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The 2025 BMW X5 and X6 are a pair of mechanically related two-row luxurious SUVs with completely different physique types. The X5 is a extra conventional midsize crossover SUV, whereas the X6 contains a “crossover coupe” silhouette with a sloping roofline that offers it a novel have a look at the sacrifice of house. Each are pretty opulent, and fairly sporty, however solely the X5 affords a plug-in hybrid powertrain possibility. They now profit from mild-hybrid expertise for smoother efficiency, and each supply high-performance M Competitors variations with a twin-turbo V8 making 617 horsepower.
The X5 and X6 are additionally packed stuffed with tech, a lot of it flashy, most of it helpful. Loads of it, just like the infotainment system, comes with a reasonably steep studying curve. A few of it, just like the gesture management, is simply goofy. However there’s a excessive degree of consolation whether or not you’re a driver or passenger, and out there luxurious objects that may make the X5 and X6 fairly cozy — and expensive. Simply bear in mind that regardless of being awfully large and heavy autos on the surface, passenger house isn’t as beneficiant as you would possibly count on.
Nonetheless, between its expertise, luxurious, consolation and efficiency, the BMW X5 — or the marginally much less sensible X6 — is a heavy hitter within the midsize luxurious SUV set, and shouldn’t be missed.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo Area | Efficiency & Gas Financial system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2025?
The 2025 X5 and X6 largely carry over from the 2024 mannequin yr, which acquired a mid-cycle refresh with up to date styling, revised expertise, a mild-hybrid system, plus extra energy and vary for the plug-in hybrid. For 2025, BMW added a lane-change help function to its hands-free Freeway Help system. Mannequin yr 2025 additionally sees a restricted X5 Silver Anniversary Version with unique off-road tools. Pricing has additionally risen a bit.
What are the X5 and X6 inside and in-car expertise like?
The BMW X5 and X6 largely share an opulent and sporty inside that’s each comfy and high-tech. Supplies are of top quality, whether or not it’s the bottom “Sensafin” artificial leather-based or the costlier Merino precise leather-based, in distinctive colours and patterns. And as is typical for this lofty section of luxurious SUVs, you possibly can outfit the X5 in a really opulent method with issues like a leather-wrapped sprint, heated just-about every part (entrance and rear seats, steering wheel, armrests and cupholders), a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and a number of decisions of wooden trim, steel weaves, and glass finishings on heart console controls. With the latter, you can also make the digital shifter appear to be a kind of crystal talisman from a fantasy novel.
The centerpiece of the inside is a curved show housing a 14.9-inch infotainment display and 12.3-inch driver show. Ensure to put aside a number of time throughout a check drive (and supply, should you purchase one) to study concerning the innumerable options and customization settings managed by BMW’s iDrive 8 infotainment system. This is not a automotive you simply hop in and drive away. Every little thing from the way in which the gauges look to your most popular mixture of powertrain and chassis settings might be programmed the way in which you prefer it. Choosing an X5 (or X6) M Competitors solely provides to the customizability of the driving expertise. Plus, it may be managed via a large number of various means: the middle console knob and surrounding capacitive menu “buttons,” the touchscreen, pure voice instructions, or the moderately ineffective gesture management (wave your palms about like a wizard to perform duties, simply in case that crystal talisman wasn’t sufficient). We discovered we appreciated to perform completely different duties utilizing completely different technique of interface, which speaks to the worth in such management redundancy.
How large are the X5 and X6?
The X5 is a midsize SUV that seats 5 individuals in two rows. That configuration, together with its common exterior dimensions, makes it in line with a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q8. The Lexus RX 350 can be inside spitting distance of this group, however prices a lot much less. Inside, we discovered the rear seat would not precisely present the sprawl out house you would possibly count on from a high-dollar SUV. The seat again additionally would not recline. Headroom within the rear of the X5 is ample, nevertheless, and shoulder room is typical for the section, which means becoming three throughout should not be a difficulty. You sacrifice somewhat little bit of that headroom within the X6 due to it “coupe” physique type’s raked roofline.
Now, whereas rear passenger house is simply OK, X5 cargo house is among the many finest within the two-row section. It additionally contains a distinctive cargo opening: a power-operated liftgate and tailgate mixture. This lets you entry issues inside with out worry of these issues rolling out while you open the tailgate. It additionally creates a pleasant, clear place to take a seat, and one our editors studies it makes for an ideal child altering desk when on the go. That additional size does make it onerous to succeed in objects deep within the cargo space, or to connect automotive seats to the anchor on the again of the seat.
The X6 distinctive form ends in a sacrifice of cargo house for type. It affords 27.5 cubic toes behind the second row, as in comparison with the X5 and its 33.9 cubic toes of luggage-swallowing cargo space. It nonetheless fares fairly effectively when it’s time to pack the automotive up, although, as we discovered with our baggage check. It additionally doesn’t boast that slick, two-part liftgate/tailgate.
What are the X5 and X6 gas financial system and efficiency specs?
The bottom powertrain is the turbocharged, mild-hybrid-assisted 3.0-liter inline-six and eight-speed automated transmission within the rear-wheel-drive X5 sDrive40i, and the all-wheel drive X5 xDrive40i and X6 xDrive40i. It produces 375 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, pushing the rear-drive X5 from 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, whereas the all-wheel-drive X5 and X6 do it in 5.2 seconds. Each X5 drivetrain configurations have a gas financial system ranking of 23 miles per gallon metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed. The X6 xDrive40i will get 23/26/24 mpg.
The X5 will get a plug-in hybrid powertrain — known as xDrive50e — that the X6 doesn’t supply. It additionally makes use of the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, mixed with a lithium-ion battery and an electrical motor built-in into the eight-speed automated transmission. The system is nice for a complete of 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds. Whereas the EPA hasn’t but revealed official gas financial system figures, BMW says it will get 58 miles-per-gallon equal when the battery is charged. Electrical-only driving vary is 40 miles.
