2023 BMW X5 PHEV review
|
Show The BMW X5 is a top choice in midsize luxury SUVs if you have the means for it. Pricing starts at $61,600 and crosses into 6-digit territory when fully loaded. You have many choices in midsize luxury SUVs, and the BMW X5 is one of the best. It has the driving dynamics you’d expect from BMW with the practicality of a roomy SUV. If you like the idea of an SUV that drives like a sports sedan, few fit the bill like the X5. Several powertrain choices, individual options, and option packages make for a lot of customizability in the X5 lineup. It competes with other heavy-hitters in this segment like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Audi Q7, and Land Rover Range Rover Velar. 2023 BMW X5 PricingThe base X5 sDrive40i has a starting MSRP of $61,600, and the AWD xDrive40i starts at $63,900. The plug-in hybrid xDrive45e begins at $65,700. Upgrading to the V8 engine starts at $85,400 for the M50i and 108,900 for the X5 M. A destination fee of $995 applies to all X5 models. Typical for a BMW, the starting price of the X5 is on the higher side of its segment. Its closest rivals in terms of price are the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Audi Q7, and Land Rover Range Rover Velar. Some appealing alternatives in this segment are more affordable, like the Genesis GV80, Acura MDX, and Lexus RX, which is all-new for 2023. Driving the 2023 BMW X5Some luxury SUVs prioritize off-road capabilities, and some offer driving serenity without much excitement, but the BMW X5 is among the sportiest SUVs in its class. If you’re looking for a practical luxury SUV with the satisfying driving dynamics of a sports sedan, the BMW X5 delivers without much compromise. Even the base engine of the X5 gives it plenty of grunt for most drivers. It’s a punchy turbocharged inline-6 with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Drivers looking for extra muscle will be interested in the available twin-turbo V8. It gives the X5 quicker acceleration while retaining pretty agile handling considering the size and weight of this SUV. You won’t get bored with the M50i, but the X5 M is the ultimate in BMW SUV performance, especially if you add the Competition Package. There’s also a plug-in hybrid option that offers pretty similar performance as the base engine but with more horsepower. It also has an all-electric drive mode and can travel up to 30 miles on electricity alone. Interior ComfortThe inside of the BMW X5 is luxurious and driver-centric. The interior design is conservative but dignified and uses premium materials. The overall fit and finish is excellent, even in the base model. The standard 2-row configuration has roomy seating, but the optional third row is very tight. If you’re looking for a roomy 3-row luxury SUV, consider the bigger BMW X7. Cargo space is generous as long as there isn’t a third row of seats in the way. There’s a lot of customizability in this interior. On top of a long list of comfort and tech features, you can change the look and feel of the interior with different leather options, various wood and aluminum interior trims, and even an Alcantara headliner. Exterior StylingIf you want an SUV that looks like a BMW, the styling of the X5 won’t disappoint. Like the interior, the exterior styling is pretty conservative, but we certainly wouldn’t call it boring. It has the iconic BMW kidney grille and a light signature that’s distinctive of the brand’s design language. There’s some nice visual variety in the model range of the X5. For example, any model with “M” in its name has a sportier look to match the V8 under the hood. For a sporty-looking 6-cylinder model, the M Sport Package adds Shadowline exterior trim, an aerodynamic body kit, unique wheels, and some real performance upgrades like Adaptive M Suspension. The size of the BMW X5 is in line with the midsize luxury SUV class. It’s about the same size as the Lexus RX, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. The X5 is a bit smaller than SUVs in this segment with standard 3-row seating like the Audi Q7, Lincoln Aviator, and Acura MDX. Favorite FeaturesDRIVING ASSISTANCE PROFESSIONAL PACKAGE AVAILABLE
TWIN-TURBO V8 Standard FeaturesStandard features are pretty generous in the base X5 sDrive40i. For starters, the standard powertrain is a satisfying turbocharged mild-hybrid inline-6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. Standard features include a panoramic moonroof, power-adjustable sport front seats, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, the Live Cockpit Pro digital gauge cluster, and full LED lighting. Standard safety tech features in the X5 include front and rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and driver drowsiness monitoring. The standard infotainment system is a 12.3-inch screen loaded with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, and a 10-speaker audio system. You also get five USB ports. Factory OptionsOne of the most popular options for the BMW X5 is all-wheel drive, which BMW calls xDrive. Besides the addition of AWD, the xDrive40i model is pretty much the same as the base sDrive40i trim. The xDrive45e also comes with a similar list of standard and available equipment, the big difference being the plug-in hybrid powertrain. Many individual options and option packages let you customize your X5. The easiest option package to recommend is the Driving Assistance Professional Package, which adds extended traffic jam assistant, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic lane change, evasion assistant, and front cross-traffic alert. A Premium Package adds remote start, a head-up display, and wireless phone charging, while the fancier Executive Package further adds the panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, rear sun shades, glass control knobs, and Laserlight LED headlights. Drivers looking for a sporty 6-cylinder luxury SUV will like the M Sport Package. On top of an adaptive M suspension, you get a sporty appearance package inside and out with a few different choices of wheels and interior trim. The V8-powered M50i is for the driver who wants a muscular luxury SUV while keeping the price tag under the $100,000 mark. On top of the engine upgrade, it has M Sport-tuned exhaust, brakes, differential, transmission, and an adaptive M suspension. The available Dynamic Handling Package adds the Adaptive M Suspension Professional, active roll stabilization, and integral active steering to make it drive even more like a sports car. Peak performance comes from the X5 M. The Competition Package turns up the power to 617 hp and adds high-gloss black trim, a Merino leather interior with more “M” branding, and unique wheels. Engine & TransmissionThere’s a lot of mechanical variety under the hood of the BMW X5. The base engine is a satisfying turbocharged mild-hybrid inline-6, and there’s a plug-in hybrid variant available that adds an electric drive motor. There are three twin-turbo V8 options for the X5: the M50i, X5 M, and X5 M Competition. The more powerful it gets, the more expensive and less fuel-efficient it also becomes. The M50i is the sweet spot for the driver looking for rip-roaring performance in a practical luxury SUV without too much pain at the fuel pump. The base sDrive40i is RWD, and the xDrive40i is AWD. Every other X5 has standard AWD. A quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission delivers power to the wheels in every X5. 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (40i models) 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 + electric motor (xDrive45e) 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (M50i) 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (X5 M) KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles Is X5 changing in 2023?The flagship BMW X5 M is also undergoing some changes for the 2023 model year. It will sport largely the same tweaked front and rear fascias as the rest of the X5 family but will obviously be sportier and more aggressive.
How good is the X5 hybrid?Performance. How does the X5 Hybrid drive? It's astonishing what good engineering (and tires) can make a 2.8-ton vehicle do. The hybrid powertrain makes a mountain of smooth torque at any legal speed, enough to push you back in your seat, and motivates the X5 xDrive45e from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds.
Does 2023 X5 have iDrive 8?Significant Upgrades in the Cabin
The BMW X5 is one of the remaining models in line to get the iDrive 8, which as we've seen in recent BMWs, will simplify the center console by absorbing most of the controls into the touchscreen. There will be a toggle switch shifter and naturally a large curved display.
When can I buy 2023 BMW X5?The release date of the new 2023 BMW X5 will likely be in late Summer/early Fall 2022.
|
