2025 BMW X5 review | CarExpert

The BMW X5 defines the luxurious SUV style.

Certain, you could possibly argue it was the Vary Rover, and Mercedes-Benz beat it to the punch with the unique ML in 1997. However since 1999, the X5 has set the usual for the type of road-oriented SUVs that dominate non-public faculty carparks all over the world.

The badge has come a good distance. The primary-generation mannequin that debuted in 1999 borrowed closely from the 5 Series and was topped with a sprinkling of Land Rover DNA; the fourth-generation automotive here’s a road-biased luxurious household staple sitting as a part of a seven-strong BMW SUV vary.

In comparison with the final X5 we drove, the 2025 mannequin you see right here has been handled to a big replace.

Exterior, it has a massaged look that brings it into line with newer fashions just like the X3, whereas the cabin incorporates a new dual-screen infotainment setup. The vary of engines pack extra energy and use much less gasoline than earlier than, too.

Domestically, the brand new X5 goes head-to-head with an overhauled Audi Q7 and up to date Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Is it nonetheless the daddy?

How does the BMW X5 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the BMW X5 towards equally sized autos.

BMW

X5

How a lot does the BMW X5 value?

Costs have been hiked for the 2025 mannequin yr, in keeping with an replace to the broader X5 vary.

To see how the BMW X5 stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparison tool.

What’s the BMW X5 like on the within?

Each new BMW is a expertise showcase, and the brand new X5 isn’t any completely different. The curved, dual-screen setup dominating the dashboard seems to be field workplace, backed by some new dashboard finishes and ambient lighting.

Entrance passengers sit in well-stuffed, supportive seats with electrical adjustment, and all the pieces you contact feels prime quality.

Our tester was fitted with stunning BMW Particular person Merino leather-based seat trim and Luxurious entrance seats ($4000), however even the usual end feels suitably costly.

The view over the bonnet is suitably commanding, and tall or brief drivers gained’t battle to get comfy.

It’s brilliantly useful. There’s heaps of storage up entrance for bottles, together with a wi-fi charger, a wallet-sized slot beneath the dashboard, and a helpful area beneath the split-opening central armrest.

Gone are the bodily local weather controls although. They’ve been absorbed into the dual-screen infotainment setup, in keeping with the remainder of the BMW vary.

After we first used it, the brand new touchscreen tech in BMWs had too many layers. Turning on the heated seats took three button presses – now it takes two. It’s a step in the best course; though utilizing buttons within the final 4er was simpler once more.

When you’re dialled into how the touchscreen is about up, the tech on this BMW is great. All of the animations look lifted from the silver display, and the basics just like the wi-fi Apple CarPlay connection work as they need to.

Hey BMW voice prompts work effectively, permitting you to fiddle with all the pieces from the sunroof to the air con, however there’s nonetheless one thing odd about speaking to your automotive with others on board as passengers.

BMW has improved on its digital devices, ditching the busy look of the outdated X5 in favour of a cleaner and extra trendy structure.

There are many customisation choices, from mapping to your media particulars, however there’s no clear analogue-look choice that harks again to the model’s sensible orange-lit dials of outdated.

Rear seat area is stable, though the X5 is shaded by the marginally bigger (equally priced) Audi Q7 within the second row. Headroom is great again there, even with the panoramic sunroof fitted, and there’s loads of legroom for tall youngsters.

The tall home windows imply it feels vibrant within the second row, and all of the facilities you’d count on function. There’s a fold-down central armrest, air vents with their very own temperature controls, and first rate door bins for street journey snacks.

There’s additionally 4 USB ports again there. Together with the 2 USB-C ports on the base of the transmission tunnel, there are two on the entrance seat again alongside a pill mount for the children on lengthy street journeys.

ISOFIX factors function on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of high tethers again there for baby seats. It’s a disgrace built-in window shades are hidden in an choices bundle.

BMW deserves factors for sticking with its cut up tailgate, which makes it simpler to slip heavy issues into the boot – or works as a seat while you’re watching your youngsters play sport.

To see how the BMW X5 stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparison tool.

What’s below the bonnet?

BMW affords a alternative of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid energy within the X5. Our tester had a traditional BMW engine, within the type of a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol.

To see how the BMW X5 stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparison tool.

How does the BMW X5 drive?

BMW is understood for its silky easy inline-six engines, and the three.0-litre engine within the X5 40i carries on that custom in fashion.

It was already an easy engine, with a great deal of efficiency low within the rev vary and a cultured growl on the high finish, however the 48V system has made it much more spectacular.

The automated begin/cease kicks in imperceptibly as you coast as much as a set of site visitors lights, shutting down the engine with out a lot as a cough, and there’s no awkward jerk while you need to speed up away in a rush.

