THE FIRST BMW AVAILABLE WITH 5 DIFFERENT POWERTRAINS
A new generation of the BMW X5 debuted this week, and while much of the conversation has centered on the headlights, which feature daytime running lights in an X pattern that looks strikingly similar to the logo of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the redesigned midsize SUV is also breaking new ground. Depending on the market, the new X5 will offer as many as five different powertrain types.
Those powertrains include familiar gasoline and diesel internal-combustion engines, along with plug-in hybrid, battery-electric options, and yes, even a hydrogen fuel cell, something only a handful of automakers offer. That flexibility underscores BMW's commitment to letting customers choose the powertrain that best suits their needs, a strategy that has helped the automaker navigate a challenging 2025 by maintaining sales volumes while its two closest rivals – Audi and Mercedes-Benz – both posted declines.
Meet The Fifth-Generation BMW X5
The fifth-generation X5 is scheduled to reach US showrooms in October as a 2027 model and with a starting MSRP of $69,800. At first glance, it looks like a close relative of the new BMW iX3 also arriving for 2027, borrowing the sharp styling language introduced by the first member of BMW's Neue Klasse family of EVs. Underneath, however, the X5 sticks with an evolved version of BMW's rear-wheel-drive CLAR architecture, the same basic platform that underpins the outgoing model rather than the dedicated electric platform used by the iX3.
Despite riding on a platform originally developed for internal combustion vehicles, the battery-electric version, dubbed the iX5, still benefits from much of the technology debuting across BMW's Neue Klasse lineup. That includes the company's sixth-generation electric motors, an 800-volt electrical architecture for faster charging, bidirectional charging capability, and more energy-dense cylindrical battery cells that improve packaging efficiency.
The X5 also adopts BMW's new Panoramic iDrive interface, which replaces the traditional instrument cluster with a full-width display projected along the base of the windshield, complemented by a central touchscreen and a new multifunction steering wheel that keeps frequently used controls within easy reach.
BMW has evolved the X5's exterior rather than reinventing it, and the size is roughly the same as the outgoing model, measuring about 194.2 inches long. Up front, the slimmer headlights and illuminated kidney grille give the X5 a more modern face, while flush winglet-style door handles with sensors and electric operation replace conventional pull handles. They improve aerodynamics, but their unconventional design could prove divisive among buyers accustomed to traditional handles.
Production of every X5 will take place at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant. The factory is engineered to build all five powertrain types on the same production line, giving BMW the flexibility to adjust output as demand shifts between propulsion technologies. Spartanburg is BMW's largest manufacturing facility in the world and has become an export powerhouse, shipping nearly 200,000 SUVs in 2025 alone. Consistently high export volumes at the plant have made BMW the largest automotive exporter by value in the US for more than a decade.
Choosing Your X5: A Guide To Its Five Powertrain Types
US buyers won't get the full five-powertrain menu available globally, though most options will arrive here. The new X5 will initially reach the US with gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrains, while overseas markets will continue to benefit from a diesel option. The all-electric iX5 is scheduled to arrive here during 2027, while a fuel cell-packing iX5 Hydrogen won't follow until 2028. Even then, availability is expected to be extremely limited, largely because the US hydrogen refueling network remains in its infancy. Only a few dozen public hydrogen stations exist nationwide, and almost all of them are located in California.
For most American buyers, the familiar gasoline-powered X5 will likely remain the default choice. BMW's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, a staple of the outgoing model, returns as the entry-level engine and now comes standard with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to improve efficiency, smooth stop-start operation, and provide a modest performance boost. The same mild-hybrid technology is also fitted to the turbocharged inline-six diesel engine available overseas.
Buyers looking for more performance won't be left out either. BMW has confirmed a V8-powered M Performance model is on the way, while a future full-fat X5 M will likely pair its V8 with a plug-in hybrid system, following the same formula used in the current BMW M5.
The plug-in hybrid, the X5 50e, should strike an appealing middle ground for drivers who want to reduce fuel consumption and emissions without committing to a fully electric vehicle. It pairs BMW's turbocharged inline-six with an electric motor integrated into the transmission and draws power from a substantial 26.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack. BMW estimates up to 44 miles of all-electric driving, representing a 15% improvement over the outgoing X5 plug-in hybrid.
Buyers willing to wait for the iX5 will initially have a single choice: the iX5 60 xDrive. It packs a massive 144-kilowatt-hour battery that BMW says delivers up to 435 miles of driving range. It will also support DC fast charging at up to 460 kilowatts, which will make it among the fastest-charging EVs in the US.
BMW is keeping most of the iX5 Hydrogen's technical details under wraps for now, which isn't surprising given that the model is still about two years away. What we do know, based on the company's earlier iX5 Hydrogen prototypes, is that it will function much like a battery-electric vehicle.
The difference is that instead of storing large amounts of energy in a battery pack, it generates electricity on demand using a fuel cell stack that combines hydrogen with oxygen from the air. That electricity powers the electric motor, while a small battery is expected to provide an extra burst of energy during hard acceleration or other high-load situations.
As mentioned, public hydrogen fueling stations remain scarce in the US, with nearly all located in California. Even so, BMW believes introducing fuel cell vehicles now will help build demand and encourage further investment in the hydrogen refueling network over time.
BMW's Winning Powertrain Strategy
BMW’s powertrain-of-choice approach proved prescient, allowing the company to sidestep the costly all-EV commitments that rivals like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and many others aggressively pursued before reversing course. While competitors bet heavily on dedicated electric lineups and are now scrambling to develop new internal-combustion models amid softer-than-expected demand, BMW retained flexibility across gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric options.
This strategy helped BMW maintain strong sales volumes in 2025. In the US, deliveries rose 4.7% to 388,897 vehicles, while Audi fell 16% and Mercedes posted only modest gains.
BMW also shrewdly launched early EVs on existing internal-combustion platforms that remained highly competitive, contrasting sharply with Mercedes’ EQ lineup, for example. Built on dedicated EV architectures, the EQ models delivered lackluster market performance and are now being scaled back, underscoring the risks of overcommitment. And as seen with the latest X5, adaptable production means BMW can also nimbly respond to demand without the write-downs and pivots pressuring rivals.
The Luxury SUV That Refuses To Pick Just One Future
The new X5 doesn't just move the segment forward with fresh styling and better technology. It also gives buyers more choice than any luxury SUV on the market, whether they prefer gasoline, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, diesel, or eventually hydrogen power. In an industry still searching for the right path to electrification, BMW's refusal to bet on a single solution increasingly looks like the smart play.
2026-07-08T06:24:44ZSources: BMW
