2026 BMW X5

Price Range: $67,600 - $92,600

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2026 BMW X5 is the athlete among its midsize luxury rivals, delivering potent performance while maintaining high levels of comfort and refinement. It takes a while to get used to the controls and infotainment system, but even with these drawbacks, the X5 remains a great all-around pick.

#2 out of 15

Midsize luxury SUVs

60 Owner Reviews

Pros

Pro:Strong performance from available engines
Pro:Luxurious, comfortable cabin lives up to its price tag
Pro:Spacious interior and cargo area

Cons

Con:Small mirrors and wide roof pillars create blind spots
Con:Limited interior storage
Con:Wide doorsills inhibit entry and exit

What’s new

No notable changes for 2026
Part of the fourth X5 generation introduced for 2019

11 Colors
4 Trims
10 Packages

Build & Price BMWUSA.com

2026 BMW X5 Review

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

5/14/2025

BMW got in on the modern luxury SUV game early with the debut of the X5 in 1999. That head start proved invaluable, allowing for development and improvement over the next two decades as smaller and larger siblings joined the lineup. The 2026 BMW X5 represents the end of the line for the current generation that debuted in 2019, yet it remains one of the best choices among midsize luxury SUVs. It takes its final bow in the same form as last year, delivering the same tried-and-true experience that made it an undeniable success.

Edmunds spotlight: Buy an X5 now or wait?

This is always a tough question when a vehicle is due for a complete redesign. On one hand, the current 2026 X5 remains a great choice in its class. On the other, you might be missing out on the next big thing from BMW, whether it's a new technology feature or drivetrain option. Then there's style and personality. The next X5 seems poised to adopt the upcoming Neue Klasse exterior design language, with a smaller, more subtle kidney grille from pre-1980s BMWs. The new look could easily sway shoppers one way or the other, as could the possibility of higher tariff-related prices, even though the X5 is assembled in South Carolina. It's still early in the game, so we recommend watching this space for the latest developments.

Competitors to consider

Our current favorite midsize luxury SUV is the Mercedes-Benz GLE. It's similarly priced to the BMW X5 but leans more toward opulence than performance, at least in the entry-level trims. For more generous budgets, the Porsche Cayenne is about as sporty as the class gets. By contrast, the Genesis GV80 is a relative bargain compared to the German SUVs, as is the Lexus RX that provides more economical options. Even with these rivals and seven years in production, the BMW X5 should be an all-around winner for many shoppers.

What’s it like to live with?

We added a 2020 BMW X5 to our One-Year Road Test fleet to get a more detailed ownership experience of this generation, and it did not disappoint. While there have been numerous changes and upgrades since then, many of our observations still hold true and should set expectations if you purchase one.

Which X5 does Edmunds recommend?

For the majority of shoppers and drivers, the base engine will easily satisfy. It has plenty of power and beats the plug-in hybrid's fuel economy if you don't have regular charger access. We suggest stepping up to the all-wheel-drive xDrive40i for its improved traction on both dry and slippery surfaces, and be sure to add the Driving Assistance Professional package to get all of the latest driver assist features.

Compare 2026 BMW X5 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

BMW X5 models

The 2026 BMW X5 is a midsize luxury SUV with seating for five. Four versions are available: the sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive50e and M60i. A high-performance X5 M is also available, but we review that model separately.

A turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (375 horsepower, 383 lb-ft of torque) equipped with 48-volt mild hybrid technology lives under the hood of the sDrive40i, and an eight-speed automatic transmission powers the SUV's rear wheels. The xDrive40i has the same powertrain but includes all-wheel drive.

A plug-in hybrid drivetrain motivates the xDrive50e. It uses a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, electric motors and a rechargeable battery pack, and it has standard all-wheel drive. According to the EPA, the xDrive50e can travel 39 miles only on electricity. When the battery reaches its minimum state of charge, the xDrive50e operates as a regular gas-electric hybrid vehicle. The total system output is 483 hp and 516 lb-ft.

