BMW X5 Review & Prices

The BMW X5 is a big, posh family SUV with loads of clever tech on board, excellent driving manners and futuristic styling. The looks are pretty polarising, however, and there’s a bit of screen overload going on inside.

Now in its fifth generation, the latest X5 is a bit like your great-grandparents’ family home undergoing a major renovation for the first time ever. Yes, it’s much the same as your parents remember it, but it has a very different character with new rendering outside and modern interior amenities.

It’s not alone, either, because the neighbours have also recently had some work done - in this case being the Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE and Volvo XC90. That sporty couple up the road are still present in the form of the Porsche Cayenne, while the new-build Polestar 3 stands out for its slick design.

Though, this is the sleekest the X5 has ever looked. Following on from the iX3 SUV and i3 saloon, the iX5 gets BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ styling. That means the body cladding, big grilles and window trims of previous models are gone, with smooth sides, a slender front grille and rakish roofline for the latest car. It’s not for everyone, but there’s no denying this X5 is attention-grabbing.

The interior is all-new, too, and worlds apart from the X5 it replaces. It’s almost like a spaceship inside, with the full-width driver display and trapezium-shaped infotainment screen stealing your attention, as per the new 7 Series, too.

In fact, it’s pretty hard to not be looking at some piece of screen-related tech, not just because there’s so much of it, but because BMW has ditched almost every physical control button in the X5. Instead you have to poke your way around the infotainment to adjust any setting, bar the seats, which is a faff for some (such as the drive modes) and easy in others (adjusting the climate temperature).

You’ll notice loads of upholstered surfaces and the dashboard drops towards you in dramatic fashion, while interesting touches such as stone on the centre console and flickering ambient lighting mean the X5 is suitably posh at first glance.

It’s a shame that material quality has dropped compared to the previous model, though, most notably in the scratchy plastics on the lower door cards and dashboard. The steering wheel is strange, too, with an awkward design and touch-sensitive buttons that are easy to mis-press.

The front seats are comfortable and highly adjustable, though again, not quite as cosseting as in the old X5. The high-set driver display also eats into forward visibility if you like having your seat set quite low. At least there’s plenty of storage space, with a big centre console, two phone charging pads, an upholstered glovebox and large door bins.

Back seat passengers aren’t lacking for space, with acres of legroom and foot space under the sculpted front chairs. Headroom is good, though slightly compromised by having a lower roof line than the previous X5. Even your kids in the back get phone mounts and wireless charging, which makes up for the scratchy plastics on the door cards.

You can’t have the X5 as a seven-seater anymore, either, unlike the old model. Here's looking at you, BMW X7.

Boot space is a generous 650 litres - albeit less than the 722-litre Audi Q7 - but BMW has cut one of the X5’s best features on this new model. Namely, the split-opening tailgate which meant you could sit on the lower section or simply lift the glass to load in small items. Big boo, BMW.

The X5 has been engineered to have a huge range of engines. Eventually it’ll be available with petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric and even hydrogen power - but for now only the electric, diesel and PHEV models are coming to the UK.

The X5 is delightful to drive, partially down to the standard-fit adaptive suspension which soaks up lumps and bumps at lower speeds and allows the car to glide along when you’re at a cruise.

Speaking of which, the active cruise control isn’t too nervous and allows you a degree of manual input without disengaging. This is good, as is the noise insulation in town, but there is a smidge of wind noise on the motorway.

You can feel the car’s hefty weight at times, with a bit of delay between putting your foot down and getting a move on in ‘normal’ mode, though you can feel a noticeable difference when putting the big Beemer in Sport mode. It always feels planted and stable, no matter which drive setting you’re in.

Verdict

The BMW X5 is still one of the best, most capable all-rounders going, if you’re looking for a posh family SUV. The styling isn’t as elegant as before, and the interior is harder to live with, but it still ticks so many boxes that it’s impossible not to recommend - even if a Porsche Cayenne is sportier and an Audi Q7 is more spacious.

Check out the latest BMW X5 deals, leasing offers and used BMW X5s for sale through Carwow, as well as other BMWs for sale though our trusted dealer network. Remember to sell your current car through Carwow when the time comes to make a change, too.

The BMW X5 starts at just over £85,000 - though strangely that’s in all-electric iX5 50 guise. The cheapest one you can put fuel into is the diesel X5 40d M Sport at almost £86,000, with the PHEV costing a couple thousand more on top. That’s more expensive than the new Audi Q7 which is more spacious. The Mercedes GLE is cheaper than either - though that’s pretty old by comparison.

M Sport cars feature aggressive bumpers, sports brakes with blue calipers, dark interior trim, M-specific graphics on the driver display, adaptive suspension and 21-inch wheels as standard. M Sport Pro builds on that gloss black exterior details and wheels, red brake calipers, 3D-illuminated front grilles, tinted glass and M-tricolour seatbelt accents.