Is the new BMW X5 Facelift better than before and can it beat its main rivals the Mercedes GLE Facelift and the Audi Q5?
Exterior – Front
So, lets start with the styling at the front like we always do, and we can easily see that BMW has stuck with the design of the pre facelift but changed it to keep it in line with the new lineup. We get a new set of headlights with adaptive LED Pixel technology in them. you don’t get laser lights anymore. The LED daytime running lights are not hexagonal anymore and have this boomerang shape like what the new 5 Series has. We get a slightly different grill than before, but the size is the same as before. The bumper is also new, and we get a smaller central air vent with some silver plastic on the lower part. We also get some slim side vents. This model that I am reviewing today is not the M Sport model but that gets a slightly bigger central air vent and a different grill but everything else is the same.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we don’t get many changes. We do get a slightly different side vent as well as your usual new colour and wheel options but everything else has been kept the same. Wheel sizes range from 19 inches to 22 inches.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and we get some changes that again make this car look more modern than before. The taillights are different and have this x pattern but also an l shaped design. The design look better than before and just by changing the taillights it makes it feel like a new generation. The bumper has also been changed and is slightly more discrete. We also get some fake exhaust surrounds, but we do get some exhausts inside it. Talking of exhausts lets have a look at the engine options that you can have with the new BMW X5 Facelift.
Car and engine specs and price
So, for the new BMW X5 Facelift the engine range has been updated slightly. Let start with what will be the most popular. This will be the X5 xDrive30d. this uses a 3 litre straight 6 engine putting out 294 bhp and the power goes through an 8 speed automatic powering all four wheels. What is new though is that all of the engines have a 48volt mild hybrid system. Petrol versions consist of 2 engines. The first one is the xDrive40i. this again uses a 3 litre straight 6 with 375 bhp and just like the diesel it uses an 8 speed automatic with power going to all four wheels. 0-62 is also delt within 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. the top of the petrol range is the M60i version. This uses a 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 again with mild hybrid power. This puts out 523 bhp and has an impressive 750 Nm of torque. This gives the X5 a 0-62 time of 4.3 seconds. For the X5 we also get a plug-in hybrid option. This is called the xDrive50e. this uses a 3 litre straight 6 petrol engines but mated to it is an electric motor giving this car 483 bhp, an increase of 94 bhp over the old plug-in hybrid model. There is also a 25% increase in battery size to 25.7 kWh. The electric only range has also increased from 58 miles to 68 miles. For this model it starts at £78,360. Prices for the normal X5 range starts at £68,165. Also, across the range you get adaptive suspension as standard but in the m sport version it is slightly stiffer. You also get rear axle steering and you can also have the optional air suspension.
Interior – Design
So, moving inside the new BMW X5 and if you remember the BMW X7 review I did this will feel very similar to that as they share the dashboard. This means we get a new dashboard layout with a new style of air vent. Gone have the climate control and number buttons and they have been put in the new BMW iDrive 8.5 system. This new system is different from the iDrive 8 and the new layout is actually easier to use as it is a one layer layout system where everything you need is on one layer. This means that your widgets lay over the navigation or the driving mode. The system is quick and easy to use, and it is also rare to see a dial to control it. The instrument cluster is also easy and clear to see, and you can also put your apple maps in it, so you have full wireless apple car play integration. The centre console is slightly different with a new gear toggle replacing the selector and we also get slightly different trimmed seats with vegan leather. There is no vegan leather option for the steering wheel yet unfortunately. Finally, we also get some new ambient lighting with the X5 logo on the dashboard. Let’s have a look at the rear seats.
Practicality
So, getting into the rear we get a decent amount of legroom and headroom is also more than enough. You can also sit 3 in the back with ease as there is a very small middle hump. You also get your own climate control system, USB C ports, an arm rest, and heated seats. Let’s have a look at the boot.
Boot Size
Opening the boot electrically and you will be welcomed with 645 litres of boot space lying behind the split tailgate. Yes, you still get a split tailgate. This is not as much as the Mercedes GLE however and this is the same when you fold the seats down with the X5 having 1,860 litres.
Summary
So, what do I think with the BMW X5. Well, the X5 was never a bad car but it was starting to look outdated. With this facelift however they have changed enough to make it feel like a new generation but kept all the good bits from the pre facelift. The boot space is less than the GLE like I said but it is only 45 litres with the seats up and 150 litres with the seats down. This is not much. Personally, I would choose this over the Mercedes as it looks more premium and feels more modern and overall it is just a better car than the GLE. I would also choose it over the ageing Audi Q5.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 4/5
Total 14/15
Model | BMW X5 xDrive 30d X-Line |
Engine | 3.0 Litre Diesel Straight 6, 294 bhp, 4 Wheel Drive |
Trnasmission | 8 Speed Automatic |
Price | £68,165 |
On Sale | Now |
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