2023 BMW X5 xDrive40i review

In certain parts of Australia’s capital cities, the BMW X5 is a more common sight than the humble Camry.

Since launching at the turn of the millennium, BMW’s family-sized SUV quickly became a firm favourite among the upper-middle class, and now, four generations on, that popularity has endured.

It’s not difficult to understand why. For one, it’s attractive. We talk about the CX-90 having good proportions... Well, that’s arguably because it copies the X5’s format, with front wheel wells pushed well forward to make room for an inline six in the middle, in turn producing a long bonnet that balances out the visual heft of the wagon box on the back.

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Sheetmetal that swells around the wheelarches imparts an athletic aura too, and their subtly flicked-out lips not only look sporty, but are there to provide sufficient coverage of the massive 315-section rear tyres fitted to our xDrive40i tester.

On the inside, the X5 is classically German. Cleanly presented with well-crafted materials throughout, it’s difficult to find surfaces that look or feel unpleasant, or out of place – even the standard ‘Verino’ leather feels high-end. Switchgear and closures all operate smoothly with a pleasing tactility to them, and it’s genuinely hard to find a rough edge, figurative or literal.

Space utilisation could be better though: the centre box houses a good volume beneath its bi-fold lid, but the cubby ahead of it which contains the cupholders and phone charging pad is hemmed-in by the shape of its recess and lid. Try and put your phone on charge when you’ve got a drink in there, you’ll see what I mean.

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In the back, the stadium-style elevated H-point of the second row bench give backseaters a good view around the front passengers, while the X5’s generous glasshouse and its standard-fit panoramic sunroof lets light flood in.

With a wide cabin and a very low transmission hump the X5 can even take three adults across the rear bench, but there’s no third-row capability in the X5 anymore – even as an option.

On the plus side, a 640-litre seats-up boot capacity should swallow up prams, groceries and other cargo with ease, and the X5’s power-operated split-fold tailgate is far more manageable in cramped shopping centre carparks.

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But in all honesty, the real appeal of the X5 lies in how it drives. With a powerful 250kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo petrol six driving all four wheels through an excellent eight-speed auto, the X5 is a rocket.

The massive contact patch provided by its Pirelli P-Zeros (275/40R21 up front, 315/35R21 at the rear) confers a tenacious hold on the pavement despite a 2060kg kerb weight, and the explosive energy of its engine is good enough for a 5.5-second zero-to-hundred claim.

The steering is pretty ordinary, with scarcely any feel or feedback, even in Sport mode, but in every other way the X5 is a true performer. What’s equally as impressive is when you prod the ‘Comfort’ mode button on the centre console, the X5’s adaptive dampers slacken and the transmission calibration eases up to make it a very civilised machine for day-to-day urban schlepping.

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But you need to pay to play, and that’s arguably one of the bigger demerits against the X5: the unavailability of more substantially affordable variants.

Opting for the diesel inline six of the X5 xDrive30d instead of the petrol xDrive40i only trims $4000 from the price which, considering this 40i retails at $138,900 before options and on-roads, isn’t much of a discount.

A four-cylinder diesel disappeared from the range last year, making the X5 a six-pot-only proposition in Australia, and a pretty pricey one at that.

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It's worth noting that the X5 you see here isn’t entirely representative of what you can buy right now, short of existing stock.

When we conducted our comparison, BMW Australia was still waiting on 2024 X5 stock to arrive, which left us with the outgoing 2023 model instead.

Which is a shame, because not only does the update bring a substantial exterior facelift, but it also adds 30kW and 70Nm to the petrol six’s output, revises the gearbox, and grafts a completely new fascia to the dash centered around a gargantuan 14.9-inch main display running BMW’s latest infotainment operating system. The price hasn’t moved, either, in a rare win for the consumer.

The X5 is far from cheap, but excellence rarely is.