2027 BMW X5 First Look: New Face, Neue Tech, and a First-Ever EV Option

BMW enthusiasts may have the letter M tattooed on the brain, but for everyone else (and BMW’s bottom line), it’s all about the letter X. No pressure, then, as BMW starts to roll out its all-new, fifth-generation 2027 BMW X5, which is undergoing the biggest update in its nearly 30-year history. What that means for prospective buyers is more options than ever before, due in large part to BMW’s use of its Neue Klasse high-tech platform as the basis for its new luxury midsize SUV.

Unsurprisingly, the latest X5 has grown in stature, and it features a daring front light signature that could turn off some longtime fans. But BMW is clearly hoping the X5’s plethora of wow-factor features and breadth of powertrain options will outweigh any outcry over its bold styling cues.

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Let’s Talk About That Face

Head on, the new 2027 X5 grabs your attention, in a good or bad way depending on your styling lens. Gone are the chevron-shaped headlights, and in their place is BMW’s new double-X icon approach. These combine turn signals, side lights, daytime running lights, and low-beam headlights into one unit. If the Xs are too much for you, you can turn off one of the slashes so only one diagonal light stays illuminated.

The X5’s version of BMW’s iconic kidney grille is also much skinnier and taller now, outlined by its own circlet of light. Depending on what’s under the hood, the lower grille incorporates either horizontal air intakes for internal combustion or a closed-off design to signify the all-electric powertrain.

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Flattened and simplified body planes sculpt the new X5’s shape. You'll notice the passenger doors are now unbroken by door handles. In their place are the new B- and C-pillar-mounted BMW Winglet handles for the standard Soft Close doors, which assist manual opening and closing with servo motors as radar sensors placed all over keep watch for objects in the way. Electrically powered doors are an optional extra, and they can be closed via interior buttons, the app, your own voice, or the brake pedal. We recommend the shouting—it feels much more interactive.

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In the back, the X5 has almost wagonish proportions; the slim taillight signature does its best to break up the vast planes of sheetmetal. It isn’t as fun or funky as the X-shaped headlights, but there’s still certainly a visual flair back there.

The standard 21-inch wheels are wrapped in 255-section tires in the front and 285-section tires at the back. You can option up for 22-inch wheels with all-season or summer tires, or a set of 23-inch wheels—the first time a wheel this big has been offered on an X5. All told, there are 10 different wheel designs to choose from.

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What’s the Cabin Like?

BMW’s Neue Klasse tech carries over to the new X5’s cabin. That means BMW Operating System X, the pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision screen driver cluster with customizable widgets, a bigger central display, and the new steering wheel we’ve seen on the BMW iX3 and refreshed 7 Series. However, if you really dislike the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock spokes, the BMW M leather wheel that’s part of the M Sport Package Professional replaces it with a more traditional one.

As standard, the new X5 comes with piano-black surfaces (boo) and a center console with two cupholders, two USB-C ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a phone charging tray with a magnetic holder. A panoramic glass roof brings light into the cabin, and the front half opens for extra breeziness. There are dual-zone and rear climate controls, but front vent direction is now controlled via the central screen (more boo).

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Heated sport seats are also standard, but with more cushioning in the backrest and seat bottom for more comfortable extended travel. Rear-seat passengers experience more legroom thanks to the X5’s longer wheelbase, and there’s also a slightly more reclined seat-back position. The middle armrest folds down to reveal two cupholders and a phone tray, and the rear bench has 40/20/40 split folding capability. The Climate package option brings four-zone climate control with a rear touchscreen, heated rear seats, steering wheel, and armrests, ventilated front seats, and a heat pump on the all-electric iX5.

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Beyond that, making its X5 debut is the optional 14.6-inch passenger screen where passengers can stream media or perform video calls while being driven around. BMW says the car’s interior camera watches the driver and will darken the passenger screen automatically if it suspects distraction. If the car is parked, the passenger’s media can be projected onto the central screen. If no one’s sitting in the passenger seat, the screen will go into an incognito mode by displaying something that matches the rest of the screens and ambient lighting.

