The new X5 is, once again, a crucial car for BMW. That’s why, for the first time, it is now available not only as an all-electric iX5 but also with a hydrogen fuel cell option. Production of the iX5 will start in August at the Spartanburg plant in the USA.
The iX5’s specifications look promising; its design closely resembles that of the iX3. One unique detail is the “X” motif in the headlight assembly that integrates the daytime running lights.
The fifth generation of the BMW X5, in production since 1999, will offer one of the widest ranges of fuel options among passenger cars. Starting in 2028, BMW has pledged that the new iX5 will be available with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.
But until that happens (dates aren’t specified yet), the battery-electric iX5 is the most relevant. Especially because of its substantial traction battery with a 141 kWh capacity, a sophisticated chassis, and advanced driver-assistance systems that tend to deliver a new level of comfort and safety for the driver.
Big is beautiful
From a European perspective, it is difficult to comprehend that the BMW iX5, measuring 4.99 m in length, a substantial 2 m in width (excluding wing mirrors), and 1.75 m in height, is considered a mid-size SUV.
Bigger seems the option, especially in the USA, where this model sells well. This is why it is exclusively produced in the U.S. and exported to the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there seems to be a growing customer base in Europe, and especially in Germany. China, on the other hand, remains a problem.
Those who choose the iX5 may value its towing capacity of 2,700kg, ideal for horse trailers or a sailing boat. Its range is also impressive, spanning 645 to 845km under the WLTP test cycle, with a standardized energy consumption of 20.1 to 23.9kWh per 100km.
This variation is likely due to differences in tires and equipment levels. What all models share is the design, which clearly looks as if BMW took the iX3 and magnified it under a microscope. It’s a strategy that is practiced and works for many car manufacturers: deliberate similarity across model ranges.
425 kW of power, 460 kW of charging capability
At launch, the BMW iX5 60 xDrive top model will be available. It delivers 425 kW of system power, accelerating the SUV from 0 to 100 kph in 4.6 seconds. Top speed is set at 210 kph. Torque is an impressive 805 Nm. The transmission features a two-stage reduction gear. And, of course, the xDrive badge signifies all-wheel drive: a separately excited synchronous motor powers the rear axle, while an asynchronous electric motor drives the front. BMW has refined the integration of all these components over many years and development stages.
A traction battery with a 141 kWh capacity requires significant power to charge quickly. Unsurprisingly, the iX5 comes standard with an AC charger rated at 22kW. For DC charging, the peak output is 460 kW, and replenishing the battery from 10 to 80% is expected to take just 23 minutes. While such figures would have seemed extraordinary just a few years ago, they are now the norm, even for a battery of this size.
Driving dynamics
Two highlights of the BMW iX5 deserve closer attention: its chassis and driver-assistance systems. Even in its base configuration, every iX5 features an adaptive suspension. For an additional cost, and in this vehicle segment, customers are often willing to invest in a few extras; there is the Integral Active Steering system. This allows the rear wheels to turn by up to 3.2 degrees, reducing the turning circle to a still-fairly-wide 12.1m.
The pinnacle of the chassis setup is the Adaptive Chassis Control Professional with roll stabilization. The BMW iX5 60 xDrive already weighs 2,900 kg when empty. For BMW, it’s of the highest importance and a core brand value to feel how agile such a behemoth can be when all systems are fully engaged. Remember, BMW still stands for ‘Freude am Fahren’, the sheer joy of driving.
Beyond its active driving dynamics, the iX5 also aims to showcase the potential of driving automation. At its core are the advanced Level 2 systems ‘Entry-2-Exit’ for motorways and ‘Address-2-Address’ for urban environments. Both systems come at an additional cost.
Level 2 systems must still always be supervised by a human driver. However, they create the illusion of autonomous driving: ‘Address-to-Address’, for example, means the vehicle can handle the entire journey from start to destination in urban traffic. The BMW iX5 brakes, steers, navigates turns, and recognizes traffic lights. In principle, this is comparable to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised, which has recently been approved in some European countries.
A similar principle applies on motorways, where ‘Entry-2-Exit’ means the driver must remain attentive, with the driver’s focus monitored (for example, via seat occupancy detection), but they are not required to keep their hands on the wheel. Essentially, the driver observes the car as it steers itself.
This approach of introducing autonomous driving in urban and motorway environments before addressing other road types, such as federal and rural roads, is also seen at Mercedes, where the system is called Drive Assist Pro.
‘Neue Klasse’ interior
The X5’s interior is also similar to the new i3 and iX3, the first products of the ‘Neue Klasse’. An optional 14.6-inch passenger screen is available for the first time.
The cabin is dominated by the BMW Panoramic iDrive infotainment display. It includes BMW Panoramic Vision on the full width of the lower windshield, providing key information in the driver’s field of vision. A head-up display is standard and is located above the Panoramic Vision. At the center is a 17.9-inch touchscreen.
Crucial
The BMW X5 remains a key model for the German luxury brand, not only in the ever-critical U.S. market but also in the rest of the world. It’s also, by far, the most lucrative model in the BMW range, according to analysts, with average profit margins exceeding 10%.
BMW revealed the latest X5 lineup at a June 30 media event at its plant near Spartanburg, South Carolina. The X5 has always been manufactured at the facility, and the iX5 variant will be the first electric vehicle built there.
BMW spent $1.7 billion upgrading the factory to produce multiple EVs. The plant, BMW’s largest production site in the world and a key export hub, is expected to play an even larger manufacturing role as the company counters the impact of President Donald Trump’s bruising tariffs on U.S. vehicle imports. The BMW X3, X6, X7, and XM are also produced in Spartanburg.
BMW is seeking its eighth consecutive year as the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. BMW outsold all rival brands in the first quarter despite a 3.9% decline. The new X5, set for a fall launch, along with electric iX3 deliveries beginning in September, will provide dealers with another round of fresh product. To convince the EV-critical U.S. customer, BMW felt obliged to come up with such a large battery.
The U.S. and European markets will play a larger role for BMW due to problems in China. Sales of European premium brands, including BMW, have been declining there, and the new electric version of the X5, although a very popular model in China until recently, will also face the planned government restrictions on EVs with batteries that are too large or energy consumption that is too high.
In the States, the iX5 will start at $81,250. In Belgium, the new iX5, expected to arrive later this year, will cost €102,500 for the iX 60 xDrive, the same price as the PHEV X5 50e xDrive. It’s a pricing policy we saw already earlier, also at other competitors like Volvo with the EX60, aimed at boosting EV sales.
As the X5 is sold worldwide, genuine petrol and diesel variants of the newcomer will also remain available. The starting price for the X5 40 xDrive petrol version is €93,900; the diesel variant costs €4,000 less. The top-of-the-line will be the X5 M60e xDrive at €124,500. When the hydrogen newcomer will arrive isn’t fixed yet. From the beginning, BMW was aiming for a market introduction in 2028.
