The BMW X5 defines the luxury SUV genre.
Sure, you could argue it was the Range Rover, and Mercedes-Benz beat it to the punch with the original ML in 1997. But since 1999, the X5 has set the standard for the sort of road-oriented SUVs that dominate private school carparks around the world.
The badge has come a long way. The first-generation model that debuted in 1999 borrowed heavily from the 5 Series and was topped with a sprinkling of Land Rover DNA; the fourth-generation car here is a road-biased luxury family staple sitting as part of a seven-strong BMW SUV range.
Compared to the last X5 we drove, the 2025 model you see here has been treated to a significant update.
Outside, it has a massaged look that brings it into line with newer models like the X3, while the cabin features a new dual-screen infotainment setup. The range of engines pack more power and use less fuel than before, too.
Locally, the new X5 goes head-to-head with an overhauled Audi Q7 and updated Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Is it still the daddy?
How much does the BMW X5 cost?
Prices were hiked for the 2025 model year, in line with an update to the broader X5 range.
ModelPricing before on-road costsBMW X5 xDrive30d$134,900BMW X5 xDrive40i$138,900BMW X5 xDrive50e$149,900BMW X5 M60i$172,900
To see how the BMW X5 stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.
What is the BMW X5 like on the inside?
Every new BMW is a technology showcase, and the new X5 is no different. The curved, dual-screen setup dominating the dashboard looks box office, backed by some new dashboard finishes and ambient lighting.
Front passengers sit in well-stuffed, supportive seats with electric adjustment, and everything you touch feels high quality.
Our tester was fitted with beautiful BMW Individual Merino leather seat trim and Luxury front seats ($4000), but even the standard finish feels suitably expensive.
The view over the bonnet is suitably commanding, and tall or short drivers won’t struggle to get comfortable.
It’s brilliantly functional. There’s heaps of storage up front for bottles, along with a wireless charger, a wallet-sized slot beneath the dashboard, and a useful space beneath the split-opening central armrest.
Gone are the physical climate controls though. They’ve been absorbed into the dual-screen infotainment setup, in line with the rest of the BMW range.
When we first used it, the new touchscreen tech in BMWs had too many layers. Turning on the heated seats took three button presses – now it takes two. It’s a step in the right direction; although using buttons in the last 4er was easier again.
Once you’re dialled into how the touchscreen is set up, the tech in this BMW is excellent. All the animations look lifted from the silver screen, and the fundamentals like the wireless Apple CarPlay connection work as they should.
Hey BMW voice prompts work well, allowing you to fiddle with everything from the sunroof to the air conditioning, but there’s still something odd about talking to your car with others on board as passengers.
BMW has improved on its digital instruments, ditching the busy look of the old X5 in favour of a cleaner and more modern layout.
There are plenty of customisation options, from mapping to your media details, but there’s no clean analogue-look option that harks back to the brand’s brilliant orange-lit dials of old.
Rear seat space is solid, although the X5 is shaded by the marginally larger (similarly priced) Audi Q7 in the second row. Headroom is excellent back there, even with the panoramic sunroof fitted, and there’s plenty of legroom for tall teenagers.
The tall windows mean it feels bright in the second row, and all the amenities you’d expect feature. There’s a fold-down central armrest, air vents with their own temperature controls, and decent door bins for road trip snacks.
There’s also four USB ports back there. Along with the two USB-C ports at the base of the transmission tunnel, there are two on the front seat back alongside a tablet mount for the kids on long road trips.
ISOFIX points feature on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top tethers back there for child seats. It’s a shame integrated window shades are hidden in an options package.
BMW deserves points for sticking with its split tailgate, which makes it easier to slide heavy things into the boot – or works as a seat when you’re watching your kids play sport.
DimensionsBMW X5 xDrive40iLength4935mmWidth2004mmHeight1765mmWheelbase2975mmCargo capacity650L (rear seats up)
1870L (rear seats folded)
To see how the BMW X5 stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
BMW offers a choice of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid power in the X5. Our tester had a classic BMW engine, in the form of a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol.
SpecificationsBMW X5 xDrive40iEngine3.0L i6 turbo MHEVPower280kWTorque520NmTransmission8-speed autoDriven wheelsAWDWeight2165kg (kerb)Fuel economy (claimed)9.3L/100kmFuel economy (as tested)11.1L/100kmFuel tank capacity83 litresFuel requirement95 RONCO2 emissions211g/kmEmissions standardEuro 6Braked tow capacity2700kg
To see how the BMW X5 stacks up against it rivals, use our comparison tool.
How does the BMW X5 drive?
BMW is known for its silky smooth inline-six engines, and the 3.0-litre engine in the X5 40i carries on that tradition in style.