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The optional Clear & Bold interior package adds real slate as a cabin material to the center console control panel where it’s combined with the touch controls for the defroster, parking brake, and hazard lights. Bentley also offers a stone veneer, but we don’t recall it being used in any button application. Real glass used on the volume controls, seat adjustment, and gear selector round out the package.

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Powertrains, Powertrains, Powertrains

The X5 will encompass five different powertrain options: diesel (which we won’t get here), mild hybrid internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, all-electric, and hydrogen—BMW's very first such commercial offering and one that supposedly will become available in our market.

Entry-level X5s will be the mild hybrid X5 40 and X5 40 xDrive. These utilize the automaker’s familiar turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six; power has increased slightly to a claimed 394 hp and 428 lb-ft of combined output. Acceleration to 60 mph should take 5.1 seconds.

Move up the ladder to the X5 50e xDrive plug-in hybrid, and you get the six-cylinder engine with an electric motor that produces 194 hp of its own from a 26.5-kWh underbody lithium-ion battery. Combined output comes to 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The 50e xDrive can drive in battery-only mode for an estimated 44 miles at speeds up to 87 mph. It’ll hit 60 in a claimed 4.6 seconds with the engine lit.

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There’s no V-8-powered X5 option just yet, but BMW says an eight-cylinder M Performance version is in the works for later next year.

The biggest powertrain news is the launch of the very first all-electric X5, the iX5 60 xDrive, that uses the high-voltage battery tech first seen on the iX3. As we’ve previously reported, the new BMW EVs will be able to drive farther, charge faster, and maximize efficiency thanks to cutting-edge motors. The iX5 60 xDrive’s dual motors produce a claimed 570 hp and 593 lb-ft of combined output and will achieve a 0–60-mph time of 4.4 seconds. It, along with the upcoming iX5 Hydrogen, utilizes the “Heart of Joy/Superbrain” driving features.

Finally, BMW estimates the electric SUV to return up to 435 miles of range, an impressive figure for a vehicle so large. We’re eager to see how the official EPA ratings match up and how it performs on our independent Road-Trip Range test after that. A NACS charging port is standard, and each electric X5 supports bidirectional charging.

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For the new X5, BMW has upgraded the suspension and chassis systems to suit each powertrain. A near 50:50 weight distribution helps with handling, as do the electronically controlled dampers at each wheel as part of the adaptive suspension.

Options! The two-axle air suspension can self-level, or you can adjust it manually depending on the driving situation. Adaptive Chassis Control Professional takes it a step further by implementing a 48-volt electric motor at the middle of each axle for roll stabilization allowing active anti-roll bars keep things flat through the corners. When towing, the iX5 can use optional rear-wheel steering for trailer stabilization.

For those looking to reduce fatigue, the optional Highway Assistant provides hands-free driving on select highways up to 85 mph, traffic and weather permitting. It will even perform a lane change after asking for and receiving driver permission.

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As for a preliminary rundown of how the new X5 drives, Frank Markus wrote a wonderful piece you can read here of his experience with X5 prototypes.

How Much?

The new X5 will launch with the 40 xDrive this coming October, followed by the rear-drive X5 40, PHEV X5 50e xDrive, and BEV X5 iX5 60 xDrive in the first quarter of next year. As mentioned above, the M Performance V-8 X5 is coming later in 2027. And BMW says it plans to launch the iX5 Hydrogen after that.

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Here are the starting MSRPs we can currently report:

• X5 40: $71,250
• X5 40 xDrive: $73,550
• X5 50e xDrive: $78,950
• X5 iX5 60 xDrive: $81,250

As compared with the outgoing X5 40 models, the price increase is pretty minimal. It’s even better when you consider you’re getting a brand-new model with BMW’s suite of new technologies. And after a few minutes of looking at the new face, it’s kinda cool, too.