Transferring as much as the X5 and X6 M60i xDrive, they function a mild-hybrid twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, an eight-speed automated transmission and all-wheel drive. Output will increase to 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, whereas the 0-60 dash decreases to 4.2 seconds. Gas financial system drops to 17 mpg metropolis, 22 mpg freeway and 19 mpg mixed.
The highest of the road, and the one full M variant for 2025, comes within the X5 and X5 M Competitors. Its twin-turbocharged V8 additionally options mild-hybrid tech, and places 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque to all 4 wheels by way of an eight-speed automated transmission. Each the X5 and X6 go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, which is insanity for a big luxurious SUV. They unsurprisingly even have the worst gas financial system of the lineup at 13 mpg metropolis, 18 mpg freeway and 15 mpg mixed.
What are the X5 and X6 wish to drive?
The X5 and X6 are smooth, quiet and buttery easy round city or on the freeway, feeling impeccably engineered to make you solely mildly conscious of your environment. Whenever you begin to hustle them alongside, nevertheless, there is a poise and class to the way in which they take corners that you just would not count on from one thing so comfortable the remainder of the time. Choosing Sport or Particular person tightens the steering, suspension, transmission and throttle response accordingly. The peak-adjustable suspension even lowers itself in Sport.
The plug-in hybrid — out there within the X5 however not the X6 — advantages not simply by way of energy than the 40i, however in getting electric-only vary. It’s fast, its 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque offering sub-5-second 0-60 rips. However you can even drive it round effectively, and on electrical energy just for as much as 40 miles. With the electrical motor built-in into the transmission, it feels seamless and pure switching between electrical and gasoline energy. It’s nonetheless pretty effectively balanced within the corners, regardless of its hefty curb weight.
With 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, they’re mighty fast, to the purpose that they’ll get somewhat squirrelly on you with every part put into sport modes. There’s an entire lotta oomph with little or no effort. The breathy V8 roars to life with out hesitation. It’s virtually too keen, with an off-the-cuff tip-in eliciting a bit extra snap than one would possibly like when making an attempt to drive easily in site visitors. It’s not an issue while you’ve received wide-open highway forward of you, although. After that preliminary punch off the road, the V8 continues to drag onerous, taking you to thrilling speeds with an acceptable quantity of fanfare. The transmission is a blast to work together with while you put it in guide mode and use the paddle shifters, as effectively.
They’re in a position to settle down and behave while you want them too, making the X5 and X6 M Competitors appropriate each day drivers regardless of their efficiency leanings.
What different BMW X5 and X6 evaluations can I learn?
9 ideas concerning the 2024 BMW X5 M Competitors
It brings the warmth, however does the posh crossover stuff effectively
2020 BMW X6 First Drive | From outcast to trailblazer
The unique crossover ‘coupe’ began a development. The brand new mannequin defends its territory
2020 BMW X5 M and X6 M First Drive | Greed and velocity
A full M crossover feels like sacrilege, but it surely’s not possible to not be amazed after our first go within the X5 M.
2020 BMW X6 M Competitors Street Check | Not every part is smart
It’s the fashionable one, assuming crossover coupes are your type
Are all these drive modes really helpful? We discover out in a 2020 BMW X5 M Competitors
There are a number of settings to select from.
BMW X6 Baggage Check | How a lot cargo house?
It’s usable, however not as a lot because the X5.
What are the 2025 X5 and X6 worth?
The bottom, rear-wheel-drive X5 sDrive40i begins at $66,875 with the $1,175 vacation spot price factored in, whereas that all-wheel drive xDrive40i begins at $69,175. The X6 begins at $75,675
For the xDrive40i. Commonplace and non-compulsory options are so ample, we might be right here all day itemizing them. As such, you possibly can dig somewhat deeper with these breakdown of options, pricing and specs of the BMW X5 and BMW X6, in addition to the X5 M Competitors and X6 M Competitors.
All costs beneath embody the $1,175 vacation spot cost:
- X5 sDrive40i: $66,875
- X5 xDrive40i: $69,175
- X5 xDrive50e: $74,275
- X5 M60i xDrive: $91,175
- X5 M Competitors: $125,975
- X6 xDrive40i: $75,675
- X6 M60i xDrive: $95,475
- X6 M Competitors: $130,875
What are the X5’s security scores and driver help options?
The BMW X5 and X6 embody commonplace ahead collision warning with pedestrian detection and emergency automated braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning programs, driver inattention monitoring, and BMW Help eCall emergency communications. The Energetic Safety System can detect imminent accidents, then prepares by routinely pretensioning seat belts, closing home windows and sunroof, and activating post-crash braking. BMW additionally affords a Driving Help Skilled Bundle, which is a hands-free freeway driving help system that also requires the motive force to concentrate to the highway. A regular Reversing Assistant that maneuvers the automotive out of parking areas by retracing the route it took into it, whereas the non-compulsory Parking Assistant Skilled permits the automotive to enter and exit parking areas with the motive force inside or exterior the car.
The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security awarded the 2025 BMW X5 its Prime Security Decide designation, giving it its finest “Good” rating in crashworthiness classes, pedestrian entrance crash prevention and LATCH ease of use, however its second-best “Acceptable” ranking for headlights. It gave the X6 a “Good” ranking for its entrance overlap crash checks and pedestrian entrance crash prevention. It additionally received and “Acceptable” ranking for headlights. The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration has not but rated the 2025 X5 or X6, but it surely gave the 2024 X5 a four-star (out of 5) security ranking.
