The Boss of Sport Utilities. The BMW X5 xDrive45e review!
Five years ago, we tested BMW’s first production plug-in hybrid vehicle which happens to be a X5 xDrive40e. Whether it’s an ongoing war or a global pandemic, we know plenty can happen in just a year or two let alone five. So when we got our hands on the latest generation X5 plug-in hybrid, our expectations were high, especially given the huge price difference.
Now in its fourth generation (or second generation if we’re talking just the plug-in hybrid variant), our Alpine White X5 xDrive45e come as standard with the M Sport trim. In fact, the X5 xDrive45e M Sport is the sole variant available in Malaysia if you want a X5. Should you not want a plug-in hybrid, the X6 or the X7 is the way to go. Or you can explore the smaller segments with the X1, X3, and X4.
On top of the standard M Sport kit, our specific test car also came with a few optional M Performance parts to further stand out from the crowd. Notice the Jet Black matt 20-inch M light alloy wheel Star Spoke 748 M (RM26k), front air inlets, rear diffuser, and side mirror caps in carbon fiber, front and rear carbon fiber winglets, and side decals (RM17k). So if you want yours to look exactly like our test car, you would have to fork out an additional RM43k for the aforementioned M Performance parts.
Once we got behind the wheel of the X5, we were greeted by the current-generation BMW interior where you would find the familiar iDrive 7.0 and switch gear layout. Interior space is rather spacious for both driver and passengers with the only gripe being the lack of thigh support in the rear seats for taller people like myself. Otherwise, the X5 accommodates five adults comfortably. Driving position and visibility remains good as with most BMW SUVs.
Weighing just a touch over 2.5 tons, we were rather impressed with its handling as we never lost confidence when carving corners. Featuring air suspension on all four corners, comfort is also its strong suit although the ride can get a little floaty on highway speeds. Set the suspension in the lowered Sport setting and you can feel the increased cruising stability. The only nitpick would be the tendency to have some wind buffeting when travelling at highway speeds which can impact the otherwise quiet cabin.
The most notable change compared to the previous generation xDrive40e is the upgraded powertrain, as the xDrive45e is now powered by a larger 3.0 liter turbocharged straight-six engine as compared to the older model’s 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four. Combine the larger engine with a larger 24 kWh lithium-ion battery and the xDrive45e produces a generous 394PS and 600 Nm of torque, making it BMW’s most powerful plug-in hybrid alongside the similarly powered 740Le limousine. Zero to hundred sprint now takes over a second faster than its predecessor at 5.6 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 235kph instead of 210kph of the older model.
After a few extended journeys with the X5, we can confirm that the inline six together with the electric motors work pretty much seamlessly, not to mention sounding much better than the previous inline four. The higher capacity lithium-ion battery at 24 kWh also offers a respectable 77 km of range (up from 30 km) on a full charge. Realistically, expect to get roughly 50km of electric range.
However, this comes at the expense of a slightly smaller boot space. Where the regular X5 gets 650 liters of space, the X5 xDrive45e gets just 500 liters of boot space. However, this does not really concern us as the plug-in hybrid is the only choice we got. The split tailgate like the ones you see in a Range Rover is also unique in its segment to offer more loading flexibility.
When plugged into a three-pin, 240-volt domestic socket, charging from empty takes roughly 10 hours and 30 minutes. This can be hastened with a 3.7 kWh BMW i Wallbox, which reduces the charging time to 7 hours for a full charge. For fuel consumption we averaged around 10 to 12 liters per 100km which is pretty good for a vehicle this size. To make full use of its efficiency and performance however, it is best you start your journey closer to a full charge rather than a depleted battery.
As of June 2022, the X5 xDrive45e has a RM6k hike in price by including BMW’s flagship Laserlight headlights as compared to the bi-LED ones that was fitted to our older test car. Safety equipment has also been increased with BMW’s Active Protection, which would see two more side airbags added to the second row bringing the total number of airbags to eight. Active Protection also means that if the vehicle detects an accident to be imminent, the windows and sunroof if left open would automatically shut. Reversible seatbelt pre-tensioning is another added feature whereby an electric motor can automatically tighten the seatbelt depending on a person’s body when buckled up.
The RM6k price increase also gets you Orbit Grey 21-inch 741M alloy wheels as standard, which is even larger than the optional 20-inch rims on our test car. As ours did not come with the larger rims, we cannot comment on its ride comfort and handling. While the Laserlight and Active Protection are much welcomed, we would rather have smaller rims in exchange for additional tech such as adaptive cruise control for example.
At the time of testing, the BMW X5 xDrive45e is priced at RM457,498.37 (SST exempted, on the road, without insurance), but keep in mind that SST exemption would have ended by the time you read this. A quick look at BMW Malaysia’s website shows a price of RM480k so that is probably what one would have to pay if you order one today.
Regardless of price, the only other plug-in hybrid competitor would be Volvo’s flagship XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus, which goes for around RM429k with SST. Take plug-in hybrids out of the equation and Mercedes-Benz will sell you a GLE 450 4MATIC AMG Line for roughly RM510k with SST, while Porsche will part with a Cayenne for RM550k (without SST). Incredibly, I can say that all four SUVs are locally assembled, but only the XC90 and GLE comes with three rows of seats.
If value is purely all that you seek in this segment, the Volvo is in a league of its own. You can pay the Germans double and still struggle to come close to matching the power and specifications the XC90 offers on paper. However, there’s more to a vehicle than just specs on paper, especially in this premium luxury SUV segment. Plus, the Volvo is the running on the oldest platform here at 8 years and counting.
Five years ago, our conclusion for the previous X5 was similar. The Volvo may provide more bang for your buck, but the X5 possesses unmatched presence most people shopping in this price range are looking for. With this latest generation it’s no different, and its muscular exterior garners motoring respect wherever you go. As people kindly move out of the way while you cruise inside a vastly improved cabin, one could say that’s half a million well spent.
