BMW’s Bestselling Model of All Time Gets Its Most Radical Overhaul Yet

After months of anticipation and a rather long series production cycle, the next-gen BMW X5 is finally here. The Bavarian automaker just pulled the wraps off its bestselling SUV at its home base in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

That also happens to be the birthplace of the X5, as well as all of the brand’s other high-riding SUVs. The new X5 arrives as the fifth-generation model, set to succeed the outgoing model.

It comes with a whole bunch of firsts.

Entering the Neue Klasse era

BMW

As one can tell from the sheet metal, the new fifth-gen X5 dons BMW’s latest Neue Klasse design language. If it looks familiar, that’s because the X5 is basically an X3 that’s been scaled up in size.

Since we already knew what the latest X3 looks like, thanks to the reveal of the iX3 not too long ago, the new X5 isn’t all that shocking to the eyes. Especially since BMW essentially previewed the look with the Vision Neue Klasse X.

BMW

The same Neue Klasse styling continues on the inside, with designs and themes that carry over from the likes of BMW’s other latest automobiles. This includes the brand’s latest Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X.

Gone is any sort of driver information display behind the steering wheel. Rather, it’s all placed on a thin-profile ultra-wide display that sits atop the dashboard.

Then, the large infotainment screen sits in the center console, acting as the main controller interface for the entire cockpit.

The first-ever “multi-energy” X5

BMW

The other major highlight of the next-gen X5 is its first adopted use of BMW’s new “multi-energy” approach. The latter describes BMW’s plan to offer a choice of three propulsion types: conventional internal combustion, plug-in hybrid and all-electric (iX5).

The internal combustion version will initially launch with the X5 40 xDrive, featuring the automaker’s venerable “B58” turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. It’ll enable the gas-powered X5 to sprint to 60 mph in just five seconds.

BMW

The 50e xDrive PHEV plug-in hybrid variant also features the same B58 as its gasoline counterpart. But, despite its different state of tune, with its electric motor assist, it’ll hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.

While the iX5 will launch in 60 xDrive guise, offering up to 435 miles of driving range and a 0-60 mph time of around 4.6 seconds. The latter comes with BMW’s latest 800-volt sixth-gen electric vehicle architecture, which first launched with the iX3.

2027 BMW X5 and iX5

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And thanks to its upgraded tech, the system also uses a standard NACS charging port. This results in a 10-to-80 percent recharge in just 22 minutes, or up to 170 miles of range in 10 minutes on the appropriate charger.

Those holding out for the full-fledged high-performance X5 M, complete with a twin-turbo, will just have to wait a little bit longer as it’s scheduled to debut later in 2027.

Availability and pricing

The fifth-gen X5 will begin hitting local dealers later this fall with the gas-powered X5 40 xDrive starting at $73,550. The PHEV variant and all-electric iX5 will command $78,950 and $81,250, respectively. All prices include the standard $1,450 shipping and handling charge.

BMW

2027 BMW X5 and iX5

• Starts at $73,550

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