BMW’s X5 was the car that kicked off the trend for sporty, high-riding models. In fact, the German brand always dubbed the X5 an SAV – Sports Activity Vehicle – rather than the usual Sports Utility Vehicle, as a way to differentiate it from the rest of the market.
Now, some 27 years after the original X5 broke the mould, a fifth-generation car is here – and it’s available with electric power for the first time.
The X5 has always proven a popular option for BMW and it’s throwing the works at this latest model to make sure that trend continues. We’ve been out to America – one of the X5’s most popular markets – to find out what it’s like.
What’s new?
Basically, everything. You may notice that the iX5 shares some exterior design touches with the new iX3, and they both fall under BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ range of box-fresh vehicles. Essentially, everything you’re getting here is brand-new and it incorporates all of the latest technology.
So from a wraparound Panoramic Vision display to a super-rapid charge speed, everything about the iX5 has been designed to showcase the very latest that BMW has to offer.
What’s under the bonnet?
If electric isn’t for you, don’t panic – BMW is going for a multi-energy strategy with the new X5. So while there’s this battery-powered version, you’ll also be able to get it in plug-in hybrid, diesel and – further down the line – hydrogen flavours. So there should be something for everyone.
But it’s the battery-powered one that we’re focusing on here and the headline stats are impressive. BMW claims a total range of up to 850 km – one of the longest around – and a super-rapid maximum charge speed of 460kW while brings a 10 to 80% charge time of under 20 minutes. There may not be units that can supply this charging speed near you, but it does mean that the iX5 is future-proofed for developments in charger capability.
What’s it like to drive?
The X5 has always erred on the sportier side of things, and that’s much the same with this new iX5. There’s a sense that the suspension – which is air-cushioned on our test car – has been tuned to give the car a slightly sharper sensation than you might expect. It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s there to give a better sense of the road underneath you. This dual-motor iX5 has more than enough performance for a car of this size, too, and the high-speed refinement is excellent as well. There was a small amount of wind noise above the side windows, but it was hardly intrusive.
The steering is pleasant to use, too, and has a decent amount of feedback. The slightly odd steering wheel takes some getting used to, though, and its completely symmetrical design means that you can sometimes lose track of where the front wheels are.
How does it look?
BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ range of electric vehicles all share a common design theme, and we’d argue that it’s been the most successful on this iX5. The proportions look spot-on, and while some might find the front-end design a bit controversial, it feels slightly better suited to the larger iX5 than the smaller iX3. We’re big fans of the ‘X’ headlights, too.
BMW has opted for ‘wing’-style door handles at the base of the windows and while they do help to make the car more aerodynamically efficient, we can’t help but feel that regular handles would be far more intuitive. We’d sacrifice a few km of range for a very straightforward way of getting in and out of a car, that’s for sure.
What’s it like inside?
There’s a very high-tech theme inside the iX5. Everywhere you look, you’ll find a screen, from the large central display to the full wraparound Panoramic Vision. We’d only argue that when you also have a head-up display – like our test car – there’s a duplication of information, so you can look ahead to view your speed, and it’s then relayed again via the Panoramic screen underneath. As we’ve said about so many other cars recently, the iX5 could do with a few more physical buttons, too.
But space is excellent. There’s plenty of headroom in the back and BMW has equipped the iX5 with handy new MagSafe phone mounts on the backs of the front seats so you can easily watch videos on your phone hands-free. The 655-litre boot is just what you’d expect from this size of car, and there’s a handy 53-litre ‘frunk’ for cable storage too.
What’s the spec like?
Prices for the dual-motor iX5 start from $81,250 in the US, £85,875 in the UK and €102,800 in Europe. It’s a lot, for sure, but puts it in the exact same bracket as age-old foes like the Porsche Cayenne Electric but well under the likes of the Range Rover Sport Electric. Its trump card is range and charging speed, but there’s plenty of standard equipment to justify that price, too. Highlights include full LED headlights, the aforementioned Panoramic Vision display which can be customised through different ‘widgets’ and a full-length glass roof, which helps to make the cabin feel a lot more spacious.
Popular M Sport cars start from similar prices and it’s here that we imagine the bulk of buyers will go. With its larger wheels and sportier design overall, it’s got a lot of presence – but if it’s equipment you want, then the base car really will provide more than enough.
Verdict
There’s a lot riding on the fifth-generation X5. It represents the continuation of a model line that has been popular for decades and it’s pleasing to report that it feels like a car that is aware of this past but distinctly focused on the future. While the variety of screens might seem a little over-the-top, everything works well and is intuitive to use.
But those core X5 plus-points remain. It’s impressively practical, is great to drive and feels solid throughout. It’s why we believe the iX5 could be the electric car to beat.
BMW iX5 60 xDrive specifications
Engine: Dual electric motors
Power: 570bhp
Torque: 805Nm
Max speed: 210 km/h
0-100 km/h: 4.6 seconds
MPG: NA
Emissions: NA
Range: 724–850 km
Maximum charge speed: 460kW
