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BMW X5 variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £40,799. Borrowing £36,719 with a £4,080 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£573.16
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£53,389.58
Cost of credit
£12,590.58
Optional final payment
£21,798.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

BMW X5 buying guide

The BMW X5 was one of the very first luxury SUVs and, with the badge now in its third decade on sale, it has been honed into one of the very best in the class. The latest version now includes a seven-seat option for the first time, along with an optional plug-in hybrid engine. Used X5 models come with several different trim and engine choices. Keep reading to find out more about each so you can pick the best used BMW X5 for you.

What BMW X5 trim levels are there?

There’s just two trim levels offered on the X5 and both come loaded with kit.

The standard trim is called xLine. This includes alloy wheels, air suspension, parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera, LED head and brake lights, and leather upholstery with front electrically adjustable heated sports seats. You also get an infotainment system featuring sat nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio, wireless charging, gesture control, Apple CarPlay (in cars built from mid-2019 onwards), Android Auto (in cars built in late-2020 and onwards) and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

M Sport is the other trim option and gets sporty styling details similar to Audi’s S Line or Mercedes AMG Line trim. These X5s gain larger alloy wheels, dark-coloured styling details, a meaner-looking body kit, upgraded sports brakes, and M Sport-specific interior styling touches.

BMW X5 interior and technology

The X5 is an expensive car but it feels worth every penny inside. Cabin materials and styling are top notch, and the layout is easy to get to grips with. BMW’s kept physical controls for the heater and air conditioning, rather than hide them in the infotainment system as some rivals have opted to. All versions come with luxuries including leather heated seats, velour floor mats and a leather-covered steering wheel.

BMW’s infotainment systems are some of the best on the market, with an extremely clear layout, a responsive screen and all the built-in functions you’d expect. From July 2019 onwards, all versions gained Apple CarPlay Auto as standard, plus you get high-tech touches including digital dials ahead of the driver and the ability to use gestures – such as a wave – to adjust the stereo and other settings. Android Auto joined later in 2020. Please check with your Motorpoint representative about the specific smartphone interfaces available on particular models.

Space in the X5 is excellent. Adults can get comfortable in each of the five seats with plenty of head and legroom in all positions, and an impressively flat floor for rear passengers. On seven-seat versions, the third row is a little cramped but can just about seat adults for short journeys. Boot space is vast with plenty of room for at least three large suitcases and probably more if you pack carefully. X5s feature a split bootlid allowing you to open just the top half for smaller items or lower the bottom half too for better access or to have somewhere to sit.

BMW X5 engine range explained

BMW X5 xDrive30d

This is the entry-level diesel engine offered for the X5 but it’s hardly a bargain-basement option. It’s a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel making 265hp (later upgraded to 286hp for MHT versions), which hits 62mph from rest in a little over six seconds, putting it comfortably among some serious hot hatches. Fuel economy can crest 40mpg if you drive gently.

BMW X5 xDrive40d

If you like the long-distance appeal of BMW’s diesel engines but want a little more power, check out the xDrive40d. This uses the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine as the 30d but turns power up to 340hp, shaving half a second off the 0-62mph time in exchange for a few mpg at the fuel pumps.

BMW X5 M50d

The most powerful diesel engine you can buy for the X5 is the M50d. Once again, the 3.0-litre turbodiesel returns but with the wick turned up to an even 400hp. This launches the M50d version to 62mph from rest in a shade over five seconds, which makes it faster than some out-and-out sports cars. Fuel economy stands at a respectable 34mpg considering the power available.

BMW X5 xDrive40i

If you don’t cover a very high annual mileage, you might want to consider one of BMW’s powerful and refined petrol engines. The xDrive40i features a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 340hp – enough to cover the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.5 seconds.

BMW X5 xDrive45e

The xDrive45e option joined the range later in the X5’s lifespan and features a plug-in hybrid engine. Total power between the 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine and the electric motor stands at 394hp, allowing it to hit 62mph from a standstill just 0.1 seconds slower than the lighter 40i version. You can also cover around 50 miles on electric power alone, which can cut the cost of your commute substantially.

BMW X5 M50i

This is the most powerful X5 you can buy, without straying into the territory of the ultra-high-performance X5M. The M50i version uses a 4.4-litre turbocharged eight-cylinder petrol engine making a mighty 530hp. This fires from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, making this luxury SUV faster than some so-called supercars.

Your BMW X5 questions answered

There’s just one version of the BMW X5 and it’s a large five-door SUV with a hatchback boot. X5s come as standard with five seats but seven seats are optionally available. If you’re looking for a premium SUV but think the X5 is a little too large or too pricey, BMW makes the slightly smaller X3, which packs most of the X5’s all-round appeal into a more affordable and compact package.

Buyers looking at X5 models might want to cross-shop them against cars including the Mercedes GLE, Audi Q7, Lexus RX and the Range Rover. There’s also the sportier BMW X6, which uses most of the same parts and engines as the X5 but features a swoopy, coupe-like roofline to help it stand out.

The X5 is a large car, measuring in at more than 4.9 metres long and more than two metres wide not including its door mirrors. That puts it in line with other cars in this class, coming up a few millimetres shorter than the Mercedes GLE, Range Rover and Audi Q7, and very slightly longer than the five-seat Lexus RX.

That bulk does at least mean the X5’s interior is pretty massive. For standard five-seat models, every seat has enough head, elbow and legroom for adults to get comfortable, even in the centre-rear seat. Seven-seat models add even more practicality, but the two third-row seats are fairly small so are best suited for kids or occasional use.

All X5 models come with powerful turbocharged engines so there isn’t really a weak link in the lineup, with more powerful versions simply offering more acceleration for keen drivers to enjoy. A smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox and BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system come as standard across the range and suit this car’s fuss-free driving experience.

Most X5 models come with five seats – two in the front and three across the rear bench. On all but the plug-in hybrid versions, you can specify a seven-seater option. This adds pair of seats in the third row, which fold away into the boot floor when not in use.

BMW, along with other premium German brands, has struggled to score well in reliability surveys. This is common for upmarket manufacturers that equip their cars with many more features than you'll find on more affordable models. As a result, there are more things that can potentially fail, leading to less-than-stellar scores.

Nevertheless, most of the engines and lots of additional parts are shared with other BMW models, so replacement items should be readily available if needed.

Adding an extended warranty to your BMW X5 is an easy way to cover yourself in the event you're hit with an unexpected repair bill.

In the UK, every X5 model is sold with the brand's xDrive four-wheel-drive system. This enhances grip and traction both on paved roads, and on slippery and loose surfaces. That said, the X5 is still quite a sporty sports-utility vehicle, so we wouldn't recommend tackling any proper off-roading courses in it.

BMW does sell a rear-wheel drive X5 to customers in the USA, but opted not to sell that model here.