BMW could have used the next X5 to make one big statement about the future. Instead, it decided to make several at once.The fifth-generation BMW X5 keeps the familiar luxury SUV formula alive, but it arrives with a very modern twist: buyers will eventually be able to choose from gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, V8, and hydrogen fuel-cell versions. In other words, BMW looked at the powertrain debate and answered with "yes."That makes the new X5 one of the more interesting luxury SUVs on the horizon. While some automakers are pushing customers toward one clear future, BMW is keeping several doors open. The first variants are scheduled to launch in late November 2026, with all-electric and plug-in hybrid versions following in early 2027. Production will take place at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, which has built the X5 since the original model arrived in 1999.2027 BMW X5View the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe biggest mechanical shift is the arrival of the first all-electric BMW iX5. The iX5 60 xDrive uses BMW's sixth-generation eDrive technology, an 800-volt electrical architecture, and dual-motor all-wheel drive. BMW lists output at 578 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, with a WLTP range of 401 to 525 miles. The company also says the iX5 can charge at up to 460 kW, which should help the electric X5 avoid spending too much of its luxury life attached to a plug.Gasoline and diesel engines remain in the lineup, both with 48-volt mild-hybrid tech. Plug-in hybrid models are also part of the plan, including the X5 50e xDrive and the stronger X5 M60e xDrive. BMW says an all-electric M Performance model and a conventional V8 model will be added later, while the iX5 Hydrogen is also planned as BMW's first hydrogen-powered production vehicle.That broad approach matters in a market where traditional power is not going quietly. Much like the 2027 GMC Sierra keeps the V8 pickup conversation alive, the next X5 suggests BMW is not ready to abandon combustion engines just because EVs are taking more space in the showroom. At the same time, the iX5 gives BMW a direct answer for buyers looking at electric adventure-friendly SUVs like the Rivian R2.2027 BMW X5View the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe design may be the part that starts the loudest argument online. The new X5 adopts Neue Klasse-inspired styling, with an upright front end, illuminated kidney grille, new double-X light signatures, flush BMW Winglet door handles, and available 23-inch wheels. Expect the Internet to split neatly into two camps: "BMW finally nailed it" and "please take the crayons away."One old X5 signature appears to be gone, though. The new model no longer uses the split tailgate, a Range Rover-style feature BMW had carried since the first-generation X5. That may not sound dramatic, but for longtime X5 owners, it is like losing a small piece of furniture from the family house.2027 BMW X5Still, the mission remains familiar. The new X5 wants to be a luxury SUV for people who like options: diesel if they want tradition, plug-in hybrid if they want compromise, EV if they want silence, V8 if they want theater, and hydrogen if they want to explain infrastructure at dinner.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.