For a higher level of performance, step up to the M Sport-tuned X5 M60i. It has a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp, 553 lb-ft) equipped with 48-volt mild hybrid technology and comes with standard all-wheel drive.

sDrive40i, xDrive40i and xDrive50e
Aside from powertrain differences, these three versions of the X5 are similarly equipped. Standard features include:

LED headlights with cornering lights
Adaptive suspension dampers
Air suspension (xDrive50e only)
20-inch wheels
Run-flat tires
Heated, power-folding side mirrors
Keyless entry with push-button start
Panoramic sunroof

On the inside, you also get:

Synthetic leather upholstery
Heated, power-adjustable front seats
Three-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable steering wheel
Customizable LED ambient cabin lighting
12.3-inch digital instrument display
14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
Navigation system
Wireless device charger
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
5G Wi-Fi hotspot
10-speaker audio system with satellite radio

BMW equips every X5 with these driver assist systems:

Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Automatic high-beam headlights

Option packages include:

M Sport package

Choice of 20-inch, 21-inch or 22-inch wheels
M Sport-tuned adaptive suspension
M Sport steering wheel
M Sport exterior trim

M Sport Professional package

M Sport exhaust system
M Sport brakes with red or blue calipers
Illuminated kidney grille
Gloss black exterior trim

Premium package

Remote engine start
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
Gesture control of infotainment and vehicle functions
16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system

Executive package

Premium package features
Panoramic glass roof with embedded LED lighting
Soft-close doors
Glass-formed center console controls
Manual rear window shades

Climate Comfort package

20-way multi-contour front seats
Ventilated front seats
Heated front armrests, steering wheel and rear seats
Four-zone automatic climate control

Driving Assistance Professional package

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the X5 and the car in front)
Lane keeping assistance (steers the X5 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Lane centering system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Highway Assistant (uses the vehicle's advanced driver aids to further provide hands-free driving capability on select highways)
Automated lane change assistance (autonomously guides the vehicle into the next lane when using Highway Assistant)
Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
Emergency stop assistance (can bring the BMW to a stop in the event of a medical emergency with the driver)
Front cross-traffic warning

Parking Assistance package

Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the X5 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Individual options include:

21-inch and 22-inch wheels
Air suspension (sDrive40i and xDrive40i)
Upgraded M Sport brakes
Remote engine start
Leather upholstery
20-way multi-contour front seats
Massaging front seats
Heated rear seats
Heated steering wheel and armrests
Four-zone automatic climate control
Head-up display
16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system

M60i
As a performance model, the X5 M60i offers more than just a turbocharged V8 engine. It also boasts:

Exclusive 20-inch wheels
M Sport exterior trim
M Sport-tuned adaptive suspension
M Sport differential
M Sport exhaust
M Sport brakes
M Sport steering wheel
Rear-wheel steering
Power-adjustable multi-contour sport seats with ventilation
Harman Kardon surround-sound system
Head-up display

Options are similar to other X5 models, but exclusive upgrades to the M60i include:

Adaptive M Suspension Professional (enhanced with anti-body roll and improved handling)
Leather-wrapped dashboard
20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system

Build Your 2026 X5

At a Glance:

11 Colors
4 Trims
10 Packages
$66,300starting MSRP

Build & Price BMWUSA.com

BMW X5 Owner Reviews

3.9

5(59%)

4(8%)

3(12%)

2(3%)

1(18%)

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Beautiful Blend of Luxury and Performance

JamesK, 07/29/2023

2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

Bought a 2024 BMW X5 m40i about a month ago. Totally impressed! Exterior styling changes further enhance the beauty of the car. Interior is clean, simple, and elegant. Engine and transmission powerful and smooth. Very quiet ride! I carefully compared to Mercedes GLE 450 before purchase. GLE body style looked a bit dated and stodgy to me. Reviews of GLE touted interior luxury, but to …

An Impressive vehicle

X5 Driver, 01/20/2024

2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

I have owned the X5 for four months now, and I am extremely pleased with it. The base engine is powerful and smooth, and I’m glad I didn’t get the 50i. The interior is beautiful and very comfortable. The technology package is also well worth it, for the self-driving feature. Multiple times now, I’ve been able to engage it on a highway, let it drive for 30 miles or more at a time. It does …

