2019 BMW X5 Review
zzdcar' Expert Review
byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test EditorKurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.
What's new
Redesigned for 2019More interior room and comfortBroader capability with advanced suspension and interior technologyPart of the fourth X5 generation introduced for 2019When the BMW X5 came out for the 2000 model year, it more resembled a lifted station wagon than anything that passed for an SUV in those days. Sure, it offered a commanding driving position, more ground clearance and useful cargo capacity, but BMW also made it fun and engaging to drive. Now, almost two decades later, the redesigned 2019 BMW X5 sticks to the same formula. It's larger and more tech-laden than ever before, but it can still make quick work of a twisty road.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota$208/mo for X5 xDrive40i
X5 xDrive40i
xDrive40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $60,700 MSRPxDrive50i 4dr SUV AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $75,750 MSRP
vs
$229/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Its bigger schnoz — BMW's classic double kidney grille — is the easiest way to identify this new model compared to the previous-generation X5. Behind the grille is a familiar engine lineup: a 335-horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder engine or a 456-hp turbocharged V8. Inside is where you'll find more significant changes. There's more space now, particularly for the second-row and optional third-row seats.
The 2019 X5 also comes with BMW's newest iteration of its sophisticated iDrive infotainment system. It features twin 12.3-inch displays, which BMW calls Live Cockpit Professional. One serves as a customizable instrument panel while the other handles all of the functions controlled by iDrive. Overall, we're pleased with the way it works.
Within the luxury SUV class, you'll be able to find other models that are faster, more exclusive, roomier or more powerful. But finding one that's as good as the X5 in all of these categories is a tall order. The X5's improved interior, combined with sharp new technology and tidy road manners, help make it one of the top luxury SUVs you'll want to consider this year.
Notably, we picked the 2019 BMW X5 as one of zzdcar' Best Midsize SUVs and Best Midsize SUVs for this year
What It's Like to Live With
Want to know even more about the fourth-generation BMW X5? Our team of experts have tested a 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i as part of our long-term program, which is where we drive vehicles for a year and report to you what they are like to own.Read our Best Midsize SUVsto see what we've learned about various aspects of the BMW X5, such as its undeniable seat comfort, class-leading In-cabin technology, performance and reliability.
zzdcar' Expert Rating
7.9 / 10
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the BMW X5 xDrive40i (turbo 3.0L inline-6 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).
Scorecard
Overall | 7.9 / 10 |
Driving | 8.0 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 8.0 |
Utility | 8.0 |
Technology | 8.0 |
Driving
8.0The X5's six-cylinder engine has enough power, and its smooth shifting and responsiveness work well for the daily commute. And while its brakes are up to the task of slowing things down, handling can be a mixed bag. Depending on drive mode, the suspension can feel either a little too floaty or a little too stiff.
Acceleration
8.5Plenty of power from this turbocharged engine and available launch control scoot the X5 from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Though it's not the quickest in the segment, it's one of the quickest of the non-performance-oriented SUVs. In particular, the low-end pickup and midrange passing power are very good.
Braking
7.5The initial brake pedal feel is light and vague, so you may occasionally over-brake. Thankfully, harder pushes of the pedal bring back some feedback and let you know the brakes are doing their job. Panic stops from 60 mph came out to 118 feet, better than average for the class.
Steering
7.5The steering feels quite heavy just off-center, but oddly it lightens up once you turn the wheel as you would through a turn. In Sport, the steering weight increases and feels more natural. There's minimal tire feel through the steering wheel, but you do get some feedback with spirited driving.
Handling
7.5Driving modes and the adaptive suspension play an important role in how the X5 handles. In Comfort, the ride is soft and the body is sluggish and feels floaty. In Sport, the suspension stiffens up and drastically reduces body motions, making for a harsher but more controlled ride.
Drivability
8.0Shifts are smooth and quick, and can be downright aggressive in sportier drive modes. The X5 quickly settles in a lower gear on long grades and accurately holds speed when cruise control is active on long descents. Sport Plus is simply too much on the street and should only be used when shifting manually.
