BMW X5 - Full details

The Bavarian Motor Works company has been actively reshaping its portfolio and has been focusing more on the utility vehicle and electric vehicle segment. This meant that most of the BMW cars received major updates around the globe and the same is the case for the company’s X5 SUV. This checked off all the boxes, especially for the United Arab Emirates market which is internationally renowned for having a bias towards the sport utility vehicle or as BMW likes to call it Sport Active Vehicle (SAV) segment. 

Even though the leaked images of the current generation X5 had many BMW loyalists on the fence about the SUV’s new design, post its introduction however the new model of BMW X5 broadly received positive reviews across the board. So let’s take a look at what the latest generation of BMW X5 has to offer and whether or not it can hold its own against fellow German rivals like Mercedes-Benz GLE and Audi Q7 and also other leading premium SUV models such as Infinity QX70 and Range Rover Sport.

Exterior

For the 2020 model of BMW X5, the German carmaker has introduced its latest design language. The sport utility vehicle is a large car with imposing dimensions and to match the same there is a newly redesigned larger Active Kidney Grille at the front. The Active feature on the 2020 BMW X5 has been introduced for the first time in this model. The Active feature means that the kidney grill can open and close depending on how much air is needed by the engine. Active Kidney Grille also enhances the car’s aerodynamics allowing the air to flow better off the body.

The headlight cluster now features a laser light system. This is an LED unit that comes with a few distinctive features like a double illumination feature which also gets a cool blue lighting element and these headlamps can illuminate distances 200 feet over standard LEDs and have a total range of 600 meters. For the first time, the SUV is also offered with 22 inch wheels in addition to the 20, 21 and the standard 19 inch alloys. These redesigned alloy wheels have also been introduced in the X5 for the first time like the Active Kidney Grill feature.

Interior

The 2020 BMW X5 now features some of the most comfortable seats in the segment. The seats come wrapped in leather and are perforated. In addition to being supportive, the seats also come with electronic adjustment features in addition to heating/cooling feature and customers can adjust lumbar support four ways and there are also controls for postures. The seats also come equipped with memory and massage features. 

The central tunnel in the BMW X5 cabin is dominated by the toggle for the German carmaker’s iDrive feature. This is the BMW iDrive 7 interface which comes with a 12.3 inch super intuitive touchscreen infotainment unit. The dashboard features a plethora of colored LCD displays including the one that relays the cabin temperature. Behind the wheel, we also find a digital instrumentation cluster which also doubles as a satellite navigation screen. The dashboard and the general interior panel design flaunts tastefully used glass and piano black surfaces. The audio duties are taken on by a Bower and Wilkins diamond surround sound system. The interior also gets four different natural fragrances under the ambient air package.

Engine specifications

2020 BMW X5 specs sheet features more equipment than any of its earlier iterations. Even though it is a large SUV, the company has managed to reduce the carbon emission of the 40i variants to 211 grams per kilometer. The 2020 BMW X5 40i now manages to offer a fuel consumption rate of 9.2 liters per 100 Kilometer. The SUV now also features a super traction system which comes paired to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive unit. Powering the BMW X5 40i drivetrain is a 3.0- liter, 6- cylinder petrol engine which develops 340 bhp of power and 450 Nm of peak torque. This power plant comes mated to an automatic gearbox.

The BMW X5 50i variants are powered by a much larger 4.4- liter motor which manages to produce 462 bhp of power and a whopping 650 Nm of peak torque. The engine comes mated to an 8- speed automatic transmission which is also offered on the more inexpensive 40i variants as an optional extra. The top speed of both 40i and 50i models stands at 243 kmph but 50i is comparatively less frugal as it consumes 11.6 liters to drive every 100 kilometers. BMW 50i trims take 4.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph and the 40i variants manage the same run in 5.5 seconds.

Price

In UAE BMW only offers the SUV in five standard trim levels and the prices for the premium utility vehicle start at AED 348,000. The mid-range model comes with a 7- seat layout. For those who are looking for or a more powerful avatar of the Bavarian carmaker’s SUV, there will be an M version on offer with a V8 diesel powertrain soon. Prices for the M Performance version of BMW X5 are so far undisclosed and might vary depending on model availability dealer location and choice of optional extras. The company will also soon offer a hybrid powertrain version of the BMW X5. Here is a look at the BMW X5 price list:

Variant	Price
BMW X5 40i Exclusive	AED 348,000
BMW X5 40i Exclusive (7 Seater)	AED 368,000
BMW X5 40i M Sport Exclusive	AED 388,000
BMW X5 50i xLine	AED 424,000
BMW X5 50i xLine Exclusive	AED 427,000

Conclusion

For a car in this segment, BMW has managed to enhance the performance aspect of the X5 to make it the ultimate off-road machine. The Active Kidney Grill feature, multiple seat layouts, hi-tech features, and attractive equipment list manage to distinguish the 2020 BMW X5 from its other German counterparts.

Also read: Toyota Land Cruiser - All you need to know