Facelifted in early 2023 for the 2024 model year, the X5 has been recently tested by Virginia-based nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle performed as expected in the crashworthiness tests, which comprise the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests.
The standard front crash prevention system was also deemed good, which is the organization's highest rating, and the same can be said about the LATCH system's ease of use. However, the IIHS couldn't give anything more than acceptable for headlight performance. Why's that?
Equipped with LED projector-type headlights with high-beam assistance, the X5 features low beams that create some glare. IIHS further notes fair visibility from the high beams on the left side while driving straight, and fair visibility on the sharp left curve while taking a corner.
For a $65,700 sport utility vehicle with both luxury and sporty credentials, the Bavarian automaker could've done better. The aforementioned starting price applies to the sDrive40i, with s referring to rear-wheel drive and the i to gasoline. Not long now, the automaker will drop the i from gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric vehicles. Otherwise put, the entry-level X5 will be known as the sDrive40 in the near future.
For the 2025 model year, the X5 comes in five distinct flavors in the United States of America, beginning with the sDrive40i and xDrive40i. The next step up is the xDrive50e, whereas the M60i is an M Performance model that shares its 4.4L twin-turbo V8 with the M Competition.
Photo: BMW
Both the sDrive40i and xDrive40i use a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six lump with 375 horsepower and 398 pound-feet (540 Nm) of torque on deck, with most of those resources reaching the driven wheels by means of an eight-speed automatic. Equipped with all-season tires of the run-flat variety, the six-pot models are advertised with a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds. In metric, 60 miles per hour is three clicks off 100 kph.
Customers who can't do without all-wheel drive need to shell out $68,000 before taxes and options. The xDrive50e needs 4.6 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour, costs $73,100 from the outset, and promises up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) of electric driving range. Instead of a four-cylinder turbo, which is the case for the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4MATIC, this fellow carries over the 3.0L turbocharged inline-six of the xDrive40i.
The V8-powered M60i develops a stout 523 horsepower and starts at $90,000 for the 2025 model year. It slots right between the xDrive40i and M Competition in terms of EPA-rated fuel economy, netting 19 miles per gallon (12.4 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined test cycle.
$124,800 gets you the X5 M Competition, which levels up on both power and torque from the M60i. Good for 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet (750 Nm), the M Competition is equipped with the mild-hybrid system of the M60i, which brings an extra 12 ponies and 147 pound-feet (200 Nm) by means of a crankshaft-driven starter generator. Integrated into the ZF-supplied tranny, the starter generator is also standard in the xDrive40i and sDrive40i.
NEW: The 2025 BMW X5 earns a TOP SAFETY PICK award.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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