Off-road
7.0Although our test car did not come with it, an off-road package is available. This package includes additional underbody protection, a limited-slip rear differential, an adjustable air suspension, and four off-road-specific drive modes. Our test car still benefited from hill descent control and adjustable ride height, though the standard traction control system isn't suited for loose surfaces.
Comfort
8.0The X5 is a comfortable SUV for long-distance driving. And with a few adjustments to the seat bolsters and drive modes, it's competent and safe on a twisty mountain road. The climate control system is powerful enough to just set it and forget it, which is good because it's tricky to operate.
Seat comfort
8.5The front seats are firm and supportive and have a broad range of adjustability to contour to different body types. Lumbar and upper bolsters are adjustable for cruising or sporty driving. The rear seats are softer and designed for long stints, but they're flat and don't have enough bolstering.
Ride comfort
8.0Thanks to our X5's air suspension, the ride felt communicative but compliant. It was mostly plush over road imperfections, but impacts and pavement seams can still be felt in the cabin. Sport mode is stiffer and transmits more of the road surface into the cabin, but the impacts are well-damped.
Noise & vibration
7.0Although you hear both road and wind noise, it's all very well-damped. But vibrations and tire noise from grainy road surfaces get transmitted into the cabin. It's as if the engineers tuned in just enough noise to keep you connected to the road. The X5 is more hushed-museum than library-quiet.
Climate control
8.5Our test car was equipped with an automatic quad-zone system that worked effectively and quietly to regulate cabin temps. The menu operation is a bit fiddly, but the hard buttons help to simplify this half physical/half touchscreen system. The seat and steering wheel heaters work very well.
Interior
8.0Once you're in the X5, you're presented with a technologically advanced interior that focuses on the driver. Aside from the lackluster visibility out of the front corners, our only other complaint arose from the optional running boards, which make it harder to get in and out of the cabin.
Ease of use
7.5Though cluttered in appearance, the iDrive system is configurable, and there are multiple ways to interact with it. The mass of buttons on the center console is difficult to use, but the driving controls are all well-placed. It's easy to get in and drive, but its advanced features are difficult to use.
Getting in/getting out
6.5The seats are set in from the door and occupants will have to shimmy while entering. To make matters worse, our test car came with running boards that exacerbated the issue. Taller drivers should avoid them, and the optional adjustable ride height makes the step redundant for shorter drivers as well.
Driving position
9.0The excellent range of adjustability from the seats and steering wheel means drivers of all sizes can find a comfortable seating position. Power-adjustable bolsters can be made to hold you in during hard cornering or relax for extra comfort.
Roominess
8.5There's ample roominess in all dimensions for the front passengers and good headroom, knee and shoulder room for the rear-seat passengers. A small box under the front seats takes away some toe room for rear passengers, and the middle-seat passenger will have to deal with less knee room.
Visibility
6.5The X5's surround-view camera system is excellent when parking, and views out the front and sides are commanding. Direct views to the back are adequate if your seat is adjusted properly. The side mirrors and the door frame can hide pedestrians and other road users from view.
Quality
8.5There's a certain quality to a BMW interior that's instantly recognizable, and the X5 doesn't stray from the formula. The durable leather, excellent use of soft-touch materials, tight gaps in all interior panels, and a general feeling of solidity have been consistent BMW hallmarks.
Utility
8.0The X5 has a roomy cargo area and a useful power tailgate system that's great for loading bulky cargo. The rear seatbacks fold in a 40/20/40 split for flexibility, and you can lower the suspension for reduced liftover height. We found the interior storage compartments and pockets on the small side.
Small-item storage
6.5The armrest bin can hold a few standard-size water bottles or a small camera, and that's about it. The door pockets are moderate in length and width. There's a shallow but deep pocket with an induction charger in front of the shifter, but access to this area is restricted once you use the cupholders.
Cargo space
8.5At 33.9 cubic feet, the X5's rear cargo area is roomy. Inset tie-down loops keep the cargo floor completely flat for sliding in items obstruction-free. The X5's clever power-clamshell tailgate lengthens the reach to the very back, but it eases the loading and unloading of cargo.