Luxurious and fast, but not without faults

PThomas, 03/15/2024

2024 BMW X5 sDrive40i 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)

It has only 200 miles on it so time will tell how reliable it is, but everything works fine. We did buy the maintenance plan because the car has a lot of expensive maintenance which takes time and trips to the dealer. It’s my wife’s car and she looked at many of the competitors and chose the BMW. First the good things. It’s very smooth, quiet, fast, and luxurious. The interior has pretty … wood and soft surfaces, a very nice wide screen, color changeable ambient lighting, lots of features and capabilities, etc. The sport seats are very comfortable and the front legroom and headroom are excellent. The start/stop function, which you can only turn off by putting the transmission in sport mode, is hardly noticeable. BMW has done a good job with the mild hybrid function and it gets good gas mileage, especially considering the power and weight. The transmission engages and shifts very smoothly. The infotainment/technology is very good and fast. It’s almost overwhelming. The car can do so many things from voice and gesture control, park itself, to lane changes. We’re still trying to figure out how to do certain functions that change with the different key fobs. That’ll come, but the class on all the features is almost a necessity. Utube has been helpful. The standard in line six turbo has all the power you need. Do you really need to go from zero to sixty in less than 5 seconds and go around a corner at warp speed? If so, get a sports car. The inline 6 has a very reliable reputation, which can’t be said about the V8s. It’s very fast. It’s a good thing the speed limit sign is displayed because it’s easy to go much faster without realizing it. The car is extremely comfortable and the run flat tires are very smooth. The vehicle feels a bit heavy, but it handles well. IMHO, you don’t buy an X5 to race. It handles well, but I would not say that it has sports car handling. Now for the not so good. The back seat legroom is tight and it’s a challenge to get in and out, especially since there isn’t a third row. There are no buttons in the cargo area to fold down the rear seats. For the life of me I don’t know why BMW didn’t include them, especially since many other OEM’s do and BMW includes so many nice features elsewhere. The “clamshell” rear hatch is good, and I like the little truck like tailgate, which protects the rear painted area. Don’t accidentally hit the close button with your torso when you’re putting something in the cargo area because the tailgate will close and send whatever is on the tailgate flying, not to mention surprising you. They could have put the button in many other out of the way places. The car does not come with a spare. The interior storage is limited. There is no sunglass holder and no storage under the front stack like most OEMs. The electronic shifter takes some getting used to. The wireless charger barely charges, but that’s what you get with most wireless chargers. You have the run flat tires, but where do you drive to in 50 miles, unless you have a spare, especially if you’re on the road? It REQUIRES premium gas which costs 20% more than regular so it’s like cutting the mpg by 20%. Consumer Reports terms it the most expensive car to own over 10 years and second most after 5 years. More than a Mercedes, Volvo, Audi, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, etc. Yikes! The depreciation really increases precipitously when the warranty runs out. It doesn’t come with leather unless you pay $2k extra. It comes with “Sensafin” which is a fancy term for vinyl. It does look and feel good and is supposed to hold up and look better than leather. It’s the first vinyl interior we’ve had in 25+ years and we’ve never had a problem with leather. BMW screwed up the selling process. Everything was fine on the first ordered car when we went to pick it up, until they went to finalize the sale on the computer. The trade title had already been signed, the paperwork done etc. It wouldn’t go through because there was a recall. This was on a car made days before. Some sort of software/sensor problem. Really? So she ordered an identical one, but that meant driving the trade home, picking up the signed title, etc. and waiting again. There were no recalls on the second ordered car so she drove it home, but they forgot to order the all weather mat in the cargo area on the second car, which necessitated another trip to the dealer an hour away. BMW’s high end sales process was good, but they glossed over the nuts and bolts of the basic sales process. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the experience, but I hope it’s much better. She had to order another car and they still couldn’t get it right on the second try. We did order a spare from BMW, which costs $250, so the car has a spare. You can get a spare in an ordered car, but they don’t normally come on a car on the lot. I’ll update later on the ownership, which I hope goes much better. The software did hiccup. When the car had 250 miles on it all a sudden it starting saying lots of maintenance was past due. My wife figured out the car’s calendar thought it was 2035. Two attempts to put the real date in finally worked. Hopefully that issue won’t come back. On a side note I had the car ceramic coated at our house for 1/5th what the dealer would have charged. The car really looks good and it sheds water nicely from all surfaces. The car market has gone from 800k cars two years ago to 2.8 million today so the market has normalized and BMW is right at the average market days to sell so supply has caught up with demand. Dealers like to act like it was 2 years ago, but you can negotiate and every OEM has incentives like the 2.99% financing on the X5s. It’s going to get even better for buyers as the supply continues to go up and the dealers acknowledge it’s not yesterday.

Great car, if it doesn’t die on you

Kevin C, 02/01/2024

2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A)

1st BMW for us. X5 50e. Great, loved the car. 3 months after purchase, 3003 miles, suffered “drivetrain malfunction” while going over the Grapevine in California. Towed to dealership in SoCal where the car sits to this day. Day 32 now. Service advisor said “Germany is making all the decisions”. Took 3 wks to figure out what is wrong. Need to replace the high voltage battery and …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2026 BMW X5, so we've included reviews for other years of the X5 since its last redesign.

2026 BMW X5