2026 BMW X5 review: Long-term introduction
BMW will soon introduce a new X5, but how good is the one it’s replacing? We adopt the outgoing X5 as our latest long-termer to find out.
Introduction
The Range Rover and Jeep Grand Cherokee were among the first large off-road wagons aimed at premium buyers, but the BMW X5 was one of the original luxury SUVs that proved on-road manners mattered more to the market.
Over almost 30 years, the X5 has been a popular model for BMW, arguably setting the benchmark for the segment, and forcing other premium brands to develop their own large SUVs.
In more recent times, the X5 has taken third place on BMW’s own sales chart, and was Australia's favourite large premium SUV for many years before being overtaken by the Land Rover Defender in 2023.
The fifth-generation X5 is about to hit Australian shores, but we wanted to revisit the outgoing model, known by BMW’s internal code as the G05, to see how it stacks up with the competition.
This particular vehicle is the BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport – one of the entry-level grades – and it will be used for daily commuting, highway driving, and some travel through country areas.
But while the X5 xDrive30d M Sport will be the basis for our review, we were also provided access to an X5 M60i – the range-topping variant, before you get to the full-blooded, high-performance X5 M Competition.
Perhaps one of the more interesting facts about this X5 is that it’s been adopted by highway patrol units across the country, proving that it’s a capable machine, and can hold up to a fair amount of abuse from police officers in the course of their duties.
Cops are one thing, but how does it fare when exposed to CarExpert journos? We’re looking forward to finding out.
How much does the BMW X5 cost?
The 2026 BMW X5 lineup starts at $139,900 before on-road costs, with buyers able to choose from the xDrive30d xLine or xDrive30d M Sport for the same money.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport | $139,900 |
| BMW X5 xDrive30d xLine | $139,900 |
| BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport | $143,900 |
| BMW X5 xDrive50e M Sport | $154,900 |
| BMW X5 M60i xDrive | $177,900 |
As the name suggests, the X5 xLine is less sporty than the M Sport, with more exterior chrome and a lighter interior treatment, while the X5 M Sport gets performance brakes and suspension, black exterior trims with a subtle body kit, and a sportier interior.
Excluding the high-performance X5 M, there are a total of five X5 variants to choose from, and four engine options – topping out with the V8-powered X5 M60i xDrive at $177,900 before on-roads.
There's no shortage of competitors in the large luxury ($80,000-plus) SUV segment, in which – apart from the Defender – the BMW X5 going up against the Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, Genesis GV80, and the Volvo XC90 – among others.
Compare the BMW X5
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Use our comparison tool for a side-by-side look at the specs, features and prices of the X5 and its rivals.
What's under the bonnet?
Buyers have a choice of four powertrains, including a mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline-six, a mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline six, a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline six with plug-in hybrid technology, and a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine.
| Specifications | BMW X5 xDrive30d | BMW X5 xDrive40i | BMW X5 xDrive50e | BMW X5 M60i xDrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0L turbo-diesel inline-six mild-hybrid | 3.0L turbo-petrol inline-six mild-hybrid | 3.0L turbo-petrol inline-six plug-in hybrid | 4.4L twin-turbo petrol V8 mild-hybrid |
| Engine outputs | 210kW | 280kW | 230kW | 390kW |
| Electric motor outputs | 9kW | 9kW | 145kW | 9kW |
| System outputs | 219kW / 670Nm | 280kW / 540Nm | 360kW / 700Nm | 390kW / 750Nm |
| Battery | 0.4kWh | 0.4kWh | 25.7kWh | 0.4kWh |
| Transmission | 8sp automatic | 8sp automatic | 8sp automatic | 8sp automatic |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 2295kg | 2240kg | 2495kg | 2420kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.1 seconds | 5.4 seconds | 4.8 seconds | 4.3 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.8L/100km | 9.3L/100km | 1.9L/100km | 11.9L/100km |
| Electric driving range (PHEV) | N/A | N/A | 94km WLTP | N/A |
| Fuel tank capacity | 80L | 83L | 69L | 83L |
| Fuel requirement | Diesel | 95-octane premium unleaded | 95-octane premium unleaded | 98-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 206g/km | 211g/km | 41g/km | 269g/km |
| Braked tow capacity | 3500kg | 3500kg | 2700kg | 3500kg |
All X5 variants come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, plus some level of powertrain electrification – with average fuel consumption ranging from 1.9L/100km to 11.9L/100km.
For those wanting even more performance, the X5 M Competition's 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 with 48V mild-hybrid assistance produces 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque – dropping the claimed 0-100km/h time to 3.9 seconds.
To see how the BMW X5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
The BMW X5 comes with a lot of the niceties you'd expect from a luxury automaker. However, it does miss out on some standard features found in vehicles costing $100,000 less, like ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and rear window blinds – which are only available as part of option packs.
