BMW Unveils Fifth-Generation X5, Debuts First All-Electric iX5

BMW has just pulled the wraps off the fifth generation of its X5 SUV, and this one's a big deal: it's the first X5 ever offered with five different powertrain options, including the brand's first all-electric version, the iX5. A hydrogen-powered model is also on the way.

The reveal happened at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, the same factory that will build every version of the new X5, making the iX5 the first fully electric BMW ever assembled in the US.

A Fresh Look

The new X5 borrows styling cues from BMW's upcoming "Neue Klasse" design language, while still looking like an X5. Key changes include:

• A taller, more upright front end with a lit-up kidney grille and new "double-X" LED lights that combine daytime running lights, indicators, and headlights into one unit
• Flush door handles built into the pillars instead of the doors, for a cleaner side profile
• Sharper wheel arches and shoulder lines
• Slimmer tail-lights at the rear, with a sportier look on the top-spec M60e model
• 11 paint colours (5 of them new) and wheels up to 23 inches, the largest ever offered on an X5

It's also slightly bigger than before: just under 5 metres long, 2 metres wide, with a 3,035mm wheelbase. Boot space is 655 litres (1,850 litres with seats folded), though plug-in hybrid versions lose a bit of room to their batteries.

What's New Inside

The cabin has been redesigned with far fewer physical buttons. The highlights:

• A 17.9-inch curved touchscreen, paired with BMW's “Panoramic iDrive”, a display that projects information across the bottom of the windshield
• A 3D head-up display and an optional screen for the front passenger
• Standard panoramic glass roof, sport seats, and ambient lighting
• Optional massaging, ventilated seats, soft-close doors, wireless charging, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system
• A four-zone climate system, with rear passengers getting their own touchscreen controls

On safety, the X5 gets BMW's latest driver-assist tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, and a new "Motorway and City Assistant" that can handle highway driving and city navigation with minimal driver input.

Five Ways to Power It

This is what really sets the new X5 apart, buyers get to choose between petrol, diesel, two plug-in hybrids, or fully electric:

The iX5: BMW's Biggest Battery Yet

The fully electric iX5 is the headline act. It runs on an 800-volt system with a 141kWh battery, the largest BMW has ever put in a production car. A few standout numbers:

• 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds, top speed of 210kph
• Up to 845km of range (WLTP)
• 460kW DC fast charging, enough for a 10-80% top-up in about 23 minutes
• Supports bi-directional charging, so it can send power back out, not just take it in

When Can You Buy One?

• Production starts in August 2026 at the Spartanburg plant
• Petrol and diesel versions go on sale globally from late November 2026
• The iX5 and plug-in hybrids follow in early 2027