New BMW X5 revealed with five powertrains

BMW AUSTRALIA will launch the fifth-generation X5 in the fourth quarter of this year with petrol and diesel power, before adding plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and iX5 battery electric (BEV) versions in mid-2027, using the broad drivetrain spread to protect its large luxury SUV volume while managing NVES obligations.

The Australian arm of the Bavarian company has confirmed four launch-phase variants to the new X5 range – the six-cylinder petrol X5 40 xDrive and diesel 40d xDrive, the iX5 60 xDrive BEV, and the X5 50e xDrive PHEV – the latter also using a six-cylinder petrol as its base powertrain.

A hydrogen fuel-cell version of the new X5 has also been developed, though there’s no word yet on Australian appetite for this version. Limited infrastructure in-country is likely to limit BMW to four fuel types locally, not five.

The fifth-generation car adopts BMW’s latest Neue Klasse design language, but under the skin, the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) is retained.

The exterior features a more upright, monolithic stance, higher front-end treatment and vertical kidney grille flanked by adaptive LED headlights with double-X light signatures.

Standard flush BMW “winglet” door handles form part of the cleaner surfacing, while available wheel sizes span 21 to 23 inches. Eleven exterior paint finishes will be offered globally, including four BMW Individual colours.

Inside, the X5 moves to BMW’s Panoramic iDrive layout, with a thin pillar-to-pillar display, a 3D HUD, 17.9-inch touchscreen, and optional passenger display. The redesigned cabin introduces new steering wheels, three-dimensional backlit ambient lighting, glass accents, and natural slate trim.

Petrol and diesel versions will arrive first in Q4, with pricing and detailed local specifications set to be revealed in the next couple of months. The BEV and PHEV versions will arrive “at roughly the same time” mid-next year, BMW Australia head of product and market planning Brendan Michel told GoAuto.

The rollout will give BMW one of the broadest powertrain offers in the large premium segment at a time when rivals are taking divergent positions on combustion and electrified SUVs.

“We expect we will have a fairly even mix across internal combustion engine, plug-in hybrid and fully electric, at the moment our market’s very heavily dominated by diesel,” said Mr Michel.

Diesel remains strategically important for the X5 in Australia.

Mr Michel said the existing X5 30d was “one of the highest selling variants of anything that we offer in the Australian market”, citing performance, torque, efficiency, long-distance driving range, and towing capability as key reasons for continued demand.

However, Mr Michel said that the iX5 60 xDrive grade, which is set to offer up to 845km range (WLTP) from its 141kWh NMC battery, will offer a genuine alternative for buyers who need to drive longer distances.

The ICE versions will still offer a clear advantage when it comes to towing, with the petrol and diesel rated at 3500kg and the BEV at 2700kg.

Both six-cylinder cars use 3.0-litre units, with the 40 petrol producing 294kW/580Nm (for a 5.3 sec 0-100km/h time) and the 40d diesel generating 230kW/670Nm (6.2 sec 0-100km/h). WLTP fuel consumption is 8.6-9.3L/100km and 7.0-7.6L/100km respectively.

The plug-in hybrid X5 50e xDrive could be a sweet spot, combining a six-cylinder petrol with a 145kW electric motor for total outputs of 360kW and 700Nm. BMW claims 86-102km of WLTP electric range, 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds and braked towing capacity of 3300kg in global specification.

Meanwhile, the iX5 60 xDrive uses dual motors for AWD while gaining most of the modern electrification hardware from BMW’s Neue Klasse iX3 and i3 models, including the 800-volt version of the sixth-generation eDrive system, and cylindrical battery cells.

The iX5 produces 425kW and 805Nm and should clock 4.6 seconds to 100km/h. Maximum DC charging speed is 460kW, with BMW claiming a 10-80 per cent charge in 23 minutes and up to 350km of range added in 10 minutes at peak charging rate.

Pricing remains unannounced, but Mr Michel indicated BMW Australia would follow the same internal-positioning logic used on other electric models, rather than simply placing the EV at the top of the range.

“We will have everything announced in August,” added Mr Michel.

Asked whether the petrol V8 engine that is slated to return globally could survive under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, Mr Michel would not confirm or deny the variant but said the new drivetrain strategy gave BMW more room to balance higher-emission models.

Globally, the X5 will be produced at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina, which BMW says will become the first plant in its network able to assemble a single model line with five drivetrain technologies: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel-cell.