2025 BMW X5 Review

The 2025 BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury SUV in its fourth generation, introduced in 2019. This model has garnered acclaim for its ability to balance robust performance with perks enhancing everyday drives, like a stable ride feel and practicality in areas such as storage, facilitating its appeal to families and performance enthusiasts alike. 

MotoPickers Rating: 9/10

Starting prices for this vehicle range from $65,700-$124,000 across five trims. These trims include the X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50e, X5 M60i, and X5 M Competition.

Minor equipment and packaging tweaks were added to this model for its 2025 production year, like the hands-free highway assistant introducing a new self-driving lane change feature. This autonomous function allows you to confirm a lane change by turning your eyes toward the rear view mirror of your maneuver’s direction.

One of the 2025 X5’s most significant perks is its three powertrain choices designed to thrill. BMW balances this high-grade performance with a comfortable cabin with ample passenger and cargo space. 

The 2025 BMW X5’s competitors include:

• Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
• Audi Q7
• Porsche Cayenne
• Lexus RX
• Range Rover Sport
• Genesis GV80 

Our review will include lines in each section comparing how the M5 stacks up against the competition in key areas like interior and exterior design, safety, technology, and performance. We’ll also confirm whether rumors of this BMS SUV’s potential drawbacks, like pricey powertrain options, increased blind spots, and slightly awkward vehicle entries, are substantiated.

Discover the 2025 BMW X5 below.

Exterior spotlight

X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50e

Let’s begin with the 2025 X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i’s exterior. This entry-level X5 offers an available Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof with embedded lights that create aesthetically pleasing patterns during night drives. Its wheels measure 20” and are wrapped in all-season tires. Side mirrors are heated, and power-folding and roof rails are made of satin aluminum.

Between these roof rails is a spoiler with an integrated center brake light. Chrome exhaust tips and a choice of non-metallic paint give this BMW’s exterior some attitude. The electrified xDrive50e’s exterior mirrors its X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i counterpart with features like 20” wheels.

X5 M60i

BMW equips its X5 M60i exterior with quad exhausts containing M-specific geometry and wheel sizes up to 22”. Wheels are complemented by blue or red calipers available through the M Sport Professional Package. This package also includes M Shadowline Lights and Extended Shadowline Trim. 

The 2025 X5 M60i’s front kidney grille has a chrome frame with black bars and M badging. Its roof rails have a high-gloss shadowline finish. Drivers can choose between non-metallic or metallic paint finishes.

X5 M Competition

Selecting an X5 M Competition grade gives you a choice between 21” or 22” M Star-spoke bi-color wheels with performance non-run-flat tires. Unlike other trims, the front grille is the same as the X5 M60i, and you’ll receive a donut spare tire.

Quick rival comparison (exterior)

Mercedes-Benz’s GLE-Class has a more distinct front grille with an illuminated front star but falls short of the 2025 X5 by missing out on sporty features like a quad exhaust.

Interior analysis 

X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50e

The 2025 X5 sDrive40i, Xdrive40i, and XDrive50e’s interiors reflect their value via Sensafin synthetic leather dashboard and upholstery, fineline strip brown high-gloss genuine wood trim, and Anthracite headliner. This Anthracite headliner helps establish a sleek and refined cabin experience with its dark coloring.

Front sport seats contain 4-way power functionality with lumbar support, 2-way power side bolsters, 2-way manual headrests, thigh support, and a memory system for your seat and exterior mirror positioning. Rear seats contain a 40/20/40 split-folding configuration, and multi-zone automatic climate control is standard.

X5 M60i

Moving into the 2025 BMW X5 M60i means receiving fine-line black wood trim, multi-contour front seats with power adjustments for the comfort headrest, and a seat position memory system for the front seats.

X5 M Competition 

The 2025 X5 M Competition trim boasts M multi-functional seats with adjustable settings for optimal lateral support during intense performance sequences. Illuminated badging adds extra luxury, and the dashboard and upholstery are genuine leather.

Quick rival comparison (interior)

Drawbacks regarding this BMW’s interior include its increased blind spots for drivers due to smaller mirrors and wider roof pillars. Entering and exiting the 2025 X5’s cabin can also feel a bit awkward with its wide door sills. Alternatively, Mercedes-Benz’s GLE-Class has wider side view mirrors, a more ergonomic design for entries and exits, and slimmer and lower door sills. Similar configurations are found in Audi’s Q7 and Porsche’s Cayenne.

Power and performance 

X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i

The 2025 BMW X5 sDrive40i and xDrive40i are distinguished by their rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains. Both versions deliver 375 horsepower and travel from 0-60 MPH in 5.3 seconds via a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with advanced 48V mild-hybrid technology. This powertrain configuration also helps the grade achieve a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 lbs. Purchasers of this trim can add the available factory-installed trailer hitch for hauling items like boats. 

X5 xDrive50e

BMW’s 2025 X5 xDrive50e hybrid features fifth-generation eDrive technology, which helps you receive an all-electric range of up to 38 miles. Drivers can zip from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.6 seconds within this trim, which produces 483 horsepower. Each X5 xDrive50e comes with a flexible, portable fast charger. This variant contains standard intelligent AWD, automatically shifting power between wheels.

X5 M60i

The high-performing 2025 X5 M60i trim utilizes the newest 48V mild-hybrid technology and a 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine to deliver 523 horsepower and an impressive 0-60 MPH time of 4.2 seconds. BMW equips this grade with an M Differential and Adaptive M Suspension so you can switch between sporty performance and smooth daily driving. The engine is electronically cooled and works alongside an 8-speed sport automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, in addition to wheel paddle shifters and launch control.

X5 M Competition

This 2025 X5 grade boasts the best performance with 617 horsepower, 553 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.7-second 0-60 MPH time.