Child safety seat accommodation
8.0While there are upper anchors for all three rear seat positions, most lower tethers will only be able to easily reach the lower anchors when a car seat is in one of the two outboard positions. The lower anchors are well-marked behind plastic doors.
Towing
8.5When equipped with air suspension, the X5 xDrive40i has the ability to level the load to ensure consistent handling. In standard configuration, it can tow up to 6,603 pounds, but it can tow up to 7,500 pounds when equipped with an optional factory-installed hitch.
Technology
8.0BMW's latest iDrive system is the most advanced yet, but it also comes with a steep learning curve. Helping you are its combination of menus, handwriting recognition, and voice and gesture control. iDrive gives you tons of features such as traffic and weather information and extras including parking availability.
Audio & navigation
8.5iDrive's flexibility makes entering destinations and searching points of interest easy. Traffic info is accurate and will reroute you should conditions warrant. Our test car's Harman Kardon system reproduced music clearly with excellent mids and highs. Music can be streamed directly or through your smartphone.
Smartphone integration
8.5With Bluetooth connectivity for music and phone calls, USB and USB-C ports, and wireless CarPlay capability, smartphone integration is excellent with fast pairing and battery charging if you have an iPhone. Android users still get excellent Bluetooth and voice commands, and Google Home and Alexa are also supported.
Driver aids
7.5Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert are excellent, while the active lane-centering system and auto high beams are only average. Automatic parking and 3D surround-view mode are clunky to operate. Driving Assistance Plus comes with all of the active driving aids, and the Premium package includes active parking.
Voice control
8.5Voice commands work with navigation, phone, audio, and climate control, and they don't require you to remember exact syntax. Although the X5's system is very responsive and has excellent accuracy, Mercedes-Benz offers better integration. Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are also supported.
Which X5 does zzdcar recommend?
Go with the xDrive40i. It provides an agreeable amount of performance, and it serves as a more affordable starting point than the 50i to add packages and options. Of course, there is a myriad of them. An easy way to add a bunch of luxury-grade extras is to get the Executive package, which automatically requires a couple less expensive packages as well.
2019 BMW X5 models
The 2019 BMW X5 is a midsize luxury SUV available as the xDrive40i or the xDrive50i. Both models have standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Many of the same packages and options are available between the two trim levels, but a few are reserved solely for the V8-powered xDrive50i. Seating for five is standard, but you can order an optional third-row seat to boost passenger capacity to seven.
The xDrive40i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 330 pound-feet). Standard feature highlights include 19-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights and LED foglights, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive shock absorbers and a power liftgate.
Inside, there's a power-adjustable, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable and heated front seats, simulated leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a configurable digital gauge cluster display, a 12.3-inch central display, two USB ports and a 10-speaker sound system.
You also get a full suite of driver aids that include pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.
The xDrive50i replaces the turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (456 hp, 479 lb-ft). Inside, the 50i comes with upgraded multicontour front seats, leather upholstery, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and four-zone climate control.
You'll want to look out for three notable packages (BMW also calls them Tiers). The Convenience package is only available with the xDrive40i. Selecting this adds keyless entry, four-zone climate control and satellite radio.
The Premium package adds a head-up display, gesture control for the infotainment system, wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and enhanced USB and Bluetooth connections. The Executive package, which requires the Premium package, comes with remote engine start, soft-close automatic doors, heated and cooled cupholders, rear passenger window shades, and adaptive LED headlights with laser light.
BMW also offers a few mechanical upgrades for the X5. These include the Comfort Handling package (rear-wheel steering and an adjustable air suspension), the Dynamic Handling package (rear-wheel steering, stronger brakes, and sportier suspension and differential tuning) and the Off-Road package (the air suspension, extra off-road drive modes and underbody skid plates).
Other optional features are two exterior trim packages (xLine Design or M Sport Design), ventilated and massaging seats, semiautomated low-speed driving assistance, parking assistance, a night-vision system, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Jump to:Related 2019 X5 articles
2019 X5 Highlights
Trim: xDrive40ixDrive50ixDrive40i
Base MSRP | $60,700 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $208/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 33.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
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