BMW X5 (2023) - More Powerful, More Perfect!

2024 BMW X5
Starting at $66.195

Highs Three good powertrain options, high-end cabin materials, cutting-edge infotainment tech.
Lows Not as athletic as expected from a BMW, twin-turbo V-8 is desirable but expensive, available third-row seats aren't suitable for adults.
Verdict The X5 is swift and swanky, with enough driving enjoyment to entertain on an occasional mountain pass.

Overview

It may not be as fun to drive as the Porsche Cayenne, nor is it as effortlessly smooth as the Genesis GV80, but the 2024 BMW X5 blends traits from both of those to create an agreeable—and agreeably luxurious—middle ground. From the outset, it's clear the X5 is going for broad appeal. Why else would BMW offer it with a trio of different powertrains, including a silky-smooth inline-six, an authoritative twin-turbo V-8, and an environmentally friendly plug-in hybrid? The SUV's cabin is lined with premium materials and, like other BMWs, includes cleverly integrated technology features like a slick-looking curved digital display that stretches nearly the length of the dashboard. This approach results in a luxury SUV so well-rounded that its few shortcomings are easily overlooked, and the X5 remains one of our favorite mid-size crossovers.

What's New for 2024?

BMW has sharpened the X5's exterior for 2024, including a revised front grille and bumper, new headlamps and taillamps, and updated wheel designs. The top-spec M60i model wears gloss-black exterior accents, quad tailpipes, and an M logo in the grille. Both the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engines benefit from a new 48-volt hybrid system, and the six-cylinder has been massaged further to boost output to 375 horsepower. Despite changing its name from M50i to M60i, the performance-oriented model's horsepower stays the same at 523 ponies. Last year's xDrive45e plug-in hybrid variant has been replaced with a more powerful xDrive50e, which offers 94 more horsepower and 10 more miles of electric-only driving range, for 483 horsepower and 40 miles of EV driving. All X5s also receive a new curved infotainment display and BMW's latest iDrive 8 software interface, which is already scheduled for an update to iDrive 8.5 sometime in the summer of 2023. The X5 is also now available with the Highway Assistant hands-free driving feature that we first experienced in the new 7-series flagship luxury sedan.

Pricing and Which One to Buy
sDrive40i: $66,195
xDrive40i: $68,495
xDrive50e: $73,495
xDrive M60i: $90,295

We love saving money almost as much as we love great performance, and that's why we think the xDrive40i is the X5 to buy. It's got sports-sedan acceleration, comes with all-wheel drive, and is a relative bargain in this pricey class. We'd recommend adding the Premium package for its head-up display, LED exterior lighting, remote engine-start capability, and Harman/Kardon stereo system.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2024 X5 is offered with one of three distinct powertrains, each associated with a different model. X5s wearing the sDrive40i or xDrive40i badges are powered by a 375-hp turbocharged inline-six. The last time we tested an xDrive40i it made just 335 horsepower but still managed a quick 4.8-second run to 60 mph, so we expect a little extra hustle from the more powerful version. The plug-in hybrid xDrive50e comes with a turbocharged inline-six and an electric motor that combine for 483 horsepower. Last but not least, the M60i's 523-hp twin-turbo V-8 enables it to rush to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. All three powertrains are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and none of them will leave drivers wanting for power in virtually any driving situation. The X5's refined ride and stable handling are hallmarks of this generation of BMW SUVs, as is its steering, which feels connected and direct. The Audi Q7 still has the X5 beat in this area, but it's a close match. Pitch the X5 into a fast corner, and it holds on reliably and rewards the driver with a predictability that's missing from the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class.
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/bmw/x5

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