Quick rival comparison (performance)

Mercedes-Benz’s GLE 450 4Matic model similarly produces 375 horsepower but slightly exceeds the 2025 X5’s maximum towing capacity at 7,700 lbs. Audi Q7 grades like the Q7 55 TFSI provide less horsepower at 333, but Porsche’s Cayenne E-Hybrid delivers 455 horsepower. Genesis’ GV80 and Volvo’s XC90 Recharge fall short of the 2025 X5’s performance in areas like towing capacity.

Technology overview 

X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i

Hop into a 2025 X5 sDrive40i or xDrive40i, and you’ll find a modern curved display complemented by wireless compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless smartphone charging ensures you remain connected to these platforms, while remote software upgrades keep your systems up to date. 

X5 xDrive50e

The 2025 xDrive50e also utilizes a curved display, but this trim’s version comes with hybrid-specific digital displays showing data like e-range, charge status, and electric motor power stats.

X5 M60i/X5 M Competition

Graduating to an X5 M60i trim means that the Harman Kardon surround sound audio system is standard instead of optional like prior trims. The curved display within this X5 variant includes a configurable 12.3” digital instrument cluster and a 14.9” central information display.

Quick rival comparison (tech)

Mercedes-Benz’s GLE class also offers a curved display with a 12.3” digital instrument cluster. However, this Mercedes-Benz’s central information display is smaller at 12.3” instead of 14.9” compared to trims like the X5 M60i. Audi Q7 displays fall short of the BMW X5 with a dual-screen setup, which includes an 8.6” lower screen and 10.1” upper screen. 

Porsche’s Cayenne has a smaller digital instrument cluster measuring 7” but a higher-quality upgraded audio system than BMW’s X5. Volvo’s XC90 contains a 9” vertical touch screen and 8” digital instrument cluster, again reflecting the 2025 X5’s technological prowess.

Safety capabilities

We touched on the autonomous capabilities of the new active lane change feature during the introduction of our review. Still, we haven’t mentioned how this highway assistant program offers hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 MPH on controlled-access highways. Remember that the availability of highway assistants with active lane change systems is limited to X5 xDrive50e, X5 M60i, and X5 M Competition trims. Let’s examine some of the standard safety features that help define the 2025 X5’s value.

Standard safety

BMW 2025 X5 drivers will receive access to active blind spot detection, which notifies you of potential dangers with mirror alerts and steering wheel vibrations. Frontal collision warning with city collision mitigation provides automatic braking to help you avoid impending accidents with other cars on and off the highway.

Additional standard safety features within the base 2025 BMW X5 sDrive40i and xDrive40i trims include:

• Automatic high beams 
• Full LED headlights with cornering lights
• Rearview camera
• Rollover sensor that triggers airbags and safety-belt pretensioners
• Lane keeping assistant 
• Speed limit info
• Rear cross-traffic warning

These standard features have culminated in the 2025 X5 receiving the IIHS’s (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) top crash protection rating of Top Safety Pick+ but a four-star overall crash protection score from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Trim recommendation

The starting prices of each 2025 BMW X5 trim are as follows: 

• X5 sDrive40i/XDrive40i – $65,700/$68,000
• X5 xDrive50e – $73,100
• X5 M60i – $90,000
• X5 M – $124,800

An X5 sDrive40i or an XDrive40i are trims best suited for drivers seeking a mid-size SUV that strikes a balance between luxury and performance. Drivers can achieve increased efficiency with an X5 xDrive50e for a price comparable to the entry-level trim. 

Those looking to dial up their SUV’s performance are best positioned to buy an X5 M60i or X5 M. Despite its impressive powertrain specs, the X5 M is pretty pricey, but you can achieve similar performance for significantly less money with an X5 M.

Owner considerations

Drivers investing money into a luxury model like the 2025 X5 will need quality warranty coverage. BMW offers 2025 X5 customers the same warranty coverage as Audi and Mercedes-Benz’s comparable rival models.

The limited warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrain coverage is four years or 50,000 miles, and maintenance is complimentary for three years or 36,000 miles.

Final verdict

BMW’s 2025 X5 gets 9/10 MotoPickers score due to its ability to package just about anything a luxury mid-size SUV enthusiast would want in a design. The base sDrive40i/xDrive40i trims offer plenty of value with extensive safety features, solid powertrains, and exclusive tech containing unique presentations. Selecting a 2025 X5 xDrive50e is ideal for drivers seeking increased efficiency during local driving, as 38 miles is about all you’ll need to hit spots like the grocery store.

The 2025 X5 offers practicality in other areas, such as cargo space. Its cargo capacity measures 33.9 cu. ft. behind its rear row, which is competitive for its segment. Utilizing folding rear seat capabilities opens up 72.3 cu. ft. of space. Still, you’ll have to keep in mind that this BMW doesn’t offer an optional third row, which can be a deal breaker for some families. 

Regarding this SUV’s downsides, such as slightly awkward entries and exits, increased blind spots, and a high-priced X5 M powertrain, BMW compensates with standard blind spot assist and several trim options suiting a range of budgets. 

The 2025 X5’s interior also exudes luxury with touches like Sensafin upholstery sport seating, a large curved display, and new autonomous features like the active lane change feature. Opting for an X5 M Competition unlocks a special AWD variety featuring adjustable power distribution modes. 

Fuel economy is what you’d expect for this model:

• X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i (23/27 city/highway MPG)
• X5 xDrive50e (58 combined MPG)
• X5 M60i (17/22 city/highway MPG)
• X5 M Competition (13/18 city/highway MPG)

Drivers seeking a less expensive mid-size SUV option might benefit from purchasing a 2024 Lexus GX, which features a significant redesign. Check out our review on this Lexus to see how it stacks up against the 2025 X5.