New BMW X5 revealed: bigger screens, five powertrains, and a new name you'll need to learn (iX5)

KUALA LUMPUR: BMW just pulled the wraps off the fifth-generation X5, and this isn't a mild refresh. It's the first BMW ever offered with five different drivetrain types, it borrows heavily from the Neue Klasse playbook, and the design is different enough that you won't mistake it for the outgoing G05 at a glance.

Production starts at Spartanburg in August 2026. First variants reach market late November 2026, with the electric and plug-in hybrid versions following in early 2027.

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BMW Malaysia hasn't said anything yet about local timing or specs. The current X5 (RM469,800 for the xDrive40i M Sport, up to RM494,800 for the xDrive50e M Sport) has been a steady seller against the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7, so it's a safe bet this new generation eventually lands here too.

Until BMW Malaysia confirms anything, here's what we know from the international debut.

1. Five drivetrains under one model, a BMW first

No BMW has ever launched with this much powertrain spread:

• 48V mild hybrid petrol
• 48V mild hybrid diesel
• Two plug-in hybrids
• iX5, the brand's first fully electric X5
• iX5 Hydrogen, coming "at a later stage" with no firm date

The hydrogen version is still a prototype. No WLTP figures or pricing on that one for a while yet.

2. The styling is a genuine departure, not a facelift

• Taller, more upright front end with a vertically aligned kidney grille (BMW calls it the Iconic Glow)
• New "double-X" daytime running lights combining headlights, indicators and side lights into one unit
• Recessed "Winglet" door handles built into the B and C pillars instead of on the doors, letting the doors sit flush
• Wheels go up to 23-inch for the first time

3. iX5: BMW's first electric X5, and the numbers are properly strong

The iX5 60 xDrive runs sixth-generation eDrive tech on an 800V architecture:

• 425 kW (578 hp) and 805 Nm combined, one motor per axle
• 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds
• Up to 845 km range (WLTP) from a 141 kWh net battery
• 460 kW DC charging: 10-80% in 23 minutes, or 350 km added in 10 minutes

It also supports Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid, so the car can power tools, feed your house, or sell electricity back to the grid depending on setup.

The home charging savings BMW quotes (up to 530 euros a year) are European projections on specific electricity tariffs, so don't take those as a Malaysian benchmark.

4. The diesel and base petrol are still here

X5 40 xDrive (3.0-litre straight-six petrol)

• 294 kW (400 hp), 540 Nm
• 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, top speed 250 km/h
• Combined consumption 8.7-9.2 l/100 km (WLTP)

X5 40d xDrive (3.0-litre straight-six diesel)

• 230 kW (313 hp), 670 Nm combined with mild hybrid boost
• 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds
• Combined consumption 7.0-7.3 l/100 km (WLTP)

Both run the same eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

5. Two plug-in hybrids, and the M60e is the one to watch

X5 50e xDrive

• 360 kW (489 hp) system output, 700 Nm
• 86-102 km electric-only range

X5 M60e xDrive (performance flagship, for now)

• 450 kW (612 hp) system output, 800 Nm
• 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (4.2s with rollout method)
• 81-98 km electric-only range

Both charge at 11 kW AC off a 26.5 kWh usable battery.

6. Cabin tech is built around Panoramic iDrive

• 17.9-inch free-floating central display
• Head-up display
• BMW Panoramic Vision: projected content running the full width of the windscreen's lower edge
• Optional 14.6-inch passenger screen for video/streaming, with an interior camera dimming it if the driver gets distracted

7. Slate and glass show up as interior materials

BMW says it's the first carmaker to offer slate as a decorative interior surface, part of the optional Individual Clear & Bold package, used in the centre console touch controls and trim.

Glass shows up too, with the gear selector and volume controls made from crystal glass. Whether this ages well or just shows fingerprints everywhere is something we'll only know once we've driven one.

8. Hands-free driving up to 130 km/h is coming, eventually

The optional Motorway & City Assistant allows hands-off driving at up to 130 km/h on motorways, plus assisted navigation through city junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts.

Rollout starts in Germany from early 2027, then other European markets after that. No mention of Malaysia or Southeast Asia in the plan, and given how different our regulatory environment and road markings are, don't expect this here anytime soon, even once the car itself arrives.

9. Standard equipment list has grown

• Parking Assistant Plus now standard, with AI-assisted space detection and 360-degree camera view
• Adaptive suspension and close to 50:50 weight distribution standard across the board
• Adaptive Chassis Control and the more advanced Adaptive Chassis Control Professional (adds active roll stabilisation) available as options on electric and PHEV variants
  
  

10. What this actually means if you're shopping in Malaysia

Nothing changes for buyers here today. The current G05 X5 stays on sale at its existing pricing until BMW Malaysia says otherwise.

If history is a guide (the current X5 line started as a CKD plug-in hybrid before the mild hybrid joined later), expect the new generation to follow a similar path locally, likely starting with a plug-in hybrid or the 40 xDrive petrol, with the iX5 and M60e arriving later if they get confirmed for our market at all.

Everything in BMW's press kit is German-market spec and pricing. Malaysian variants, equipment lists and pricing will almost certainly differ once BMW Malaysia brings this generation in.

Also Read: BMW Malaysia launches two new models - X3 30 xDrive M Sport and long-wheelbase iX1 EV