2020 BMW X5

BMW reserves itself in bringing any major changes to the X5 SUV this year, rather minor technological changes are the only area where the X5 focuses on. The performance front is where the 2020 X5 aces the best, with its turbo-6 and turbo V8 powertrains on offer. Coming onto the cabin front, the 2020 X5 has one of the most sumptuous interior setups in its class, with all the necessary bells and whistles. The BMW X5 follows the busy territory of SUVs like Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q8, and the Jaguar F-Pace. Still, the X5 remains a highly tempting choice among luxury SUVs. Let's find out why?

The 2020 BMW X5 comes in three trims, the sDrive40i, the xDrive40i, and the xDrive50i. The 40i is the base trim that comes equipped with a 3.0 Liter turbocharged inline-6 engine at a price of $58,900. The 50i is its elder brother that comes equipped with a 4.4-liter Twin-turbo V8 and is priced at an MSRP of $76,150. The base trim is equipped with many standard features that although premium offers a practical touch as well. The top-most trims are fully offered with the best-in-the-segment features, that you might hardly find in any other SUV in the segment, such as the Vernasca leather Seat trim.

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The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40i hits the sweet spot and proves to be at a better base price to add options and packages, such as the Premium and Executive packages than, when equipped with the xDrive50i. The performance figures it puts out are quite decent and you get a long list of features too along with it as standard. The xDrive50i offers enthusiastic performance for speed junkies, especially.

If you're coming from an older X5, the new version delivers the strengths with newer technology and even better performance - Edmunds

The 2020 BMW X5 SUV with the iconic kidney grille comes with two engine options. There is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 335 horsepower and 330-pound feet of torque. If you crave for more power, then the turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine which puts out 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque is a heaven-made match for you. The 6 cylinders work in perfect sync to deliver that smacking power smoothly and flawlessly. 

The power is delivered to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission which transfers power to all four wheels. The shifts from ZF sourced automatic transmission are snappy and the power is evenly distributed over the whole rev range. The shifting is smooth and very responsive, which makes this ride an ideal daily commuter. The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40 with its V6 powertrain can take you to 60 miles an hour in just about 5.0 seconds and the V8 powertrain with 456 hp can take you to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Anything which goes 0 to 60 under five seconds can be considered as sports car territory.

The BMW X5 is among the few vehicles which have the performance of the sports sedan and utility of an SUV. The grunt from the twin-turbocharged powertrain is breathtaking and it has got the driving dynamics of a sedan. Various drive modes, ranging from Eco Pro and Comfort to Sport and Sport Plus alter the driving dynamics of the X5 according to your preference. The BMW X5 Xdrive40i features two-axle air suspension and electronically controlled dampers. It is fun to drive and comes with integral active steering in addition to driver assistance systems developed to enhance comfort and luxurious ambiance. The X5 can blast on straightways and can easily climb a steep hill filled with debris.

The BMW X5 comes with some of the best brakes in this segment, the pedal is smooth and easy to modulate around town and in heavy traffic. The emergency stops are straight and the vehicle has a minimum nosedive. The 2020 BMW X5 takes 117 feet to stop which is above average for this class. The X5 and 8 Series are the first to get BMW's integrated brake-by-wire system, which forms the basis for autonomous braking and other self-driving systems.

The X5 xDrive40i with 3.0 liter 6 cylinder delivers 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The X5 Xdrive50i features a 4.4-liter engine that returns 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. The 2020 BMW X5 is quite frugal in nature, despite it having different driving modes on offer. The X5 certainly aces both on the performance and fuel efficiency front.

For comparison, the 2020 BMW X5 is the most frugal car in this segment, which says a lot. The rest of the SUVs in the segment are on the same thread in terms of fuel efficiency, which is quite respectable given the potent powertrains they house.

Inside, the X5's handsome cockpit gets the requisite number of screens (up to three, including a head-up display) for a luxury crossover - The CarConnection

The cabin of the all-new 2020 BMW X5 is spacious with the precise German build quality and a host of meticulously crafted details. The front seats are highly supportive and comfortable. The boldly contoured side bolsters provide outstanding lateral support even in extreme handling situations. The rear seats also provide an ample amount of comfort and the third row is optional which adds two more seats. It carries the BMW character very well and remains elegant yet clean.

The 2020 BMW X5 offers quite some space to load up your necessities. It has a Cargo volume of 33.9 cu. ft. But this space is where the optional 3rd seat gets fitted. Its two-part tailgate provides easy access to smaller items of luggage and the lower section opens up to create a platform capable of supporting up to 551 lbs. Compared to the competition it has pretty appreciable cargo space.