2026 BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport equipment highlights:
- 20-inch 740 M alloy wheels with run-flat tyres
- Adaptive M suspension
- Blue M Sport brakes
- M Sport exterior styling
- Gloss-black exterior trim
- Adaptive auto LED headlights
- LED tail-lights
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Power-folding heated exterior mirrors
- Powered split-fold tailgate with hands-free
- Verino synthetic seat upholstery
- Electric front sports seats with heating
- Driver’s seat memory
- M leather steering wheel
- Anthracite headlining
- Fine-wood interior trim
- 2.5-zone climate control
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- Comfort Access keyless entry and start
- BMW Digital Key Plus
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Head-up display
- Satellite navigation with augmented guidance
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charging
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10-speaker, 205W sound system
- Driving Assistant Professional
- Parking Assistant Professional
- Tyre-pressure monitoring system
BMW X5 xDrive30d xLine adds or replaces:
- 20-inch 738 alloy wheels
- Adaptive suspension without M Sport tuning
- Standard brakes replacing the M Sport brakes
- Pearl Chrome exterior accents
- Aluminium running boards
- Satin-aluminium roof rails
- Satin-aluminium window trim
- Glacier Silver rear-diffuser trim
- Ivory White headlining
- Brown high-gloss Fineline Stripe wood trim
- Sports leather steering wheel replacing the M steering wheel
BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport adds over the xDrive30d M Sport:
- BMW Iconic Glow illuminated grille
BMW X5 xDrive50e M Sport adds:
- Adaptive two-axle air suspension
- Tyre-repair kit replacing the emergency spare wheel
BMW X5 M60i adds:
- 22-inch 747 M alloy wheels
- Non-run-flat tyres
- Metallic paint
- Adaptive M Suspension Professional with active anti-roll stabilisation
- Integral Active Steering
- M Sport differential
- M Sport exhaust
- Gloss-black M exterior mirror caps
- Gloss-black M double-bar grille replacing the illuminated grille
- Shadow Line headlight detailing
- Red M Sport brakes
- M seatbelts
- Nappa leather dashboard trim
- Four-zone climate control
- Nano-particle cabin filter
- Soft-close doors
- M60i front door-sill finishers
- 16-speaker, 464W Harman Kardon surround-sound system
Option packs
Comfort Package:
- Rear-seat heating
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated front armrests
- Heated/cooled cupholders
- Rear side blinds and sun-protection glazing
- Four-zone climate (six-cylinder grades)
Executive Package:
- Front Comfort Seats with ventilation and massage
- Sky Lounge panoramic roof and CraftedClarity glass controls
- Soft-close doors (six-cylinder grades)
- Harman Kardon premium audio (six-cylinder grades)
Enhancement Package (six-cylinder grades):
- Eligible metallic paint
- 22-inch wheels with non-run-flat tyres
- Harman Kardon sound system
- Glass controls
M Sport Pro (six-cylinder grades excluding xLine):
- Shadow Line exterior details
- Red M Sport brakes
- M seatbelts
- M exhaust (xDrive30d/xDrive40i only)
To see how the BMW X5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the BMW X5 safe?
The BMW X5 did previously have a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, but as they are time-limited, that expired in December 2024 – with all X5s built from January 1, 2025 being unrated.
Safety feature highlights:
- Seven airbags: front and front-side pairs, two head curtains and a driver knee airbag
- Forward-collision warning with braking intervention (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise with stop/go
- Steering/lane control, lane keeping with side-collision warning
- Lane-change assistance
- Front/rear cross-traffic warning
- Crossroads warning
- Evasion aid and speed-limit assistance
- Automated parking
- Active rear parking-distance control
- 360-degree cameras
- Drive Recorder
- Attention monitoring
- Active Protection
- Emergency calling
To see how the BMW X5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the BMW X5 cost to run?
The X5 comes with BMW's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with three years of roadside assistance. Meanwhile, the xDrive50e gets a six-year, 100,000km battery warranty, with six years of roadside assistance.
| Servicing and Warranty | BMW X5 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 3 or 6 years |
| Service intervals | Condition-based (detected by vehicle) |
| Prepaid servicing | $3570 for 5 years/80,000km |
BMWs use a condition-based maintenance system, meaning the car itself decides when the vehicle needs to go in for a service depending on its age, type of trips taken, environmental factors, and driving style.
However, BMW offers a service pack for $3570 over the first five years or 80,000km.
To see how the BMW X5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert's take on the BMW X5
It's clear the G05-series X5 is from a previous generation, which is no surprise given it’s about to be replaced by a new-generation X5.
While that can be a negative, in this particular case there’s something very endearing about it. The outgoing X5 doesn’t feel old or past its use-by, but the fact that it still has a lot of physical buttons, and the driving experience is very communicative and responsive, makes us realise how sanitised many new models can be.
It’s also immediately clear why police have gravitated towards the X5. Even in the base-spec xDrive30d, it’s no slouch, offers a pleasant ride, great refinement, and composed handling characteristics.
Then there’s the X5 M60i, which takes the platform and turns up the volume to exactly where you want it, with captivating V8 noises, addictive twin-turbo performance, handling that would embarrass highway patrol cars of yesteryear, and almost all the luxury you could ever want.
It’s not all positive, however. We’ve identified a few issues with the X5, one or two of which are inexcusable – particularly for a model that was first released in 2019. We’ll continue to explore these and report back soon.
It’s still early days, but so far the BMW G05 X5 has proved to be quite a lovely thing, and we’re looking forward to spending more time in it.
Keep an eye on the website as we take a deep dive into the X5 before it’s replaced, and let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.
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