Though the lazier energy supply of a diesel fits a household bus just like the X5 properly, this inline-six petrol is a good looking engine for anybody who’s giving up their sports activities automotive desires to hold a household round.

BMW hasn’t made a lot noise about its hybrid expertise however it’s distinctive, and comes with out the awkwardness you get from the brakes in some rival mild-hybrid methods as they harvest power to feed the battery pack.

Mixed with mild steering, a snug trip, and first rate imaginative and prescient out the entrance, the buttery easy petrol engine makes the X5 straightforward to drive within the metropolis. BMW does one of the best surround-view digicam within the enterprise, so there’s no excuse for scraped wheels or bumpers while you’re parking in tight areas.

You’d need to watch out, as a result of the 22-inch wheels fitted to our tester look very straightforward to scrape. Additionally they undermine consolation relative to smaller choices, as a result of they’re wrapped in liquorice-thin tyres that simply can’t take in pimply metropolis streets like options with taller sidewalls.

The X5 is essentially fairly comfy, with a relaxed trip that feels extra luxurious than sporty. You’ll be able to flick the adaptive dampers into Sport for a firmer trip, however until you’re attempting to make the children sick on the college run it’s finest to go away issues in Consolation.

That is an easy cruiser when the street opens up. It’s close to silent on the freeway, and the trip stays glorious at 100km/h. Put your foot right down to overtake and the three.0-litre engine has energy in reserve, making open street overtakes easy.

Noise suppression is great – as you’d count on of a $140k luxurious SUV – at 100km/h on coarse nation highways, and the engine is silent until you’re pushing on.

The adaptive cruise management easily maintains a spot to the automotive in entrance, the lane-keep solely intervenes when it actually must, and the blind-spot monitor doesn’t soar at shadows.

It’s a disgrace BMW has made it more durable to fiddle with these driver assists, although. Need to change the next distance in your adaptive cruise management?

You should dive into the touchscreen for that, relatively than simply utilizing the buttons on the steering wheel which were blanked out as a part of the replace. We’ve mentioned it earlier than, however why not say it once more… The transfer away from buttons makes all the pieces more durable.

What do you get?

On check right here is the X5 xDrive40i which is probably the most reasonably priced petrol variant within the vary.

BMW X5 xDrive30d and xDrive40i highlights:

• Inside
  • Tri-zone local weather management
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Linked Drive bundle
  • DAB digital radio
  • Electrical seat adjustment
  • Heated entrance seats
  • Head-up show
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Verino leather-based seat, dashboard trim
  • Anthracite headliner
  • Wi-fi cellphone charging
  • M Leather-based steering wheel
• Exterior
  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • Keyless entry and begin
  • LED headlights with adaptive high-beam help
  • BMW glowing kidney grille
  • Gloss black roof rails
• Different
  • Adaptive M suspension
  • M Sport brakes
  • Parking Assistant Skilled with Reversing Help
  • Drive recorder
  • Alarm
  • Computerized tailgate

Is the BMW X5 protected?

The X5 wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking with 2018 date stamp, primarily based on checks carried out by Euro NCAP. This ranking solely covers 3.0-litre petrol and diesel fashions, with plug-in hybrid and V8 variants remaining unrated.

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• Driving Assistant Skilled
  • Adaptive cruise with cease/go
  • Entrance, rear cross-traffic alert
  • Steering & Lane Management Assistant
  • Lane hold help
  • Aspect Collision Warning
  • Lane Change Assistant
  • Crossroads warning
  • Evasion Assist
• Excessive beam help
• Parking Assistant Plus
  • Energetic Park Distance Management rear (sensors)
  • Reversing Assistant
  • Encompass View (360 cameras)
  • Panorama View
  • 3D View
• Velocity Limiter
• Velocity Restrict Data

How a lot does the BMW X5 value to run?

Just like the broader BMW vary, the X5 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

CarExpert’s Tackle BMW X5

The BMW X5 remains to be unimaginable to disregard when you’re looking for a luxurious household hauler.

Its mix of luxurious and practicality stays glorious, and BMW has dragged it into 2024 with its cutting-edge new dual-screen setup.

There are nonetheless few issues nicer within the motoring world than a easy inline-six engine, though anybody spending lengthy stints on the freeway could be effectively served wanting on the cheaper turbo-diesel different.

The one actual knock on the X5 stays its rear seat area, which is suitable… however not standout alongside equally priced rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Offered you’re not planning on having a household of basketball gamers it’s unlikely to be a dealbreaker.

Interested by shopping for a BMW X5? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers here

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