Overseas model shown
It was already an effortless engine, with loads of performance low in the rev range and a classy growl at the top end, but the 48V system has made it even more impressive.
The automatic start/stop kicks in imperceptibly as you coast up to a set of traffic lights, shutting down the engine without so much as a cough, and there’s no awkward jerk when you want to accelerate away in a hurry.
Although the lazier power delivery of a diesel suits a family bus like the X5 nicely, this inline-six petrol is a beautiful engine for anyone who’s giving up their sports car dreams to carry a family around.
BMW hasn’t made much noise about its hybrid technology but it’s exceptional, and comes without the awkwardness you get from the brakes in some rival mild-hybrid systems as they harvest energy to feed the battery pack.
Combined with light steering, a comfortable ride, and decent vision out the front, the buttery smooth petrol engine makes the X5 easy to drive in the city. BMW does the best surround-view camera in the business, so there’s no excuse for scraped wheels or bumpers when you’re parking in tight spaces.
You’d want to be careful, because the 22-inch wheels fitted to our tester look very easy to scrape. They also undermine comfort relative to smaller options, because they’re wrapped in liquorice-thin tyres that just can’t soak up pimply city streets like alternatives with taller sidewalls.
The X5 is fundamentally pretty comfortable, with a relaxed ride that feels more luxurious than sporty. You can flick the adaptive dampers into Sport for a firmer ride, but unless you’re trying to make the kids sick on the school run it’s best to leave things in Comfort.
This is an effortless cruiser when the road opens up. It’s near silent on the highway, and the ride remains excellent at 100km/h. Put your foot down to overtake and the 3.0-litre engine has power in reserve, making open road overtakes effortless.
Noise suppression is excellent – as you’d expect of a $140k luxury SUV – at 100km/h on coarse country highways, and the engine is silent unless you’re pushing on.
The adaptive cruise control smoothly maintains a gap to the car in front, the lane-keep only intervenes when it really needs to, and the blind-spot monitor doesn’t jump at shadows.
It’s a shame BMW has made it harder to fiddle with those driver assists, though. Want to change the following distance on your adaptive cruise control?
You need to dive into the touchscreen for that, rather than just using the buttons on the steering wheel that have been blanked out as part of the update. We’ve said it before, but why not say it again… The move away from buttons makes everything harder.
What do you get?
On test here is the X5 xDrive40i which is the most affordable petrol variant in the range.
BMW X5 xDrive30d and xDrive40i highlights:
InteriorTri-zone climate control12.3-inch digital instrument cluster14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment systemConnected Drive packageDAB digital radioElectric seat adjustmentHeated front seatsHead-up displayPanoramic sunroofVerino leather seat, dashboard trimAnthracite headlinerWireless phone chargingM Leather steering wheelExterior20-inch alloy wheelsKeyless entry and startLED headlights with adaptive high-beam assistBMW glowing kidney grilleGloss black roof railsOtherAdaptive M suspensionM Sport brakesParking Assistant Professional with Reversing AssistDrive recorderAlarmAutomatic tailgate
Is the BMW X5 safe?
The X5 wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating with 2018 date stamp, based on tests conducted by Euro NCAP. This rating only covers 3.0-litre petrol and diesel models, with plug-in hybrid and V8 variants remaining unrated.
CategoryBMW X5Adult occupant protection89 per centChild occupant protection87 per centVulnerable road user protection75 per centSafety assist71 per cent
Standard safety equipment includes:
Driving Assistant ProfessionalAdaptive cruise with stop/goFront, rear cross-traffic alertSteering & Lane Control AssistantLane keep assistSide Collision WarningLane Change AssistantCrossroads warningEvasion AidHigh beam assistParking Assistant PlusActive Park Distance Control rear (sensors)Reversing AssistantSurround View (360 cameras)Panorama View3D ViewSpeed LimiterSpeed Limit Info
How much does the BMW X5 cost to run?
Like the broader BMW range, the X5 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Running costsBMW X5 xDrive40iWarranty5 years, unlimited kilometresRoadside assistance3 yearsService intervals12 months or 20,000 kilometresCapped-price servicing5 yearsTotal capped-price service cost$3450 (service package)
CarExpert’s Take on BMW X5
The BMW X5 is still impossible to ignore if you’re searching for a plush family hauler.
Its blend of luxury and practicality remains excellent, and BMW has dragged it into 2024 with its cutting-edge new dual-screen setup.
There are still few things nicer in the motoring world than a smooth inline-six engine, although anyone spending long stints on the highway would be well served looking at the cheaper turbo-diesel alternative.
The only real knock on the X5 remains its rear seat space, which is acceptable… but not standout alongside similarly priced rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
Provided you’re not planning on having a family of basketball players it’s unlikely to be a dealbreaker.
Interested in buying a BMW X5? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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