The fifth-generation X5 adopts BMW's newest design language and is available as the iX5 EV for the first time. When BMW launched the original X5 in 1999, the brand thrust itself into a new era. BMW built its reputation with nimble, sporty coupes and sedans, so it remained a mystery whether its tried-and-true recipe would translate to a mid-size SUV. Almost three decades later, the X5 has become a fixture of BMW's lineup and remains one of its bestsellers, so it's fair to say that gamble paid off.
Now entering its fifth generation, the 2027 BMW X5 ushers in yet another new chapter, wearing the brand's Neue Klasse styling and brandishing an array of different powertrain options, including an all-electric variant for the first time. BMW's beaver-tooth era has officially ended with the proliferation of the Neue Klasse design direction, and the 2027 X5 is the latest to get the makeover.
Dimensionally, the new model is roughly the same size as before, but its wheelbase has been stretched by 2.4 inches. The lengthened wheelbase improves rear-seat legroom, according to BMW. It is also taller than the outgoing model, but its reworked proportions give it a broader, more muscular stance thanks to its raised beltline and simplified side profile.
View Price on AmazonMany of the X5's visual motifs were already previewed on the electric iX3 compact SUV that debuted at the beginning of this year. Like that model, the new X5 adopts narrow, vertically oriented kidney grilles, smoother side surfacing, and thin taillights that nearly merge in the center of the rear liftgate. There are also a few styling choices that we haven't seen from BMW before. Instead of traditional door handles, the 2027 X5 features touch-capacitive winglets integrated into the B- and C-pillars, similar to those on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Soft-close doors are standard, and electrically powered ones are available for an additional fee. The most striking new addition to the X5's face is the new double-X-shaped lighting signatures nestled under the leading edge of the hood. The headlight design is functional and aesthetic, incorporating the low-beams, daytime running lights, side lights, and turn signals into a single unit. If the look is a little too on-the-nose for your taste, you can also toggle off one of the internal lighting elements, leaving only one slash mark visible.
The overhaul is more than just skin deep, and stepping inside reveals some serious changes to the 2027 X5's cabin design. Those who haven’t seen the interior of the new iX3 might be jump-scared by the X5's new dual-spoke steering wheel, but BMW seems to be firmly committed to the design in its Neue Klasse cars. Its ovular rim features thumb cutouts for easy access to the floating touch-sensitive buttons that jut from the central hub.
Look past the controversial tiller, and you'll find another major departure from the status quo at the base of the windshield. Instead of using a traditional digital gauge display located behind the steering wheel, key vehicle information is projected onto a strip of darkened glass that spans from A-pillar to A-pillar. The BMW Panoramic iDrive display also houses several other new features, including an AI-powered digital assistant. In the center of the dash, the primary 17.9-inch infotainment screen has adopted a trapezoidal shape, and a 14.6-inch passenger screen can be optioned for some in-transit entertainment.
Beyond the gadgetry, the X5's interior design places a heavy emphasis on mood lighting. Customizable light strips sit beneath the infotainment screen and are integrated into the doors to bathe the driver and front passenger in a hue of their choosing. The cabin ambiance is further elevated by unique and interesting material choices, including a slate panel on the center console that houses switchgear and buttons for the parking brake, rear-window defrost, and hazard lights.
Source: caranddriver.com
