driver-/passenger-multi-way-adjust, driver-memory) Sport seats, armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), Travel and Comfort System (front headrest-mounted: base carrier, clothes hanger, folding table, tablet holders, universal hook), panoramic glass roof (electric: tilt, slide, open/close), BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: voice recognition, command, gesture – BMW Connected Package Professional: My BMW smartphone app – BMW My Modes: settings: interior, drive), wireless charger, interior lighting (LED – reading, floor, welcome, ambient, boot), run flat tyres and an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Installed is a four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents, rear controls) system.

Propping-up the chassis (X5 xDrive40i M Sport, X5 xDrive50e M Sport) is a setup of double wishbones (front) and multi-link (rear), incorporating a 2-axle air suspension system (adaptive dampers).

Overall, it is solid and comfortable with a luxurious ride quality, refined and agile handling with smooth power delivery.

The new BMW X5 is in a class of its own. Enveloped by a sportily luxurious appeal that commands a presence like no other. 

A striking exterior, it is well designed with the harmonious proportions, powerful contours, and emphasis on the wide stance and aggressive body sculpture. 

Quality of the equipment and materials installed inside and outside of the car impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

Ultimately, the new X5 is more than just a strong character, it is a great vehicle that offers a sporty outlook, sporty performance, practicality and comfort all in one.