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The BMW iX5 Makes A Strong Case Against The Gas X5: Driven

With 570 horsepower, impressive range, and a seriously plush ride, the iX5 might be the best X5 yet.

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Zander Sutton

By: Zander Sutton

Oct 22, at 3:01pm ET

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BMW’s electrification strategy has been more successful than those of most of its German rivals. While some automakers have backed away from EVs, bringing certain models back to combustion or scrapping them altogether, BMW has largely stayed the course. The latest iX5 is a good example of that commitment.

The new X5 is available with five different powertrains globally, although buyers in the US currently get just two: gasoline or electric. You might assume the gas-powered X5 would be the obvious favorite, especially given the model’s history. But after driving both back-to-back, I came away with a different conclusion.

Surprisingly, the iX5 might be the better of the two.

Pros

Great Ride
Excellent Range
Top-Notch Interior Materials

Cons

Pricey Compared To Gas Model
Iffy Exterior
Too Many Screens

Almost Everything Has Changed

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The iX5 adopts the same Neue Klasse design language we’ve seen on other BMWs—the iX3, the 3 Series, and the updated 7 Series. While I think all of those cars pull off the new look pretty well, I’m not convinced it works as well on the X5. Some of the design choices just feel a little out of place.

Take the optional X-shaped headlights, for example. They look fine on their own, but they don’t quite fit the rest of the X5’s design. The same goes for the wing-shaped door handles, which are similar to those found on other electric SUVs like the Volvo EX60. They look sleek, but they’re not as easy to use as a traditional handle.

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photos by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photos by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

My test car also had the optional automatic doors, and they weren’t exactly seamless. There were several occasions when I had to tap or pull the handle more than once before the doors actually opened or closed.

The biggest change is at the back. For the first time, the X5 loses its signature split tailgate. RIP. BMW says the decision came down to customer feedback, but it’s hard not to wonder if cost-cutting played a role, too.

Screens On Screens On Screens

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Inside, it’s more of the same. BMW has completely redesigned the X5’s cabin, and there are some genuinely interesting ideas here—even if not all of them work.

Front and center is BMW’s new single-spoke steering wheel with haptic-touch controls. The leather feels great, but the wheel itself doesn’t seem properly sized for the X5. It’s too small, and BMW has packed so many functions into it that the controls can feel a bit overwhelming.

The new 17.9-inch center screen has its own set of problems. It controls just about everything, with no physical HVAC or drive-mode controls elsewhere in the cabin. Even relatively basic functions can require digging through multiple menus, which gets old quickly.

BMW has completely redesigned the X5’s cabin, and there are some genuinely interesting ideas here—even if not all of them work.

The optional passenger display doesn’t fare much better. It feels a little like an afterthought, and while BMW has included a clever privacy feature that shuts the screen off when it detects the driver looking over, it’s hard to see what the display actually adds. There’s little you can do with it that you couldn’t do more easily on your phone.

BMW’s Panoramic iDrive display is the real showstopper, though. It doesn’t eat into the traditional screen real estate and can be configured to show useful information, including the company’s new AI assistant. Unfortunately, the assistant struggled with some basic navigation commands during my drive. The mapping system wasn’t much better, at one point directing us onto roads that turned out to be private driveways.

Thankfully, the rest of the interior is nothing short of sublime. I’ll admit I have some philosophical objections to BMW’s liberal use of Alcantara, but the patterns and stitching are beautifully done, and the optional Slate package makes great use of the new materials. The heated, ventilated, and massaging seats are another highlight and go a long way toward making the X5 feel like the luxury SUV it’s supposed to be.

An Impressive Battery

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The iX5 is powered by a 144.0-kilowatt-hour battery using BMW’s latest battery architecture. It makes 570 horsepower and 593 pound-feet of torque, with power sent to all four wheels. BMW says it can hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, making it the quickest non-M X5 ever.

DC fast charging is supported at up to 460 kilowatts, with BMW estimating a 10-to-80-percent charge in roughly 20 to 24 minutes. The company hasn’t released official EPA range numbers yet, but it says the iX5 will travel more than 450 miles on a charge.

Naturally, the iX5 has that familiar instant EV acceleration we’ve all come to expect, but it doesn’t feel particularly harsh or aggressive. 570 hp sounds like overkill on paper, yet the iX5 doesn’t deliver that power like a performance SUV. Instead, it feels smooth and dignified, almost more like a luxury boat than a high-powered BMW.

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photos by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photos by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

And then there’s the weight. The iX5 tips the scales at a staggering 6,939 pounds, but somehow BMW has managed to hide most of it from behind the wheel. The SUV feels at least 1,000 pounds lighter than it actually is, and the amount of grip available when you throw it into a tight corner is genuinely impressive. You can feel the weight difference compared with the gas-powered X5 when driving them back-to-back, but it’s not something you’d immediately notice on its own.

The ride is equally impressive. It’s considerably plusher than the outgoing X5, and I mean that as a compliment. Even in Sport mode, the iX5 never feels like it’s trying to impersonate an M car. There’s also a subtle whine from the electric powertrain that adds a little character without feeling artificial or overly engineered.

The one real weak point is the brake pedal. You have to put a surprising amount of pressure into it to get the iX5 to slow down, and once you do, the SUV’s enormous mass suddenly makes itself known. It can feel like the entire 6,939 pounds catches up with you at once, bringing the car to a rather abrupt stop. You’d probably adapt to it with time, but going from 50 mph to a stoplight can be surprisingly jarring.

Verdict: A Better Buy Than The Gas X5

2027 BMW iX5 First Drive Review

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Throughout my time with the iX5, it felt like the more complete SUV. The gas-powered X5 is still a perfectly good luxury SUV, but it left me wanting just a little more in the way of power and refinement. The iX5, on the other hand, feels like BMW got the formula exactly right.

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The iX5 comes in a single trim, the iX5 60, with a starting price of $81,250. That’s nearly $10,000 more than the gas-powered X5 before options. BMW didn’t provide a window sticker for our test car, but given its equipment, it’s safe to assume the price crept well into six-figure territory.

The iX5 is the better X5. Period. BMW clearly put a lot of time and effort into making it feel like the flagship of the lineup, and it shows behind the wheel. Now, if BMW can sort out some of the tech frustrations, I might even be able to look past the styling.

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2027 BMW iX5

Motor Dual Electrically Excited Synchronous

Battery 144 Kilowatt-Hours

Output 570 Horsepower / 593 Pound-Feet

Drive Type All-Wheel Drive

Speed 0-60 MPH 4.4 Seconds

Maximum speed 130 Miles Per Hour

Weight 6,939 Pounds

EV Range 450+ Miles

Seating Capacity 5

Cargo Volume 27.3 / 67.7 Cubic Feet

Base Price $81,250

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