BMW X5

The X5 is a midsize luxury crossover SUV that seats up to seven passengers when equipped with an optional third-row seat. In BMW’s sport-ute lineup, it slots between the compact X3 and the full-size X7. A high-performance variant known as the X5 M is also available and is reviewed separately. Properly equipped, the X5 can tow up to 7,200 pounds.

Under the hood, the X5 offers a range of engines. Most common is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. In 2018 and earlier examples, it’s known as the 35i and produces 300 horsepower. It was upgraded to 335 hp in 2019, at which time it was renamed the 40i. It also added a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in 2021 for improved performance and refinement.

Several fuel-efficient options are also available, including the 35d, a 255-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder, which was offered through the 2018 model year and delivers 25 mpg in mixed driving, according to the EPA. BMW added a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain in 2016. Known as the 40e, it combines a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor and a 9-kilowatt-hour battery pack to produce 308 hp and up to 13 miles of all-electric range. It was replaced in 2021 by the 45e, which pairs a six-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a 24-kWh battery pack to deliver 389 hp and as much as 30 miles of all-electric range.

For greater performance, BMW offers a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, known as the 50i. In 2018 and earlier examples, it produces 445 hp, and it was revised in 2019 to deliver 456 hp. The automaker added an even more powerful version in 2020 known as the M50i. It boosts output to 523 hp and includes other performance-related upgrades, such as a sport-tuned suspension and larger brakes.

Since 2014, all versions of the X5 come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (which BMW calls xDrive) is also included on all versions except for the entry-level 35i and 40i, which come standard with rear-wheel drive (known as sDrive). In 2019, the X5 gained a standard suite of active safety features and driving aids, which includes forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Apple CarPlay also became standard that year, while Android Auto followed in 2021.