The fan-favorite luxury SUV is making the jump to the Neue Klasse era in style. The BMW X5 has long been the benchmark for premium SUVs here in the United States. These days, the market continues to shift under rapidly changing regulations, but the folks at BMW are ready to ensure the nameplate is more flexible than ever before. With the debut of the all-new fifth generation model, the X5 not only picks up the Neue Klasse design language, but it also receives five different powertrain options—and a truly immense amount of tech.
The 2027 BMW X5 lineup is all about variety. The automaker will offer the SUV with a six-cylinder internal-combustion engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, a plug-in hybrid powertrain, a hydrogen-powered variant (down the line), and a V-8-powered M Performance variant that comes next year. The lineup also includes the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle produced here in the United States, dubbed the iX5.
The BMW X5 40, which comes in rear- or all-wheel drive, are powered by the latest version of BMW’s 3.0-liter B58 inline-six engine, which benefits from a new turbocharger. Output is 394 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, which BMW says should allow the X5 40 models to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds. The B58 is also paired with a gearbox-integrated 48-volt system, providing up to 17 hp and 148 lb-ft of electric assistance; an eight-speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox option.
View Price on AmazonThe BMW X5 50e xDrive takes the updated six-cylinder engine and combines it with a synchronous electric motor rated at 194 hp. Combined output for the setup is rated at 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, with the six-pot providing 308 of those horsepower. The electric components are once again integrated with the eight-speed, keeping packaging sacrifices to a minimum. The hybrid system is fed by way of a battery with 26.5 kWh of usable capacity, providing the SUV with an estimated 44 miles of pure electric range.
The iX5 60 xDrive, meanwhile, promises to be one of the brand’s most compelling EVs yet. The dual-motor EV takes a different approach from most of its contemporaries, utilizing an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) out back and an asynchronous motor (ASM) on the front axle. The rear motor is the main unit, providing 325 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque; the front motor is good for up to 245 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, though it will disconnect when it's not needed to help improve efficiency. Total system output is rated at 570 hp and 593 lb-ft.
The motors draw power from the brand’s first battery to utilize BMW's new 120-mm cylinder cells, which are packaged directly into the pack without typical modules or added structure. Not only does this allow the battery to be a bit lighter, but it also allows the brand to shove a lot of juice into the package. BMW says the iX5 will arrive with 144 kWh of usable capacity, which makes it one of the larger EV battery packs on offer. The brand also states that the SUV should provide customers with a very healthy 435 miles of range, once EPA testing results come back.
When it does come time to top up the battery, the iX5 benefits from an 800-volt architecture. The SUV is able to charge at rates up to 460 kW, allowing customers to go from 10-80 percent of charge in just 22 minutes. If that’s too long to stop, the iX5 adds about 170 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Bidirectional charging is also supported for the first time. The EV is quick off the charger too, rocketing from 0-60 mph in a claimed 4.4 seconds, but top speed is down from the gas-powered 155-mph limit to just 130 mph for the BEV.
Every BMW X5 features a double-wishbone front suspension paired with a multi-link rear end, and the 2027 model year sees every version of the SUV come as standard with adaptive dampers and height-adjustable suspension. The automaker is also rather proud of the fact that this X5 also arrives with a near 50:50 weight distribution, enhancing its abilities.
Source: roadandtrack.com
