BMW->ke178 is preparing to recreate its entire X family and the new-generation X5 is only part of the job. The BMW X5->ke326 was first launched in 1999, and 13 years later, it’s getting ready to enter its third generation to help keep up with the changing times. As no surprise the third generation X5 features an evolutionary design language, closely related to the model it replaces, but with some elements borrowed from the recently announced X3 and X1 models.

These updates will include a more prominent grille, an aerodynamic front bumper and optional LED adaptive headlights. The new X5 was also slightly increased in dimensions so it offers more interior room and a more accommodating boot. For the interior BMW also focused on improving the comfort level and added higher quality materials.

The new X5 will be put on sale on the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of this year. At launch it will be offered with three gasoline engines with a diesel one to follow in early 2014.

Updated 5/30/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.

Update 6/24/2013: BMW has revealed the pricing and other details on the 2014 X5.

Update 7/29/2013: The 2014 BMW X5 configurator has hit the Internet. The only models available online for configuration are the sDrive35i, xDrive35i and the xDrive50i. To date, the xDrive35d and the X5 M are still M.I.A. You can design and build your own X5 here.

Click past the jump to read more about the new BMW X5.

2014 BMW X5

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 BMW X5
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 445
  • Torque: 480
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

When looking at the new BMW X5, it's not too hard to recognize it and that's because it features basically the same design language as the previous generation with only a few minor improvements.

Up front, it gets a broad-set kidney grille that extends all the way to the headlight clusters, a new four-set of round headlights trimmed by LED accent rings and numerous chrome inserts. BMW also installed a new front apron with the air intakes positioned in the outer edges. From here you will see the same familiar BMW swage lines, going all the way to the door pulls and into the tail lights.

For the rear, the model adopted the usual L-shaped taillights and, as a first for a BMW model it comes with Aero Blades - black air-channeling elements that are contiguous with the roof spoiler and help it to optimize the car’s aerodynamic properties.

For the exterior customers can choose between eleven paints, including a new Sparkling Brown Metallic and Mineral White Metallic.

Standard Exterior Features

-Double Spoke (Style 446) 18 x 8.5 light alloy wheels and 255/55 run-flat all-season tires

-Multi Spoke (Style 448) 19 x 9.0 light alloy wheels and 255/50 run-flat all-season tires (xDrive50i only)

-Xenon Adaptive Headlights with auto-leveling

-LED fog lights

-Intermittent rain-sensing windshield wipers

-Matte black roof rails

-Roof spoiler with center brake light

-Chrome exhaust tips

-Air Curtains and Air Breather system

-High-gloss black Aero Blades

Optional Lines

Luxury Line Adds:

-V Spoke (Style 450) 19 x 9.0 light alloy wheels and 255/50 run-flat all-season tires

-20" Light alloy Y-Spoke wheels style 451-with performance run-flat tires ($950 option)

-Wheel arch surrounds painted in the respective body color

-Chrome-line exterior trim

-Satin Aluminum or high-gloss black roof rails

-Luxury Line-specific design elements

xLine Adds:

-Satin aluminum line exterior trim

-19" Light alloy Orbit Grey wheels style 449-with all-season run-flat tires

-20" Light alloy Y-Spoke wheels style 451-with performance run-flat tires ($950 option)

-Aluminum running boards

-Roof rails in Satin Aluminum

-High-gloss Roof Rails

-Sport leather steering wheel

M Sport Adds

-Dynamic Damper Control + rear axle air suspension (xDrive models only) ($1,500 option)

-High-gloss Roof Rails

-Roof rails in Satin Aluminum

-19" M Light alloy Double Spoke wheels style 467M-with all-season run-flat tires

-20" M Light alloy Double Spoke wheels style 469M-with performance run-flat tires $950

-Sport seats

-Multi-contour seats ($950 option)

-Shadowline exterior trim

-Aluminum Hexagon interior trim

-Aluminum Trim

-Fineline Oak Wood Trim

-Fineline Pure Wood Trim

-Poplar Wood Trim

-Sport automatic transmission with shift paddles

-M steering wheel

-Anthracite headliner

-Alpine White exterior color

-Black Sapphire Metallic exterior color ($550 option)

-Mineral White Metallic exterior color ($550 option)

-Space Gray Metallic exterior color ($550 option)

-Carbon Black Metallic exterior color ($550 option)

-Aerodynamic kit

Interior

We all now well and good that interior comfort is what BMW strives for in its Sport Activity Vehicles. Redesigned front seats off up added comfort on long hauls and exquisite lateral support. If you plan on taking passengers along on these long journeys, you can also opt for the rear comfort seats.

BMW opted for higher quality materials and a general improvement of the comfort level. There is a standard Poplar Wood Trim combined with a high-gloss black surface. For the U.S. market BMW is offering standard BMW system, with touchpad, a freestanding 10.2-inch Control Display Monitor. Also, as standard feature the new X5 is offering Dakota leather seat surfaces and exclusive Nappa leather.

The rear seat splits in a 40:20:40 format to allow for optimal storage space and maximum seating at the same time. The cargo room can range anywhere from 23 cubic-feet to 66 cubic-feet, depending on which seats you fold.

