We recently had the chance to preview the all-new BMW X5 in Munich, and for me, this one felt a little more personal.
I used to own an X5, and it remains one of those cars that hold a special place in my heart. There was always something very appealing about the way it combined ruggedness with premium comfort. It had presence, usefulness, a proper sense of strength, and enough BMW character to make it feel like more than just a large family SUV.
That is what made the X5 special when it first arrived in 1999. It helped establish the premium SUV segment, or as BMW calls its X-series line-up, the SAV, short for Sport Activity Vehicle. Since then, more than three million X5 units have been sold worldwide.
Now, the fifth-generation BMW X5 is preparing to enter a very different world.
BMW has officially premiered the new X5 at its “Home of X” event in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The company also confirmed that this new model will be offered with five drivetrain technologies. That includes petrol, plug-in hybrid, diesel, fully electric and, later, hydrogen fuel cell power.
This new X5 also arrives at a very interesting time for BMW. I have just driven the new iX3, the first Neue Klasse model, and it was genuinely good. The iX3 showed how BMW is rethinking its cars, from design and cabin architecture to software, driving dynamics and electric performance.
That makes the new X5 even more interesting.
The iX3 may be the first SUV to introduce BMW’s Neue Klasse generation. But the X5 feels like the next major SUV to carry that thinking forward. It will be fascinating to see how BMW takes what worked so well in the iX3 and applies it to a larger, more established and more emotionally important model.
Munich gave us an early look
Seeing the new X5 in Munich gave the car a certain sense of occasion.
Yes, the X5 has a deep connection to Spartanburg, where it has been built for more than 25 years. Yet Munich remains BMW’s heart, and previewing the car there made it feel connected to the broader product direction the brand is now taking.
From what we saw, the new X5 looks like a confident evolution of the model. It does not appear to abandon what made the X5 successful. I simply love the “X” headlight signatures. You can opt to switch it to just the diagonal lines at the press of a button. Overall, the proportions still feel strong, upright and purposeful, while the newer design details bring it closer to BMW’s latest design language.
The best X5 models have always needed to strike a fine balance. They must feel premium enough for the badge, tough enough for the SUV positioning, and dynamic enough to still feel like a BMW.
That balance is exactly why the X5 has always appealed to me.
Five drivetrains, one X5
The biggest news is that the new BMW X5 will be offered with five drivetrain technologies.
BMW has confirmed that the new X5 will be available with petrol, plug-in hybrid, diesel, fully electric and, later, hydrogen fuel cell electric power. This makes it the first BMW model to offer such a wide range of drivetrain choices.
For Singapore, the fully electric iX5 will naturally be the version to watch.
With our market quickly moving towards electrification and premium EV SUVs becoming more accepted here, an electric X5 could become a very important model for BMW locally. The X5 has always appealed to buyers who want space, comfort, presence and badge appeal. If BMW can add strong electric range, fast charging, refinement and proper driving feel to that package, the iX5 could be a very compelling luxury SUV.
At the same time, BMW’s wider drivetrain strategy makes sense globally. Different markets move at different speeds. Some buyers are ready for full EVs, while others still need hybrid or combustion options depending on infrastructure, driving patterns and regulations.
The X5 is the right model for BMW to showcase this flexibility. It is global, established and important enough to carry the message clearly.
Why the X5 still matters
The BMW X5 has always been one of the brand’s most important models.
For me, as a previous owner, the appeal was never difficult to understand. The X5 had that rugged yet premium positioning that made it feel useful, confident and properly desirable. It could handle family duties, long drives, luggage, daily life and still feel like something you wanted to drive.
That is not easy to achieve.
Many SUVs are practical. Many are luxurious. Fewer manage to feel genuinely characterful. The X5 has always had that extra layer of BMW identity, and that is why it has remained such a strong product for so long.
This new generation now has to carry that identity into a new era.
Having just driven the iX3, I am especially curious about how BMW will scale up its latest thinking. The iX3 impressed me with its refinement, software, cabin layout, assisted driving systems and the way it still felt engaging as an EV.
The new X5 will have to do all of that with more size, more presence and much higher expectations.
That is what makes it exciting.
The iX3 showed that BMW’s new-generation technology can work very well in a mid-sized electric SUV. The X5 now has the chance to show how far that thinking can go in a larger, more premium and more established model line.
A key model in BMW’s next product push
BMW is entering a major product offensive, and the X5 will clearly be one of the most important models in that push.
The Neue Klasse era has already begun with the iX3, and after driving it, there is good reason to be optimistic. It felt like BMW had taken the EV challenge seriously, especially in how it blended technology, refinement, and driving feel.
The X5 now carries that same sense of expectation, with an even broader brief.
It has to satisfy traditional X5 buyers, support several drivetrain technologies and feel modern while retaining the rugged, premium appeal. It also has to sit confidently in a luxury SUV market that is becoming more advanced and competitive than ever.
From our preview in Munich, the new X5 looks ready to take on that role.
For Singapore, the fully electric iX5 will be the one many watch closely. A fully electric X5 with BMW’s latest generation of technology could become one of the most relevant luxury SUVs in the brand’s future line-up here.
As someone who has owned an X5 before, I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how this next chapter unfolds.
The iX3 has already shown that BMW’s new era can be very promising. The new X5 now has the opportunity to take that promise to the next level.