Interior Features on offer with the 2020 X5 are-

• 16-way power front sports seats; including 2-way power side bolsters
• 4-way lumbar support and memory system for driver's seat and steering wheel
• 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats
• SensaTec upholstery
• Fineline stripe brown high-gloss Wood trim
• Anthracite headliner
• Fully finished cargo area with velour carpeting and remote trunk release
• Cargo cover
• Floormats

The 2020 X5 is equipped with BMW’s standard iDrive 7.0 system infotainment system, that grows out of the dashboard with controls clearly arranged and set within trim finishers which can be operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Moreover, its Cockpit features two other 12.3" displays.

Some of the infotainment features on offer are-

• Anti-theft AM/FM stereo with Radio Data System (RDS)
• CD player pre-wiring
• HiFi Sound System with 10 speakers and a 205-watt digital amplifier
• HD Radio with "multicast" FM station reception
• Sirius XM radio
• Apple CarPlay

Slightly larger than before in wheelbase, width, and length, the new X5's proportions are eminently familiar, even if its kidney grille has grown to near-comical proportions - Car and Driver

The 2020 BMW X5 looks very similar to the previous iteration and sports the iconic kidney grille in the front. The X5 with its chiseled lines and massive meticulously designed curves, this Sports Activity Coupe demands every bit of attention on the road. Short overhangs and muscular, flared wheel housings accentuate the character of a vehicle that seeks routes off the beaten path. The X5’s wheels range in size from the standard 19 inches to optional 22-inch rollers.

The new 2020 X5 is slightly larger than before, growing an inch in length (2.1 inches in the wheelbase) and 2.6 inches in width, though it's roughly the same height as before. Wind turbulence at the front wheels is reduced with the help of an aero curtain on the front apron. Minor details like aerodynamically enhanced exterior mirrors and air blades at the rear help to make the lowest drag coefficient value in this segment.     

The Audi Q8 cast the largest shadow and in turn, comes with more interior space than other rivals. The BMW bags the second spot followed by Porsche Cayenne and Jaguar F-Pace

Some of the exterior features on offer are-

• V Spoke light-alloy wheels, and 265/50 run-flat all-season tires
• Automatic high beams
• Adaptive LED Headlights
• LED fog lights
• Power-folding, heated side mirrors
• Satin Aluminum roof rails
• Roof spoiler with center brake light
• Chrome exhaust tips
• Satin Aluminum exterior trim
• Non-metallic paint
• High-gloss black Aero Blades

The 2020 BMW X5 is equipped with the BMW's Active Protection System which can predict accidents and prepares the car for it, by automatically pre-tensioning safety belts, closing windows and moon roof, and activating post-crash braking systems. In terms of crash-tests too, the 2020 X5 earns the highest possible scores of "Top Safety Pick+", while the NHTSA gives it a 4 on 5-star rating in terms of crash-worthiness.

The 2020 BMW X5 is also equipped with many other safety features such as:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Acoustic safety-belt warning
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger-seat safety belts
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS) with side-impact airbags
• Adaptive Brakelights
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
• BMW Assist eCall
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning system
• Lane Change Assist
• Rear-Cross Traffic Alert

2020 BMW X5 vs 2020 Audi Q8

It’s the first time, that the 2020 Audi Q8 enters into the luxury market and it is already facing tough competition from the 2020 BMW X5. It beats the Audi Q8 in almost all of the important aspects and also is as advanced as the Q8 on the feature front. It is also quite less expensive than Audi Q8, the base in itself is exactly 10 grand cheaper than the Q8.

Moreover, the Q8, despite having the better torque figures out of the two, is much slower than the X5, solely because it weighs much more than the X5. After taking all these points into consideration it looks like the X5 becomes the preferred choice of most of the consumers.

2020 BMW X5 vs 2020 Porsche Cayenne

Both the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5 are veterans of the luxury SUV market. Although the X5 looks dated to some, still, it stands above Porsche Cayenne in all aspects. It is a pleasant combination of luxury and performance. Moreover, the X5 also offers third-row seating as an optional addition.

Although it looks quite dated, its low price, high power, high-performance output, and abundant luxury features make it a better option out of the two.

The X5 enters its 4^th generation this year and with a majority of tech upgrades take a stand as one of the market leaders. It is economic and also fuel-efficient apart from being quite a performer. Moreover, it comes with quite abundant and advanced safety features on offer. This might be one of the aptest SUVs to the ideal luxury SUV you are looking for. The 2020 BMW X5 is a premium midsize crossover that for an MSRP of $58,900 has something on offer virtually for everyone.

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2020 BMW X5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does the BMW X5 have a third row? 

No, the BMW X5 does not have a third row as standard, however, there is an optional third-row seating package that expands the seating capacity to seven instead of five.

Does the BMW X5 offer parking assist in all trims? 

Yes, parking assist is a standard feature across all X5 trims. 

Does the X5 have a sunroof?

Yes, the X5 has a sunroof as standard across the trim lineup. 

What takes care of the audio requirements in the 2020 BMW X5?

The 2020 BMW X5's audio requirements are taken care of by a premium HiFi Sound system with 10 speakers.