Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 40i 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/8-speed automatic
50i 4.4L turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 40i 4,882 lb (50/50%) 50i 5,263 lb (51/49%) Wheelbase 117.1 in
Length x Width x Height 194.3 x 78.9 x 69.0 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 40i 169/130 kW-hr/100 miles 50i 198/153 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb 40i 0.87 lb/mile 50i 1.02 lb/mileSPECS 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i 2019 BMW X5 xDrive50i
Base Price/As Tested $61,695/$73,980 $76,745/$92,595
Power (SAE net) 335 hp @ 5,500 rpm 456 hp @ 5,250 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 330 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm 479 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 5.0 sec 4.5 sec
Quarter Mile 13.6 sec @ 98.5 mph 12.9 sec @ 108.9 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 127 ft 119 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.81 g (avg) 0.84 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 27.3 sec @ 0.67 g (avg) 25.8 sec @ 0.75 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 20/26/22 mpg 17/22/19 mpgThere are gobs of power at nearly
any rpm, and it pairs well with an
eight-speed automatic trans-
mission that fires off quick, smart
shifts. But this model also costs
$92,595, almost $20,000 more
than the smooth and powerful I-6
with its sweet downshifts.
Many judges praised the
stiff but responsive suspen-
sion. Rechtin called its reaction
“precise and crisp,” and Evans
said the superb chassis was
sublime on rough and cracked
pavement. Add responsive rear-
steering, a gem of an engine, and
the right transmission, and “it’s
comfortable when you need it to
be and sporty when you want it
to be,” Cortina said.
It’s a rare animal of an SUV
that leans into curves with ease
and agility. Loh liked the clear,
natural steering feel and light-
ness in the way it drives, calling it
“the nicest-handling BMW SUV.”
Lane keep assist has among
the most humanlike feeling of
any, and cruise control doesn’t
waver down a steep hill.
It has no off-road mode, but
jacking up the suspension and
turning the traction control toT
he Boss is now in its fourth
generation. The X5, which
in 1999 was BMW’s first SUV,
sought the right mix of on-road
dynamics and off-road capa-
bility. With this edition, BMW has
delivered a five-passenger SUV
designed to thrill on any surface.
The X5 was fun to toss around
a handling course, which trans-
lates to the real world—aided by
the move to the new CLAR archi-
tecture to help carve corners in a
way once unheard of in an SUV.
“Dynamically, the new X5 is a
huge advance over the outgoing
model,” de Nysschen said.
“Handling is agile and respon-
sive, with body roll much better
contained. Full-throttle acceler-
ation through the gears is acous-
tically very satisfying, and the
smooth transmission is leagues
ahead of the clunky calibration in
the Mercedes-Benz GLE.”
The turbocharged V-8 sounds
as good as it goes, even if it is but
a half-second faster to 60 mph
than the base turbo I-6 model.Dynamic gets the job done. Even
in Comfort it figured out the
terrain and what was needed to
keep momentum going, quickly
locking its spinning tires. The
adaptive drive setting knows
what surface you’re on and what
to do. And it has adjustable
hill descent control down to 2
mph—a rarity in this field.
Efficiency-wise the base
xDrive40i engine gets 20/26/22
mpg city/highway/combined,
which is near the top of the class.
From the outside, “the new
architecture also gives the
design great balance and
proportion,” Tom Gale said. But
the overall look hasn’t moved
the needle. Consistency? Or
repetition? De Nysschen wasn’t
impressed: “BMW design
suffers from ‘designer’s block,’
producing one same old design
af ter another.”
All agree the iDrive infotain-
ment interface continues to
improve and is now fairly intuitive,
offering both touch and knob
controls. But many judges had
trouble with CarPlay connec-
tivity, which often crashed and is
complicated to reconnect.The 50i we tested had tasty
chocolate-brown leather seats
with caramel stitching, glossy
wood trim around the center
console, and Swarovski crystal on
the shifter and iDrive controller
dial. Tom Gale praised the
quality materials and finish. The
Harman Kardon stereo thumps
and soars.
However, the rear seats are
not heated, and legroom isn’t
as grand as expected, making it
hard to envision the dimensions
of an optional third row.
Overall, the X5 offers a terrific
all-around package and strong
value for a luxury SUV. De
Nysschen concluded: “Of all the
cars here, this is highest on my
shopping list.” Alisa Priddle40iPRO Agile handling • Supple chassis • Responsive rear steering CON Design trapped in time • Poor phone connectivity • Underwhelming second rowSUVOTY I Finalists
BMW X5
JANUARY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 29