BMW X5. 4th generation, 2023 restyling
Produced since 1999, the luxury mid-size SUV from the German automaker BMW has long been considered a symbol of success and is included in the list of Israel’s most popular luxury SUVs. It has a large fan base that is constantly waiting for new upgrades. And we are happy to share the wonderful news: the restyled 4th generation BMW X5 was released in early February (as well as the BMW X6). The 2023 restyling has brought not only a changed exterior, but, more importantly, improved engines, a more technologically advanced interior and a more advanced security system with enhanced autonomous capabilities. The xDrive 50e plug-in hybrid has become 100 hp more powerful and will now be able to travel up to 110 km in purely electric mode.
Exterior
The restyled 2023 BMW X5 has new front and rear bumpers, a different radiator grille that can be illuminated (M Sport Pro package only) and slimmer headlights with daytime running light arrows that also act as turn signals. The taillights have a new light signature, and the wheels have also been redesigned. All the SUVs come standard with new silver accents, including roof rails and underbody protection. The M Sport version was supplemented with a special body kit, which includes an ‘octagonal’ front end.
Interior and equipment
The vehicle features a curved panoramic display, combining a 12.3-inch dashboard screen and a 14.9-inch infotainment system screen. iDrive 8 multimedia runs on Operating System 8. The system includes over-the-air updates, voice control, and wireless extensions for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Of course, a larger panel implies a lower number of physical buttons and controls, which not all drivers will appreciate. In addition, the 2023 restyling has brought a new gear selector and updated ambient lighting. All trim levels come standard with the Comfort Pack, as well as sport seats.
The safety systems now have much broader capabilities: traffic light detection, safe exist assist, automatic speed control in accordance with information from the navigation system, automatic lane change, lane keeping assist and much more. The automatic parking system has been upgraded, so now the SUV can drive the last 200 meters on its own, and you can park the car from the outside with the help of a special application (works only for happy iPhone owners).
Powertrains
In terms of powertrains, the restyling has brought unexpectedly many upgrades, including a modernized 8-speed gearbox and improved engines. From now on, each engine is equipped with a starter-generator built into the 8-speed automatic gearbox to help in the first seconds of acceleration, with an output of 12 hp and 200 Nm. So now all the 2023 BMW X5s are mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Buyers can choose between xDrive40i, xDrive30d or xDrive50e versions.
- The BMW X5 xDrive 40i comes with a 3.0-liter biturbo gasoline 6-cylinder engine with 380 hp, which is 40 hp more powerful than the previous model. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h has been reduced from 5.7 to 5.4 seconds, while the maximum speed is 250 km/h.
- The BMW X5 xDrive 30d comes with a 3.0-liter biturbo diesel engine with steel pistons, a new injection system and an oil separator. But the power is the same 286 hp and 650 Nm.
- The BMW X5 xDrive 50e has come to replace the previous xDrive45e. The powertrain of the plug-in hybrid consists of a 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 313 hp (versus the previous 286 hp) and a new electric motor with 197 hp. As a result, the system produces a total of 490 hp and 719 Nm, and this is a significant improvement over past performance (394 hp and 612 Nm). The SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, while the maximum speed is 250 km/h. The battery with a capacity of 29.5 kWh allows you to drive 94-110 km in electric mode. The power of the home charger has been increased to 7.4 kW (from 3.7 kW), as a result, the charging time has been reduced to 4.5 hours.
The top-end BMW X5 M60i has replaced the M50i xDrive. It also features a 48-volt system and combines mild hybrid technology based on a 4.4-liter V8 biturbo engine with 523 hp and an electric motor. The total power is the same 530 hp, and the maximum torque is also the same 764 Nm. It takes the vehicle the same 4.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. But the battery has a capacity of up to 25.7 kWh. The electric driving range is now about 110 km.
