Mat Watson gives his honest verdict on the new BMW X5: is it better than the old one?
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson has been in California driving the all-new BMW X5, as well as comparing it with the old car. Is it just change for change’s sake, or is the latest X5 now better than ever?
This is the new BMW X5. Whereas every other generation has slowly evolved compared to its predecessor, it seems as though BMW just thought “sod it” with this one and went completely bonkers.
It looks nothing like the old car, has a radical new interior and it’s available as an electric car for the first time, but has the gamble paid off? After all, the old X5 was already one of the best SUVs you could buy.
To find out, I’ve been driving the new BMW X5, and I’ve got hold of the old car as well to compare them side-by-side.
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New BMW X5: design
The design of this new BMW X5 follows on from the iX3, only I think the styling works much better on this larger car. I love the headlight design, which features X-shaped daytime running lights. Those Xs also flash orange when you put the indicators on, which I reckon looks wicked.
The alloy wheels are huge. The ones fitted to this car are 22 inches, but you can go up to 23-inch rims if you want. The smallest wheels are 19 inches, which I think would look a bit puny here – they do on the smaller iX3.
As with that car, the X5 has hidden window seals which just make it look more modern, like the bodywork flows seamlessly into the glass. You also have strange door handles. They’re little fins which protrude from the B-pillar, a bit like a Ferrari Purosangue, but they’re not as easy to use as the traditional handles you got on the old car.
Speaking of the old car, it’s definitely got a more rugged SUV vibe than the new one. The black cladding around the wheel arches and more angular shape make it look purposeful, whereas the new one looks more like a massive hatchback.
I do like the sleek rear lights on the new X5 though, and overall I think I slightly prefer the overall design to its predecessor. It’s less traditional, but it’s cooler.
New BMW X5: interior and infotainment
There’s a lot to get your head around in the new BMW X5. It has pretty much the same interior layout as the iX3, meaning you have a huge, wraparound driver’s display at the base of the windscreen and a massive infotainment screen.
That driver’s display is a bit gimmicky though, because some of the information it gives you is fairly pointless. I don’t really need to know my elevation above sea level, but I do like having my speed and navigation directions in my direct eyeline.
The touchscreen is the same as you get in the iX3, meaning it’s really bright and responsive and the menus are easy to navigate. You do have to move the vents around using the screen though, which isn’t as easy as just grabbing a toggle like you could in the old X5.
I reckon the old X5 feels more premium inside as well. The dashboard may look older, but you get soft touch materials all the way down on the bottom of the doors, unlike the new car which has hard plastics on the lower half.
The new car does have some nice touches, like the slate trim panel in the centre console, but I slightly prefer the old car’s more simple layout and posh-feeling materials.
New BMW X5: space and practicality
There’s loads of space in the back on the new BMW X5. Legroom is even better than it is in the outgoing car, there’s loads of under-thigh support and the seats are really comfy. Adults of all shapes and sizes will be able to get comfortable, no problem.
You get decent door bins in the back as well, as well as a couple of cupholders in the centre armrest. These aren’t covered though, so you do end up resting your wrists in them. That is unless you fit the removable pillow.
Four-zone climate control is available as an option to keep all occupants at their ideal temperature, and there are USB ports and wireless chargers to keep phones topped up.
The new X5 has a 650-litre boot, which is exactly the same as the outgoing X5 but over 70 litres smaller than the new Audi Q7. At least you do get some handy storage under the boot floor, with a dedicated place for the load cover to live.
However, unlike the outgoing X5, there’s no seven-seater version on the horizon. If you need to carry seven people, you’ll need to get the Audi Q7 or if you want to stay with BMW you’ll need to upgrade to the X7.
New BMW X5: what’s it like to drive?
The car I have here is the 40 version, which uses a 400hp 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine. We won’t get this one in the UK though, we’ll be limited to the 313hp diesel, the petrol plug-in hybrid with 489hp and the electric iX5 with 578hp.
No matter which power option you choose, you get air suspension as standard. Compared with the traditional springs and dampers you got before, this makes the new X5 float down the road in a slightly more relaxing fashion. It’s also quieter than before, but I don’t think the seats are quite as good as they were in the old car.
This car is also fitted with some really clever self-driving tech. On certain roads you can go completely hands-free, and it’ll even indicate for you when you need to make a lane change. BMW drivers don’t use their indicators anyway, so I guess BMW has decided to do it automatically to quash that stereotype.
New BMW X5: Mat’s final verdict
The new BMW X5 is certainly a very impressive car. It may not be as good as the old car in some ways, but in more ways it’s miles better. The tech is brilliant, it’s more practical than before and I prefer the way it looks.
BMW’s gamble has paid off, and that’s why I think you should shortlist the new X5.
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