After 27 years of playing it safe, the BMW X5 is getting its biggest shake-up yet. The fifth-generation model wears bold new styling, packs a lineup of five powertrains, and welcomes a fully electric version called the iX5 for the very first time.
- The new X5 adopts BMW’s Neue Klasse design, drops the signature split tailgate, and adds winged door handles.
- Buyers get five powertrains globally, though the US market sees gas, plug-in hybrid, and electric options.
- The electric iX5 60 leads the range with up to 435 miles of estimated range and a fresh 141.0-kWh battery.
A Bold New Face
Start at the front, and you’ll spot the biggest visual change right away. The X5 now wears double-X headlights that light up in a way you won’t mistake for anything else. Flip a switch, and they glow yellow, a friendly nod to classic BMW M cars. There’s even a button in the cabin that lets you shut off the left bar entirely if you want.
Move around the side and the traditional door handles have vanished. BMW went with winged handles that pop out at the press of a button, following a path that Ford and Volvo have already taken. The most talked-about change sits at the back. The split tailgate, one of the X5’s signature party tricks for decades, is gone. BMW says customer feedback and a push for a cleaner, more aerodynamic shape drove the call. Longtime fans may need a moment to make peace with that one.
Bigger, Heavier, and More High-Tech Inside
The new X5 grows 2.2 inches longer while sitting 0.6 inches lower, putting it roughly in line with the outgoing iX. It also gains weight across the board. The base gasoline model tips the scales at 5,213 pounds, about 300 pounds more than before. The plug-in hybrid climbs to 5,985 pounds, and the all-electric iX5 is the heavyweight of the group at 6,393 pounds, nearly 1,200 pounds more than the gas car.
Step inside and the cabin borrows heavily from the updated 7 Series. A massive 17.9-inch center touchscreen anchors the dashboard, and buyers can add an optional 14.6-inch passenger display. BMW’s new vertical-spoke steering wheel shows up here too, though the M Sport package swaps in a more traditional design. The panoramic iDrive display stretches across the base of the windshield, complete with an AI assistant that can handle in-car tasks and answer plenty of everyday questions. Material choices stand out as well, with an available slate center console, optional Alcantara across the lower dash and door cards, and glass seat controls.
Five Powertrains and One Electric Standout
If BMW is proud of anything here, it’s choice. The X5 can be had with a gas engine, a plug-in hybrid, a battery, a diesel, or hydrogen. That said, the diesel skips the US, and the hydrogen version won’t arrive until 2028. American shoppers get a gas X5 40 with a 3.0-liter straight-six making 394 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid X5 50e pairs that six-cylinder with a 26.5-kWh battery for 483 horsepower, while the punchier M60e stays overseas.
The star of the show is the electric iX5 60. Its new 141.0-kWh battery sends power to all four wheels for 578 horsepower and 593 pound-feet of torque, with up to 435 miles of estimated range. The cells come from the recently revealed iX3 but were made slightly larger for a 30 percent bump in usable capacity, which trims both size and weight. Fast-charging tops out around 460 kW, making it one of the quickest-charging EVs headed to American driveways. Shoppers cross-shopping rivals like Mercedes electric cars will find the iX5’s range and charging figures tough to ignore.
What It Costs and When You Can Get One
Pricing starts at $69,800 for the X5 40, climbs to $77,500 for the X5 50e plug-in hybrid, and reaches $79,800 for the electric iX5 60. That puts the EV about $10,000 above the base gas model, which feels reasonable given the tech on board. BMW plans to have the new X5 on dealer lots by the end of 2026, so the wait isn’t long. Between the fresh design, the wide spread of powertrains, and a genuinely competitive electric option, this generation gives midsize luxury SUV shoppers plenty to think about.
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