Cargazing
By Derek Price
Drivers who don’t want to sacrifice anything — including eco-friendly credibility — have a new option in the BMW X5 lineup.
The X5 has long been an automotive Swiss Army knife, trying to competently do more things than any one vehicle should. Sporty handling in corners, a luxurious experience on the highway, family-friendly practicality and even some off-road capability in a pinch are all in the X5’s wheelhouse.
Now it adds another tool to the knife: an electric driving range of up to 30 miles.
This new version of the X5, with the oh-so-BMW, alphabet-soup name of xDrive45e, is an upgrade to last year’s xDrive40e. It has a bigger, 24-kilowatt-hour battery to achieve that 30-mile range along with a bigger gasoline engine to make a whole lot more power.
In conjunction with electric motors, the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine makes a meaty 389 horsepower this year, 81 more than the outgoing version. Even more impressive, it makes 443 pound-feet of torque, up a whopping 111 over the 40e.
BMW dramatically upgraded the X5’s plug-in hybrid version for 2021 to make more power and get an increased, 30-mile electric range.
With a classically German, solid-as-a-brick chassis, all that power comes in handy. The plug-in X5 feels insanely fast from the driver’s seat despite a gross weight of nearly 7,000 pounds.
Mash the gas pedal, and it rockets ahead with near instantaneous speed as the quick torque from the electric motors overcomes any hint of delay when the turbos spool up under the hood. It uses electrons for performance, not just efficiency.
Still, the xDrive45e qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle, which sounds like something made up by a third-grader but actually comes with some very nice perks for grown-ups in some states. The SULEV designation may result in cheaper or free trips in express lanes or a sticker to access high-occupancy lanes, depending on where you live.
Its federal fuel economy rating is the equivalent of 50 mpg in combined city and highway driving, but real-world efficiency will be all over the map. If you exclusively drive on short trips, less than 30 miles, you’ll never burn a drop of gasoline as long as you keep the battery topped up. When you go on long trips, the gasoline-only rating is a thirsty 20 mpg, according to the government.
The X5’s cabin has a sleek, modern, industrial look. Its solid construction, luxurious materials and ample tech features come with a starting price of nearly $60,000.
Aside from the efficiency, the xDrive45e has the same outstanding selling points as any X5.
The cabin is packed with eye-catching technology, including big, beautifully designed digital displays.
The customizability hidden under layers of menus is just as impressive, though, letting drivers personalize everything from lighting preferences to the information displayed in front of them. To an opinionated driver like me, BMW’s power of personalization is at least as appealing as the power coming from the engine.
This is a rare vehicle that leaves me wishing for nothing. Most cars, even expensive luxury models, make me want more of something: more style, more power, a more comfortable ride or a better tech interface. The X5, though, is as flawless a crossover as I’ve ever driven. If I sat down to imagine the perfect, no-compromise family vehicle, this is exactly what I’d come up with.
Of course, near perfection comes with a price.
The base X5, called the sDrive40i, starts at $59,400 before you add any of BMW’s notoriously pricey options. The xDrive45e plug-in hybrid starts at $65,400.
At A Glance
What was tested? 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e ($65,400). Options: Premium paint ($550), drivers assistance pro package ($1,700), M Sport package ($5,500), executive package ($4,050), 21-inch wheels ($950), M Sport brakes ($650), trailer hitch ($550), front and rear heated seats ($350), heated front armrests ($250), multi-contour seats ($750). Price as tested (including $995 destination charge): $81,695
Wheelbase: 117.1 in.
Length: 194.3 in.
Width: 78.9 in.
Height: 68.7 in.
Engine: 3.0-liter, twin turbocharged six cylinder plus electric motors (combined 389 horsepower, 443 ft.-lbs.)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
EPA fuel economy: 50 MPGe combined
RATINGS
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 4
Handling: 9
Ride: 7
Comfort: 8
Quality: 9
Overall: 8
Why buy it?
It’s the ultimate no-compromise family car. It has SUV practicality, BMW performance, and even excellent fuel economy from the plug-in hybrid version.