Twenty-seven years after the original X5 kickstarted BMW’s SUV empire, the luxury automaker is back with a fifth-generation model that looks ready for just about every kind of driver. Petrol? Check. Diesel? Yep. Plug-in hybrid? Naturally. Fully electric? Finally. Hydrogen? Now that’s an interesting twist.
For the first time in BMW‘s history, a single model will be available with five different powertrain options. It is a bold move that lets buyers decide how they want to get around instead of forcing everyone down the same road.
The biggest headline is undoubtedly the BMW iX5, the first all-electric X5. Built on BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology, it packs an 800-volt architecture, supports bidirectional charging, and promises an impressive driving range of up to 845 kilometers (525 miles). Those are some seriously healthy numbers for a vehicle of this size.
Then there’s the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. Scheduled to arrive later, it will become BMW’s first hydrogen-powered production vehicle. Thanks to a new fuel cell system and Hydrogen Flat Storage technology, BMW says it can travel up to 750 kilometers (466 miles) before needing a refill. Whether hydrogen catches on remains to be seen, but BMW clearly isn’t putting all its eggs in one battery-powered basket.
The redesign borrows heavily from BMW’s Neue Klasse design language. Up front, the illuminated kidney grille is flanked by new “double-X” lighting signatures, while the sides feature flush BMW Winglets that double as electrically powered door handles. Buyers will also have plenty of room to personalize their ride with 11 exterior colors and wheels measuring up to 23 inches.
Inside, the cabin receives a major technology overhaul. BMW’s latest Panoramic iDrive spans the dashboard with Panoramic Vision projected across the windshield, complemented by a free-cut central display, an available passenger screen, and BMW Operating System X. Even the dashboard trim gets special treatment, with optional slate surfaces making their debut in a production vehicle.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a BMW without promising driving fun. Standard adaptive suspension, optional Adaptive Chassis Control Professional, Level 2 driver assistance, and BMW’s new Symbiotic Drive system aim to keep the X5 comfortable while still living up to its Ultimate Driving Machine reputation.
Production begins this August at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. Petrol and diesel models will arrive in late November 2026, while the electric and plug-in hybrid variants are expected to follow in early 2027. The hydrogen-powered iX5 will join the family at a later date, completing what is arguably BMW’s most versatile X5 lineup yet.
Images: BMW.