One of the original high-performance crossovers, BMW's X5M boasts the power and performance of the M5 sedan you know and love but with a more upright shape, more cargo space, and much more market appeal. The standard X5 it's based on was all-new last year, but the M version waited until 2020, and looks like it'll be worth the delay.
Available Trims
BMW offers the X5 M in standard and Competition grades, with both getting the same twin-turbo V8. The competition takes the potent M and steps up the horsepower, and overall performance, sound, and feel. Both get all-wheel drive and the same automatic gearbox.
Standard Features
While it's technically the base model X5 M, this is a very well equipped vehicle. On the inside, it comes with a special M leather steering wheel and M gearshift lever as well as heavily bolstered sports seats. The headrests even get M illumination to make sure everyone can see which one you've picked, and that's in addition to the adjustable thigh support, backrest width, and pneumatic lumbar. The X5 M offers BMW's latest Live Cockpit Professional system on a 12.3-inch digital dash and 12.3-inch digital display with new haptic iDrive controls and a tablet-like touch interface. The system gets two USB-C ports to keep your mobile device charged up, and a head-up display lets you keep your eyes on the road when you're going fast.
Performance features include larger M-specific brakes and callipers with 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels. The M braking system gets two different pedal feel options, comfort and sport. Adaptive suspension with roll stabilization is standard, as is extra chassis bracing, stiffer mounting points, and a more performance-biased alignment for the suspension. On the outside, X5 M models are identifiable thanks to the larger wheels and a more aggressive body kit with prominent grilles and flared wheel arches.
The X5 M Competition adds more power and a standard M Sport Exhaust that lets more noise out of the engine. It has a stiffer suspension than the standard M as well as a unique wheel design. The Competition trim uses black trim for the grille surrounds, mirror caps, and badges and includes the Merino Leather interior that's an option on the X5 M model as standard with multiple colour options.
Both get a full suite of driver aids including active driving assistant with blind-spot alerts, lane departure warning, rear collision warning, pedestrian warning with city collision mitigation and speed limit information.
Key Options
For driver aids, the big option pack adds the Driving Assistance Professional Package with radar cruise control with stop-and-go capability as well as lane-keeping assistance with side collision protection and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant that can keep the vehicle in-lane at speeds up to 60 km/h in heavy traffic.
Also on the list is the premium package that adds parking assistant with surround view, drive recorder dashcam, heated and cooled cupholders, a panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, the Driving Assistant Pro, massage function, and sunshades. The Ultimate package adds all that plus carbon trim outside and for the engine cover, the M Driver's package, BMW's display key, and a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system. A night vision camera is also on the options list.
Fuel Economy
As of this writing, fuel economy estimates for the X5 M and X5 M Competition aren't yet available.
Competition
The X5 M sits in rarefied air, but that doesn't mean the competition isn't intense. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 offers similar performance and unique looks, the Ranger Rover Sport offers slightly less power but an impressive package, and Porsche's Cayenne gives a wider range of performance choices and is equally track-ready.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
