BMW X5 Review 2024
The BMW X5 is a large luxury SUV that ticks many boxes. Perfect for families looking for a comfortable and practical lease car, it has a range of powerful engines and a fantastic interior design.
Rivals to the BMW X5 SUV include the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Range Rover Sport.
Our BMW X5 review covers:
- Boxy exterior design and a dominating road presence
- Luxurious interior with leather and soft-touch plastics
- 650-litre boot as standard
- Two diesels, a plug-in hybrid, and a V8 engine are available
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Superb to drive
- Fantastic interior
- Good plug-in hybrid version
Cons:
- Larger wheels make the suspension a bit too firm
- Seven seats cost extra
- Some rivals are more spacious
The first thing you'll notice about the BMW X5 is its size; it's massive. The kidney grille and large alloy wheels give it a serious road presence, while the boxy design towards the rear looks seriously slick. I'll go as far as saying it's one of the best-looking large SUVs on the market.
Climb inside the X5, and there's enough room for five or seven people (depending on the configuration you've chosen). In five-seat form, space is generous throughout the cabin, and everyone should be able to get comfortable even on longer journeys. Add the extra row of seats, and space does get a bit tighter, but there's plenty of room for a pair of kids in the back row, albeit not as much as in the Land Rover Discovery.
The X5 comes with a 650-litre boot as standard (500 litres in the plug-in hybrid), which falls behind the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. Add an extra row of seats to increase the capacity to seven, and boot space massively decreases to only enough for a weekly shop.
For the price of the X5, you'd expect a luxurious interior, and that's exactly what you get. The cabin is beautifully made and features a wide range of premium materials, such as vegan-friendly leather, soft-touch plastics, and a glass gear selector.
As well as looking great, the X5's cabin is packed full of technology. On the dashboard, there's a curved display that blends seamlessly into the drivers display which displays crisp and responsive graphics. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and a whole range of connected services, including a virtual personal assistant and over-the-air software updates.
Three trims are available for the X5: xLine, M Sport, and M60i.
xLine kicks off the range with 19-inch alloy wheels, aluminium roof rails, automatic air conditioning, front heated seats, sport leather multifunction steering wheel, a 14.9-inch central display, adaptive LED headlights, cruise control, parking assistant, and a reversing assist camera.
M Sport adds 20-inch alloy wheels, M aerodynamic body styling, electric seats with driver memory, a Sensatec dashboard, attentiveness assistant, BMW xDrive, brake energy regeneration, and M adaptive suspension.
M60i has 22-inch alloy wheels, M Sport Package Pro, door sills with illuminated M60i designation, and a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system.
Four engines are available for the X5: two diesels, a plug-in hybrid, and a V8 engine. For most drivers, the diesel will suffice. Available with either 298hp or 352hp, they both return very good performance and are great to drive.
For company car drivers, the plug-in hybrid will be most attractive. Combining a 3.0-litre petrol engine with a battery-powered electric motor, it produces up to 489hp and has an electric range of 66 miles, perfect for nipping to the shops or doing the school run.
The M60i V8 engine is best for those who don't really care about running costs. It's a 4.4-litre engine that generates a whopping 530hp and shoots from 0 to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds. It's worth noting that fuel economy comes in at 24mpg, so you had better make friends with the petrol station attendant.
The BMW X5 SUV really delivers when on the road. Whether you're nipping to the shops or taking the family on a weekend away, the X5 won't let you down.
There's no denying the X5 probably isn't built for inner driving due to its size, but if you're thinking along the lines of a bull in a china shop, you'd be wrong. Front and rear parking sensors are standard which makes parking a bit more stress free, and the smooth automatic gearbox handles itself when in stop-start driving.
We'd recommend going for the plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 SUV if you operate in a city as you'll be able to drive on pure electric power most of the time.
As you increase up to motorway speed, the X5 comes into its own. The strong performance provided by the engines means reaching 70mph is a breeze, and once there, the X5 behaves in a very orderly manner. There's little wind or road noise, which makes for a comfortable experience.
On a country lane, the X5 handles itself more like a coupe than a large SUV. The handling is sharp and well-weighted, meaning the X5 is good fun to drive. If you can afford it, the M60i is unbelievably good on a country lane and delivers near supercar levels of performance. Yes, you read that right!
Prices for the new BMW X5 start from £71,095.00 OTR* or to lease from £658.11 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the BMW X5? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