Standard Interior Features

-10-way power-adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support and memory system for

driver’s seat

-20-way power Multi-contour front seats (xDrive50i only)

-3-stage heated front seats

-Black SensaTec upholstery

-Dakota Leather upholstery (xDrive50i only)

-Poplar Wood trim

-Cargo cover

-Panoramic moonroof with 2-piece glass panel

-Automatic front climate control

-Power-adjustable steering column

-Automatic tailgate with opening/closing feature

-Front & Rear Park Distance Control

-BMW Ambiance lighting

-3-spoke power tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel

-Enhanced USB, Bluetooth including Audio Streaming, and Mobile Office features, plus Smartphone

Integration

-Advanced Real Time Traffic Information

-BMW Online with MyInfo

-Electronic analog instrumentation with LED illumination

-iDrive system with on-board computer and touchpad Controller

-BMW Navigation system with 10.2-inch high-resolution screen; 3-D maps; 200 GB hard drive

with 20 GB storage for audio files

-Rear-view Camera with Top View (xDrive50i only)

-AM/FM stereo CD/MP3 player audio system with Radio Data System (RDS) includes

high-fidelity 9-speaker sound system with 2 subwoofers

Optional Lines:

Luxury Line Adds:

-Sport leather steering wheel

xLine Adds:

-Satin aluminum line exterior trim

-19" Light alloy Orbit Grey wheels style 449-with all-season run-flat tires

-20" Light alloy Y-Spoke wheels style 451-with performance run-flat tires ($950 option)

-Aluminum running boards

-Roof rails in Satin Aluminum

-High-gloss Roof Rails

-Sport leather steering wheel

M Sport Adds

-Sport seats

-Multi-contour seats ($950 option)

-Aluminum Hexagon interior trim

-Aluminum Trim

-Fineline Oak Wood Trim

-Fineline Pure Wood Trim

-Poplar Wood Trim

-M steering wheel

-Anthracite headliner

Luxury Line Adds:0}

The third-generation BMW X5 comes with a choice of three engines. The X5 sDrive35i and X5 xDrive35i models will be offered with a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six engine with a total output of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. This engine is equipped with turbocharging, High Precision direct fuel injection and Valvetronic variable intake technology. The xDrive35i will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than previous version.

Top version is the X5 xDrive 50i. It is powered by a 4.4-liter V-8 engine (N63) that delivers a total of 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. This version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds - or 0.4 seconds faster than its predecesor.

There is also a diesel version, the X5 xDrive35d. It is powered by a 3.0-liter engine that delivers a total of 255 horsepower and maximum torque of 413 pound-feed delivered between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm. This version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds.

The three engines will be combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a new function called ECO PRO that accelerates response and transmission characteristics.

Driveline Specifications

xLine Adds:}

sDrive35i

3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo I-6

Eight-Speed Automatic

300 @ 5,800

300 @ 1,200 - 5,000

TBA

xDrive35i

3.0-liter I-6

Eight-Speed Automatic

300 @ 5,800

300 @ 1,200 - 5,000

6.2 Sec

xDrive35d

3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo diesel

Eight-speed Automatic

255 @ TBA

413 @ 1,500 - 3,000

6.9 sec

xDrive50i

4.4-liter V-8

Eight-Speed Automatic

445 @ 5,500 - 6,000

480 @ 2,000 - 4,500

4.9 sec


M Sport Adds0}

2018 BMW X5 sDrive35i

$56,950

2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i

$59,250

2018 BMW X5 xDrive35d

$60,750

2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e iPerformance

$63,500

2018 BMW X5 xDrive50i

$73,800


Drivetrain

2014 Audi Q7

The 2014 Q7 has not only entered a new generation, but it has also taken another step toward taking over the luxury SUV realm. The Audi is more of a true SUV than the X5, as it can haul up to 72.5 cubic-feet of cargo and its seven-person capacity is ore realistic than the X5.

Under the hood, the Q7 comes up a little short when compared to the X5, as its base 3.0-liter TSFI engine produces just 280 horsepower. Its optional 3.0T engine makes things a little better by hopping the power to 333 horsepower. Finally, the 3.0-liter TDI engine produces 240 horsepower and a stump-ripping 406 pound-feet of torque, while getting 28 mpg highway.

Pricing has not been released yet.

Mercedes GLK-Class

The GLK-Class isn't nearly as sexy as the BMW, but it certainly has a leg up in style on the Audi Q7. the GL-Class comes in three variants all with different powertrains, including: GL350 BlueTEC 4MATIC with a V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque; GL450 4MATIC with a twin-turbo V-8 engine that produces 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque; GL550 4MATIC with a twin-turbo V-8 that pumps out 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet or torque; and the GL63 AMG with a V-8 engine that produces 550 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. These drivelines allow the Benz to hit 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, 6.2 seconds, 5.5 seconds and 4.8 seconds, respectively.

Conclusion

The third generation BMW X5 offers no major surprises: it comes with a slightly improved exterior design, an updated interior and improved engines. Or in short, all the updates it needed to catch up with all the competition.

Rendering

As you can see from both the spy shots and the renderings we’ve made, the new BMW X5 it won’t be very difficult to recognize it and that’s because it features pretty much will follow the same design language as we have seen in many of the previous generation with only a few minor improvements recently launched BMW models.

Spy shots

The new X5 will get a broad-set kidney grille, a new set of headlamps that will go all the way to the kidney grille - just like in the 3-Series, a new set of four round headlights trimmed by LED accent rings and numerous chrome inserts. The front bumper is also redesigned and gets larger air intakes positioned in the outer edges.

For the rear, we expect to see the same rear lights in customary BMW L-shaped design and a new bumper.

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History

First Generation

The BMW X5 initially arrived on the market back in 1999 as BMW's first SUV. The first generation - internally known as the E53 - was built with Land Rover technology (back then BMW owned Land Rover). The X5 borrowed its Hill Descent System and Off Road Engine Management system from the Range Rover HSE and from the BMW 5-Series, it borrowed the engine and electronic system.

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Second Generation

The second generation - or E70 - arrived in 2006. This time, the SUV was offered exclusively with BMW technology, including an iDrive system and, as a first for a BMW model, a third row option.

During the second generation, more precisely in 2010, BMW also added an X5 M version. It offered a V-8 turbocharged engine delivering a total of 555 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, making this the most powerful X5 ever.