Starts at $65,200
2024 X5 Selector
FAST FACTS
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2024 BMW X5 that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The "sDrive" part is BMW-speak for rear-wheel drive, so yes, this is an SUV with only two driven wheels. But if you're among the majority of SUV owners who don't do any significant off-roading, the X5 sDrive40i could be a great way to pay less up front and less on gas. Think of it as an elevated 5 Series wagon and you won't be too far off.
Although the EPA says that the six-cylinder X5's fuel economy is the same with or without all-wheel drive, the extra 80 or so pounds and drivetrain complexity have got to hold the xDrive40i back at least a little bit. But you can't go wrong either way; the X5 with this engine is one of the best SUVs in the world.
The xDrive50e is one of the most impressive plug-in hybrids on the market, all things considered. It's got tons of power, it'll give you around 40 miles of electric-only driving, and it gives up little if any versatility to its siblings in the X5 lineup. Best of both worlds? Certainly looks that way from here.
We generally vote firmly in favor of a strong V8 like the one powering the M60i, as the effortless acceleration is simply on another level. But wow, does BMW want a lot of extra cash in this case. The M60i's $90k starting price makes the six-cylinder X5 variants seem like bargains, not least because that six-cylinder engine is arguably the best in the business. There's no doubt that the M60i is an awesome SUV, but its appeal will likely depend on how much you care about value.
We already had misgivings about the value proposition of the $90k X5 M60i, which has a twin-turbo V8 engine. Now here comes the X5 M, which tacks on $33k to that starting price and comes with, you guessed it, a twin-turbo V8 engine. It makes more power, but not more torque, and BMW says you'll get to 60 mph a half-second sooner. Cool car, don't get us wrong, but some M cars are easier sells than others.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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