The BMW X5 Enters a Neue Era, Brings iX5 EVBMWThe BMW X5 is back for its fifth generation, wearing fresh Neue Klasse styling and packing a wide array of powertrain options.Along with gas, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen powertrains, a new all-electric iX5 joins the lineup for the first time, with an estimated range of 435 miles.Arriving this October, the gas-only X5 40 xDrive will start at $71,250; other variants will reach BMW dealers in the first quarter of 2027.When BMW launched the original X5 in 1999, the brand thrust itself into a new era. BMW built its reputation with nimble, sporty coupes and sedans, so it remained a mystery whether its tried-and-true recipe would translate to a mid-size SUV. Almost three decades later, the X5 has become a fixture of BMW's lineup and remains one of its bestsellers, so it's fair to say that gamble paid off. Now entering its fifth generation, the 2027 BMW X5 ushers in yet another new chapter, wearing the brand's Neue Klasse styling and brandishing an array of different powertrain options, including an all-electric variant for the first time.BMWAll-Neue LookBMW's beaver-tooth era has officially ended with the proliferation of the Neue Klasse design direction, and the 2027 X5 is the latest to get the makeover. Dimensionally, the new model is roughly the same size as before, but its wheelbase has been stretched by 2.4 inches. The lengthened wheelbase improves rear-seat legroom, according to BMW. It is also taller than the outgoing model, but its reworked proportions give it a broader, more muscular stance thanks to its raised beltline and simplified side profile.AdvertisementAdvertisementMany of the X5's visual motifs were already previewed on the electric iX3 compact SUV that debuted at the beginning of this year. Like that model, the new X5 adopts narrow, vertically oriented kidney grilles, smoother side surfacing, and thin taillights that nearly merge in the center of the rear liftgate. There are also a few styling choices that we haven't seen from BMW before. Instead of traditional door handles, the 2027 X5 features touch-capacitive winglets integrated into the B- and C-pillars, similar to those on the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Soft-close doors are standard, and electrically powered ones are available for an additional fee. The most striking new addition to the X5's face is the new double-X-shaped lighting signatures nestled under the leading edge of the hood. The headlight design is functional and aesthetic, incorporating the low-beams, daytime running lights, side lights, and turn signals into a single unit. If the look is a little too on-the-nose for your taste, you can also toggle off one of the internal lighting elements, leaving only one slash mark visible.BMWInterior OverhaulThe overhaul is more than just skin deep, and stepping inside reveals some serious changes to the 2027 X5's cabin design. Those who haven't seen the interior of the new iX3 might be jump-scared by the X5's new dual-spoke steering wheel, but BMW seems to be firmly committed to the design in its Neue Klasse cars. Its ovular rim features thumb cutouts for easy access to the floating touch-sensitive buttons that jut from the central hub.Look past the controversial tiller, and you'll find another major departure from the status quo at the base of the windshield. Instead of using a traditional digital gauge display located behind the steering wheel, key vehicle information is projected onto a strip of darkened glass that spans from A-pillar to A-pillar. The BMW Panoramic iDrive display also houses several other new features, including an AI-powered digital assistant. In the center of the dash, the primary 17.9-inch infotainment screen has adopted a trapezoidal shape, and a 14.6-inch passenger screen can be optioned for some in-transit entertainment.BMWBeyond the gadgetry, the X5's interior design places a heavy emphasis on mood lighting. Customizable light strips sit beneath the infotainment screen and are integrated into the doors to bathe the driver and front passenger in a hue of their choosing. The cabin ambiance is further elevated by unique and interesting material choices, including a slate panel on the center console that houses switchgear and buttons for the parking brake, rear-window defrost, and hazard lights.The X5 Goes ElectricThe introduction of an all-electric iX5 model is arguably the most notable development to come from the generational leap, as it's the first time an X5 will be motivated solely by electricity. The iX5 60 xDrive will be the initial offering, featuring one electric motor at each axle. With a grand total of 570 horsepower and 593 pound-feet of torque, the iX5 60 xDrive will top the lineup in terms of output, at least until an even mightier trim inevitably arrives. BMW says the electric model can sprint to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, which ties it with the company's estimate for the current iX xDrive60, which the iX5 will essentially replace.BMWThe new iX5 uses the most advanced 800-volt electrical architecture that Munich has to offer. Like the new iX3, the iX5 features BMW's sixth-generation eDrive battery and drive-motor technology that was developed specifically for Neue Klasse vehicles. Its 144-kWh battery pack features cylindrical cells that boast a 20 percent higher energy density than the fifth-generation prismatic cells found in previous BMW EVs, enabling it to drive further and charge faster. The company claims that the iX5 will boast a peak charging speed of 460 kW and that charging from 10 to 80 percent should take only 22 minutes on a suitable DC fast-charger. BMW's range estimate for the iX5 60 xDrive sits at 435 miles based on the company's own testing, which would give it one of the most impressive range figures in its class.Spoiled for ChoiceThe fifth-generation X5 offers the widest breadth of powertrain types of any BMW thus far, with five propulsion options. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six from the previous generation continues in the new rear-drive X5 40 and all-wheel-drive X5 40 xDrive, but it has been massaged for some additional power and efficiency. A new turbocharger design bumps output to 394 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque, which BMW claims is enough gumption to get the petrol-powered 40 trims to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. While we currently only have details on the six-cylinder X5s, a high-performance variant is also confirmed to be in the works, which will wield a V-8.BMWAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2027 X5 50e xDrive plug-in hybrid pairs the revised inline-six from the gas-only models with a 194-hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission for a total combined output of 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. A 27-kWh battery pack supplies the juice, giving the PHEV a BMW-estimated all-electric driving range of 44 miles. With its electric assistance, the automaker claims the X5 50e xDrive can do the 60-mph dash in 4.6 seconds.We know less about the other two powertrain types in terms of their performance details and U.S. market viability, but the X5 will also be offered with diesel and hydrogen power in other parts of the world. We doubt that we'll see any diesel X5s make it stateside, but we do expect a hydrogen model to eventually reach our shores. The underlying technology is based on a third-generation fuel-cell system that BMW and Toyota have been jointly developing since 2014, with BMW producing components at its plants in Munich and Steyr, Germany.Pricing starts at $71,250 for the 2027 BMW X5 40, while the AWD X5 40 xDrive's base price is $73,550. Moving up the powertrain ladder, the X5 50e xDrive plug-in hybrid opens at $78,950, and the all-electric iX5 60 xDrive will fetch $81,250. The gas-only X5 40 xDrive will kick off the rollout in October of this year, with the rear-wheel-drive X5 40, plug-in-hybrid X5 50e xDrive, and electric iX5 60 xDrive scheduled to follow suit in the first quarter of 2027.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.AdvertisementAdvertisementShop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029