Drivers of the first generation BMW X5 hybrid (aka, the X5 xDrive40e) will tell you that while the SUV is certainly comfortable, includes some nice luxe features, and is even peppy from, say, 0-30 when the electric motor is engaged, it’s missing some of the features one looks for in a hybrid: namely fuel economy and electric range. The new variant — the X5 xDrive45e — makes substantial improvements in both areas, with some additional bells and whistles to boot. Read on for details and pretty X5 pictures.
Image Credit: BMW.
The power train
The new X5 hybrid comes with a “3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder, 24-valve, 282 hp engine. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic), high-precision direct injection and eDrive 111-hp electric motor (389 hp total power output).”
Compared to the old 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder, 241 hp engine, this is a real power upgrade.
Image Credit: BMW.
The battery & range
The new model sports a big new 24 kWh battery that promises a range of 30 electric-only driving miles. Compared to the old model, which got around 12 miles of range out of a 12kWh battery, this is a very different and more economical vehicle.
Image Credit: BMW.
The interior
The X5 comes with Sensa-tec seats standard. That’s BMW’s faux leather upholstery, and it actually feels surprisingly leathery (with a hint of rubber), though you can upgrade to leather for a fee. Still, its always a bit of a shock to learn that a car this expensive doesn’t have leather seats standard (we’ll get to the price soon enough).
Image Credit: BMW.
The fuel economy
BMW says the new X5 gets 50 MPGe (that stands for Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, and is used to measure fuel economy for hybrids). The tank holds 18.2 gallons of gas for a range of 400 miles total.
Image Credit: BMW.
The screens
The X5’s widescreen touchscreen display will look familiar to anyone who’s been in a beemer in recent years, though the latest incarnation is more integrated into the console than prior generations. There’s also a standard digital cockpit for the drivers now, too.
Image Credit: BMW.
Standard packages
According to BMW, the following comes standard:
- xLine trim
- 19-inch V-Spoke alloy wheels with all-season run-flat tires
- Power adjustable steering column with Sport leather steering wheel
- 8-Speed Sport Automatic transmission
- 2-axle air suspension
- Live Cockpit Professional with iDrive 7, navigation and two digital 12.3-inch displays
- Apple Car Play compatibility
- Android Auto Compatibility (starting from 8/20 production)
- SiriusXM Satellite radio with 1 year All-Access subscription
- Comfort Access keyless entry
- Rear view camera
- Panoramic sunroof
- Privacy glass
- Power front heated sport seats
- SensaTec dashboard
- Interior ambient lighting
- Adaptive Full LED headlights and Automatic high beams
- Acoustic protection for pedestrians
Active Protection
- Automatic seat belt tensioning
- Automatic closing of windows and moonroof
- Fatigue and Focus Alert
- Post-Crash Braking
Active Driving Assistant
- Lane Departure Warning
- Daytime Pedestrian Warning
- Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation
- Speed Limit Information
- Active Blind Spot Detection
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Collision Preparation
Connected Package Professional
- Real Time Traffic and On Street Parking Availability.
- Intelligent Personal Assistant with natural speech input
- Remote Services with Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App and Stolen Vehicle Recovery
Image Credit: BMW.
The options
The really fun stuff will cost you extra with this and most BMWs. This X5’s extra options include…
Image Credit: BMW.
Convenience package
You get:
- 4-zone climate control
- Wireless charging for compatible mobile devices
- Wi-Fi hot spot with 3-month or 3GB data trial
- Enhanced USB and Bluetooth, which adds multimedia functionality and certain voice controls
Image Credit: BMW.
Driving assistance professional package
You get:
- Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways (Level 2)
- Active cruise control with stop & go
- Lane keeping assistant with side collision avoidance
- Steering and traffic jam assistant, which keeps the car in the middle of the lane on certain roads
- Evasion assistant, which helps you avoid collisions and unexpected obstacles
- Front cross-traffic alert
Image Credit: BMW.
Luxury seating package
You get:
- Front ventilated multi-contour seats
Image Credit: BMW.
M Sport package
You get:
- 20-inch M Star-spoke bi-color Style 740M wheels with all-season run-flat tires or 21-inch M Y-spoke bi-color Style 741M wheels performance run-flat tires
- Roof rails in High Gloss Shadowline
- Aluminum tetragon trim, aluminum dark mesh interior trim, brown-metallic ash grain wood trim, fineline stripe brown high-gloss wood trim, anthracite-brown poplar matte wood trim
- M steering wheel
- Aerodynamic kit
- Shadowline exterior trim
- Vernasca leather or individual extended Merino leather
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Parking Assistance Package
You get:
- Parking assistant plus, which parks your car automatically
- Back-up assistant, which helps you back out of places by tracing the cars last forward movements but in reverse
- Drive recorder, which automatically or manually records video of your surroundings for up to 40 seconds
- Active park distance control, which alerts drivers to nearby objects when parking
- Surround view with 3D View
Image Credit: BMW.
Premium Package
You get:
- 4-zone automatic climate control
- Head-up display, which projects information like speed and directions on the windshield in front of the driver
- Harman Kardon surround sound system
- Wireless charging
- Gesture control, which allows you to control certain functions by moving your hands
- WiFi hotspot with 3-month or 3GB data trial
- Enhanced USB and Bluetooth
Image Credit: BMW.
Executive Package
You get:
- Panoramic sky lounge LED roof, which adds ambient lighting to the moonroof
- Rear manual side window shades
- Glass controls, which includes a fancy looking crystal shifter knob
- 4-zone automatic climate control
- Icon adaptive LED headlights with laserlight
- Head-up display
- Harman Kardon surround sound system
- Wireless charging
- Gesture control
- WiFi hotspot with 3-month or 3GB data trial
- Enhanced USB and Bluetooth
Image Credit: BMW.
Stand-Alone Options
There are many stand-alone options, including:
- 20-inch V-spoke Style 738 wheels with all-season run-flat tires
- 21-inch Y-spoke Style 744 wheels with performance run-flat tires
- M Sport brakes with blue calipers (red calipers optional from 8/20 production)
- Aluminum running boards
- Trailer hitch (7,200 lb. tow rating)
- Rear manual side window shades
- Front and rear heated seats
- Heated front armrests and steering wheel
- Aluminum dark mesh interior trim
- Brown-metallic ash grain wood trim
- Anthracite-brown poplar matte finish wood trim
- Front massaging seats
- Extended Shadowline trim
- Anthracite Alcantara headliner
- Alcantara headliner in upholstery color
Image Credit: BMW.
The Price
The BMW X5 xDrive45e starts at $65,400, but when I built out my dream version of the car, with all the bells and whistles, it topped out at more than $81,000.
Leasing numbers are still to come, but the car does qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax incentives, along with whatever benefits your state might offer, and that could sweeten the deal for many prospective buyers.
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Image Credit: BMW.
