Fifth-gen 2027 BMW X5 revealed

The covers have come off the fifth-generation BMW X5, which will land in Australia in Q4, 2026 offering a diverse array of powertrains. Petrol and diesel mild-hybrids will arrive first, with plug-in hybrid and electric variants to follow in 2027. The new X5 adopts BMW’s latest Neue Klasse design language and includes its latest safety and infotainment technology. Pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to launch.

As the automotive industry navigates the transition from combustion to electrification, BMW has continued to offer the customer choice and there’s no better evidence of this than the fifth-gen X5.

The X5 is a hugely important and successful product, with more than three million sold since it first appeared in 1999, and BMW intends to capture as many buyers as possible by offering five different powertrain options in the new G65 generation: petrol and diesel mild-hybrids, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen.

All bar the latter will be offered in Australia from the fourth quarter of 2026 with pricing and specification to be confirmed closer to launch, but there’s currently plenty of information to sink our teeth into.

The new X5 adopts the Neue Klasse styling first introduced on the iX3 and i3, which BMW describes as “monolithic” when applied to its large SUV. New elements include the double-X headlights and winglets that function as door handles to improve aero and keep the side cleaner from a design perspective.

Height and width are virtually unchanged from the previous generation G05, but the extra 60mm of length have come thanks to a wheelbase stretch to improve passenger space. Eleven exterior colours are available and wheel sizes range from 21-23 inches.

When it comes to powertrains, the 40d xDrive will feature a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six mild-hybrid diesel producing 230kW/570Nm, with combined fuel consumption between 7.0-7.3L/100km and 0-100km/h in 6.1sec.

The 40 xDrive has the same layout only fueled by petrol, producing 294kW/580Nm, consuming between 8.7-9.2L/100km and 0-100km/h in 5.3sec. The 50e xDrive uses the same engine – albeit in a lower state of tune – allied to a 145kW/280Nm electric motor for combined outputs of 360kW/700Nm.

This drops the 0-100km/h claim to 5.0sec and fuel use to 5.2-6.0L/100km while also offering up to 102km of pure-electric range. A twin-turbo V8 M60 will join the range in due course.

When it comes to electric range, however, the new iX5 60 xDrive – the first ever all-electric X5 – is king with up to 845km thanks to its enormous 141kWh battery pack. Dual motors also make it the performance pick with a 0-100km/h claim of just 4.6sec, while maximum DC charging rate is 460kW for 350km of range in just 10 minutes.

The rear motor produces 242kW/500Nm and the front 183kW/305Nm, for a rear-biased driving experience and totals of 425kW/805Nm. The downside is weight, that huge battery contributing to a 2825kg kerb mass, 470-535kg more than the mild-hybrid variants.

Towing capacity varies from 2700kg for the iX5, 3000kg for the mild-hybrid 40s and 3300kg for the 50e PHEV, though in all cases the 140kg maximum towbar load is likely to be the limiting factor.

The other big news regarding the new X5 is on the inside and as you might expect, there are more screens than a movie theatre. In addition to the new Panoramic Vision display that wraps around the base of the windscreen, there’s a 3D head-up display that sits above this, a 17.9-inch central infotainment screen and a 14.6-inch passenger screen.

The latter offers streaming video, gaming and video call capability with an interior camera that monitors the driver’s eyes to ensure they aren’t distracted, dimming the screen as required. These functions are also available in the central screen, albeit not on the move, in addition to wireless smartphone mirroring, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with Amazon Alexa+ AI technology, customisable widgets and BMW Operating System X has “a high level of update and upgrade capability”.

New wireless charging pads front and rear are magnetised to stop phones moving around while driving, as well as improving airflow to increase charging speed. Similarly magnetic mounting points on the back of the front seats can hold tablets for rear-seat entertainment, in addition to quad-zone climate control, heated outboard seats and a panoramic glass roof with tilting front section.

A 655-litre boot expands to 1820 litres with the 40:20:40 split rear seats folded.

Production of the new BMW X5 will begin at the Spartanburg plant in the US this August. The initial petrol and diesel variants are scheduled to land in Australia in November 2026, with the plug-in hybrid, all-electric iX5 and M60 set to join the range in 2027.

Further down the track, don’t be surprised to see a lower-spec iX5 and M variants of both the combustion and electric models appear.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but it’s safe to assume there will be a slight increase over the previous G05, however, if the iX3 is anything to go by, all variants will come with a substantial level of equipment as standard.

As to what all this change adds up to from behind the wheel, we’ll bring you a full review when the car is launched later in 2026.

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