The BMW X5 2022 is a versatile participant in the mid-size luxury-SUV sector, combining a well-appointed cabin with a joyful driving experience in a single beautiful package. Even the entry-level versions come standard with cutting-edge technology, convenience features, and a silky-smooth inline-six-cylinder engine. The plug-in hybrid variant allows the X5 to go on electric power alone for short distances, while the additional twin-turbo V-8 engine offers sharp acceleration. It may not be as luxurious on the interior as the Genesis GV80 or as sporty as the Porsche Cayenne. However, compared to SUVs like the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class, the X5’s well-roundedness shows through, earning it an Editors’ Choice award.
There’s little question that the 2022 BMW X5 relies largely on the main attributes that made it popular from the start: a suitably premium cabin and smooth handling. Air suspension is standard, ensuring a smooth & comfortable ride.
What will you see here?
Price & Availability
The BMW X5 costs between £64,040 and £82,660. On carwow, however, pricing for a new BMW X5 begins at £58,984 if you pay upfront or £791 if you pay monthly, saving you an average of £3,408. The starting price for a used BMW X5 on carwow is £26,111.
What’s New About The BMW X5 2022
For 2022, the limited edition Black Vermilion variant joins the range. To mention a few high-end amenities, this black-and-red beauty has Merino Black leather upholstery with red piping, a faux-suede headliner, a glass shift knob, and a leather-covered dashboard, well as a Harman/Kardon radio system. It’s derived from the xDrive40i model, and just 350 will be sold in the United States, so if it piques your interest, act immediately.
The wireless phone charging pad is no longer available. Also, the Convenience package isn’t on the spec list for 40i models. Those entry-level vehicles are also no longer available with the optional air suspension. For 2022, two new colors are available: Sparkling Brown Metallic & Dravit Gray Metallic, and the elegant glass shift knob & control buttons may now be ordered separately.
We value savings almost as much as we value performance, which is why we believe the xDrive40i is the X5 to purchase. It has sports-sedan acceleration, a 4.8-second zero-to-60-mph pace, and all-wheel drive. It’s a relative value in this price class. We recommend the Premium option, which includes a head-up display, four-zone automatic temperature control, remote engine start, and a Harman/Kardon sound system.
Performance & Drive
The xDrive30d is the entry-level engine for the BMW X5. It’s a 282bhp 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with enough low-down torque for towing and, like all X5s, a quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, which makes it more responsive than the similar Audi Q7 45 TDI. The 335bhp xDrive40d is quicker, but it isn’t necessary.
Those who don’t want a diesel may choose the 328bhp xDrive40i versions, which have a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. It goes from 0 to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds, is quicker than the 30d, and revs more quickly. If you desire more power, the top-of-the-line 523bhp M50i petrol will have you glued to your seat with its jaw-dropping acceleration.
Suspension & Ride comfort
Except for the M50i, every X5 comes equipped with air suspension, which is outstanding. Even though sharp-edged potholes and ruts, it retains a super-smooth ride with no annoying floatiness over crests and troughs.
The xDrive45e has a somewhat firmer edge over broken roads than the previous X5s. Nonetheless, it cushions you most of the time, far better than the occasionally bumpy plug-in hybrid Volvo XC90.
The M50i comes standard with an M Adaptive Suspension sports configuration, with M Adaptive Suspension Pro & air suspension available as options. The X5’s two adaptive ‘M’ configurations make it feel faster and more agile, but they’re also notably harsher and don’t absorb bumps like the regular car. We have yet to put the M50i through its paces with air suspension.
Handling
The X5 has excellent grip and body control. This makes it an extremely stable and comforting SUV to drive on twisting roads. The accurate, well-weighted steering makes guiding this large lump of metal down your favorite rural route simple – and even pleasurable. The Porsche Cayenne is even better in terms of handling. However, the X5 is sharper than the Range Rover Sport, among the best in the class.
Because of the added weight of its battery pack & electric engine, the xDrive45e PHEV handles competently but lacks the agility of previous models.
The X5 boasts strong off-road capabilities thanks to standard four-wheel drive and driving modes that adjust the ride height & drive settings to the road conditions. However, the Land Rover Defender & Land Rover Discovery are better suited to true outdoor adventures.
Noise & Vibration
For diesel, the X5 30d offers an attractive throaty engine noise. Even on a cruise, it never truly goes away. Once you select Sport mode, it adds fake noise to the soundtrack, played over the car’s speakers.
The petrol 40i, on the other hand, is precisely balanced. When you’re pottering along, it’s deliciously smooth and mellow, but when you press on, it’s satisfyingly rorty. The M50i’s throatiness is turned up to 11 while accelerating hard, but it’s blissfully tamed when cruising. When driving on electric power, the PHEV xDrive45e is whisper-quiet, and when the petrol engine kicks in, it does it smoothly and without fuss.
The basic 8-speed automatic transmission is also quite smooth, with minimal wind noise. But it’s not all good news. There’s some suspension noise in town, and the massive, wide tires produce a good amount of roar, which becomes more evident on rougher surfaces. The Volvo XC90 has the worst road noise at high speeds; the Audi Q7 is the quietest SUV cruiser in this price range.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The xDrive45e variant includes a 24.0-kWh battery pack, which BMW claims are adequate for up to 30 kilometers of the electric-only drive. The battery allows the X5 to go up to 84 mph without using the gasoline engine. The battery pack may be charged at home using 110-volt or 230-volt outlets and at public charging stations.
BMW X5 2022 – Infotainment and Connectivity
The twin 12.3-inch monitors offer a modern touch to the otherwise understated cockpit. One acts as a digital gauge display, becoming more prevalent among premium manufacturers, and the other allows access to the infotainment system. Which runs the most recent version of BMW’s iDrive software. Users may manage the system in several ways, including gesture controls, less natural than just touching the screen or using the rotary knob in the middle of the console. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features.
Is the BMW X5 2022 available as a hybrid or electric car?
There is no completely electric BMW X5. However, there is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version; the xDrive45e. This vehicle combines a 3.0-liter petrol engine with an electric motor to provide quick performance, and it can also operate on electric power on its own for up to 54 miles.
What is the BMW X5’s infotainment system like?
Fantastic. The X5 comes standard with BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, loaded with capabilities yet easier to use than any competing system. The menus are simple; you may manage them using a rotary dial, shortcut buttons, or poking the screen.
Conclusion
BMW has a good understanding of SUV buyers and has developed a fairly excellent entry. The fundamentals are correct. It’s adequate, and you don’t have to spend much on extras for a desirable specification. You simply have to remember that driving an enormous SUV comes with a particular image – either you could lean into it and go for the boisterous M version, or you could attempt to please observers with the marginally more eco-friendly plug-in hybrid.
Whatever X5 you choose, they’re all powerful and fun to drive, despite our worries about the 4-wheel steering. It will also travel off-road, which is not something that can be assumed in this class.
The cabin is wide and pleasant and can accommodate up to seven people if necessary, but did it have to be this flashy?
