BMW X5

The Sweet Spot

The BMW X5 was once a pioneer in the luxury SUV segment. But with this generation ageing, BMW has given it a facelift that reinforces its position amidst growing competition. Initially celebrated as BMW's first foray into SUVs, the X5 has transitioned from being the flagship to taking on the role of being the bridge between the compact X1 or X3, and the mammoth X7. The X5 has ascended in both positioning and price, now entering the realm of over a crore rupees on-road. Despite the competitive landscape shaped by rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC60, the X5 has a boldness and flair that aims to set a new benchmark for luxury SUVs. Does it succeed? Let’s find out.

BMW X5 Pros and Cons 

BMW X5 Exterior Design 

With its latest facelift, BMW has introduced a cleaner front end to the X5, which now bears a kidney grille, which while large, is proportionate to the SUV. BMW has still gone a little over the top with it, including nighttime illumination into the kidney grille, enhancing the over-a-crore SUV’s presence come nightfall. The new C-shaped LED DRLs embedded in slim headlamp housings enhance the X5’s clean appeal. Choose the M Sport trim, and it will add aggressive bumper designs and a striking "Brooklyn Grey" paint option for those seeking a more BMWesque aesthetic. Despite its unchanged dimensions, the X5's presence is amplified by standard 21-inch wheels, which, while contributing to an imposing stance, raise considerations about ride comfort — more on that in the ‘Comfort’ segment of our review. 

BMW X5 Interiors 

The mid-cycle facelift has improved the X5’s interior by a significant amount, adopting a clean and minimalistic dashboard design, with most of the controls incorporated in the infotainment system, which sits in a curved housing that also houses the large digital instrument cluster. However, this means that some simple tasks like adjusting the temperature or blower speeds also require more than one click, which can be distracting while driving. If you’re not driving though, high-quality materials such as open-pore wood and soft leather upholstery will draw your attention, making you feel every bit of the luxury you paid for. The X5's spacious interior foregoes the optional third-row seats available in some markets, instead focusing on providing a great expanse of space for both rows and a generous 650-litre boot.

BMW X5 Comfort 

Seating comfort in the BMW X5 is one of the key areas of focus, thanks to large supportive seats, and the inclusion of seat heating and ventilation. However, at this price point, it would’ve been nice if BMW included massaging seats in the X5, especially since even the X1 gets it. The rear seats are notably comfortable too, but don’t get adjustable recline, and as is, the seats are just a shade too upright. It also gets 4-zone climate control, allowing all passengers to set their own temperatures. Despite the vehicle's height, ingress and egress are easy, thanks to adjustable ride height facilitated by its air suspension system, which also allows you to lower the car to get in and out.

The air suspension also plays a crucial role in the X5’s comfort, and as the speeds build, it absorbs bumps and potholes well, while also maintaining the poise and sharpness BMWs are associated with. However, the X5 rides on large 21-inch wheels wrapped with low-profile tyres, and while they fill out the wheel arches beautifully, they do hamper low-speed comfort, and sharper potholes can be felt in the cabin. It would’ve been nicer if BMW offered slightly smaller wheels for the non-M sport variants, allowing buyers to choose between a more sporty or a more comfortable setup.

BMW X5 Performance and Handling

Despite the industry slowly moving to offer only petrol engines — thanks to emissions-related bans — BMW still offers both petrol as well as diesel engines with its X5. Both engines in question are 3-litre units, with the petrol being the more performance-oriented of the two. 

With the diesel, the X5 exhibits a blend of agility and refinement rare in its class. Power output here is 282 bhp, but it is the mammoth 650 Nm of torque on offer that does the talking, propelling the X5 from 0-100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds. And if the power output is on the lower side for you, the petrol engine offers 375 bhp on tap, which is enough to shoot the X5 to 100 km/h from a standstill in just 5.4 seconds! The engine’s enthusiastic performance is matched by an 8-speed steptronic gearbox and BMW's xDrive AWD system, ensuring responsive and engaging driving dynamics. The X5 gets multiple drive modes too, which allow you to keep various parts at varying levels of aggression. While Eco Pro mode offers a more relaxed driving experience, Sport mode unlocks the SUV's full potential, with sharper steering, quicker gearbox responses, and tighter suspension, making the X5 feel like it shrinks around you.

BMW X5 Key specifications

BMW X5 Safety Features

The BMW X5 doesn't skimp on safety, offering a suite of features including eight airbags, electronic stability control, hill descent control, a tyre pressure monitoring system and all the other basic safety systems. Advanced safety aids such as lane-keep assist and auto emergency braking are also a part of the package, but a full ADAS suite is not present. While the facelift is yet to be tested, the pre-facelift model scored 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test despite its stricter testing norms, scoring 89% for adult occupant protection and 86% for child occupant protection.

BMW X5 Technology and Infotainment

At the heart of the X5’s dashboard is a large curved display housing, featuring a 14.9-inch infotainment screen, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. BMW's OS 8 software powers the infotainment system, which gets a high-resolution and responsive display that is a treat to use. And apart from touch inputs, you also get gesture controls, and BMW’s iDrive joystick. Despite its advanced capabilities and connectivity options though, the system's complexity and the integration of too many functions into the touchscreen can be cumbersome. The X5 also gets features like seat heating and cooling for the front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Harman/Kardon sound system which features a 464 W digital amplifier, 9 channels, and 16 speakers. Yet the absence of simpler controls for basic functions and some expected luxury amenities like seat massaging highlights areas for improvement.  

Is the BMW X5 for You?

Over the years, the BMW X5 has seen several price hikes. And with the latest facelift, the ex-showroom prices have breached the ₹1 crore mark. But for all that money, the X5 packs more than justifiable hardware. It gets two high-performance engines, a lightning-fast gearbox, air suspension, a sizable cabin with a huge boot, and several tech goodies in the cabin. The appearance of the X5 has also evolved to be sophisticated and elegant, and the interior also wears high-quality materials. Yes, smaller wheels could’ve made the X5’s ride more forgiving at city speeds, and some features like a seat massager are missing. But these small niggles aside, the X5 packs most of what you’d expect at this price point and then some more, making it a solid contender in its segment.