2027 BMW X5 First Drive Review: They Made An EV With An Inline-6
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The Drive’s first-drive review of the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive describes a fifth-generation SUV that brings Neue Klasse-inspired design and cabin technology to a mild-hybrid gasoline model. Its 3.0-liter inline-six makes 394 horsepower, while a closely related all-electric iX5 is part of BMW’s two-powertrain approach. The review found the gas model comfortable but less suited to spirited driving than the EV.

The Drive has published a first-drive review of the fifth-generation 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive, a gasoline SUV with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six and 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The review describes a major redesign that brings the X5 into BMW’s Neue Klasse design era while giving buyers a closely related all-electric iX5 option.

The X5 40’s inline-six is rated at 394 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, increases of 19 hp and 45 lb-ft over the figures cited for the previous engine. BMW lists an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive; The Drive reports a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds. The review lists a $73,550 starting price, including delivery, and an $83,700 price for its test vehicle. A rear-wheel-drive version costs $2,300 less, according to the report.

The redesigned cabin includes BMW’s Panoramic iDrive, which projects configurable information onto the lower windshield, alongside a large central touchscreen. The reviewer praised the screen’s layout, steering-wheel controls and cabin materials, including a slate section around the shifter. The report also noted a drawback: the vehicle lacks dedicated climate-control toggles, though seat and door settings have shortcut buttons.

On the road, the reviewer found the gasoline X5 comfortable and confident, but less engaging when pushed hard. The review says its sportiest mode does not substantially reduce body roll or firm up the ride, and that the electric iX5 felt more willing on winding roads despite its greater weight. BMW supplied the vehicle and paid for the writer’s travel and accommodations, as disclosed in the review.

At a glance
reviewWhen: 2027 model-year vehicle; the source say…
The developmentThe Drive published a first-drive review of the redesigned 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive, detailing its inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain and shared design with the electric iX5.

One X5, Two Powertrain Paths

BMW is presenting the redesigned X5 as a shared platform for gasoline and electric buyers, rather than making the EV a separate-looking alternative. According to The Drive, the iX5 and gasoline model share their exterior and interior design, as well as a similar technology approach and broadly comparable driving sensations. That could make the electric version more familiar to existing X5 customers, while letting buyers who prefer an inline-six keep a conventional engine in the same new design.

The review also shows the trade-off between the versions. The gas model offers a smooth six-cylinder engine and a familiar automatic transmission, but the reviewer found the EV more capable on canyon roads. That assessment is a driving impression from one review, not a measured comparison of every version or a claim that the electric model will suit all buyers better.

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The X5 Enters Neue Klasse

The X5 has been part of BMW’s lineup for nearly 30 years, and the source describes this as the nameplate’s fifth generation and a major styling departure. BMW’s Neue Klasse design language is central to the change, with a simplified but more upright exterior and a reworked cabin built around projected information and a large touchscreen. The Drive reviewer liked aspects of the design but also described the result as brick-like and busy, making clear that the styling remains a matter of taste.

This review covers the mild-hybrid X5 40 xDrive, not the electric iX5 60 xDrive. The Drive says it covered the EV separately, so its comments about the electric model in this article are limited to the reviewer’s comparison during the drive. The X5 40’s preliminary fuel-economy figures are listed as 24 mpg city, 28 highway and 26 combined; the source does not provide final official ratings.

“The gas X5 is comfortable and confident as you’d expect, but it doesn’t lend itself well to being hustled.”

— The Drive reviewer, Adam Ismail

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Final Ratings and M Variants

The source identifies the fuel-economy figures as preliminary; it does not establish final official ratings. It also does not provide a full price list, detailed specifications for every X5 configuration, or an instrumented comparison between the gas and electric models. The review says an M variant is expected, but gives no announcement, timing or specifications for one. Buyers should treat the reviewer’s handling impressions as observations from this first drive, not as a substitute for testing the vehicle themselves.

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Dealer Arrivals and EV Details

The source says the 2027 X5 40 xDrive is rolling into dealerships as the review publishes. BMW’s electric iX5 60 xDrive is addressed in a separate Drive report, which readers can consult for that model’s specifications and driving assessment. Further details that would clarify the lineup include final fuel-economy ratings, pricing across trims and any confirmed plans for an M version; the source does not give dates for those updates.

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Key Questions

What engine does the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive have?

It has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW lists output at 394 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque.

How much does the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive cost?

The Drive lists a starting price of $73,550 including delivery. Its test vehicle was priced at $83,700. The report says a rear-wheel-drive version costs $2,300 less.

Is the 2027 X5 available as an electric vehicle?

BMW also offers the all-electric iX5 60 xDrive, which The Drive covers in a separate report. The review says the electric and gasoline models share their design and a similar technology approach.

What did the first-drive review say about how it drives?

The reviewer found the gasoline X5 comfortable and confident in ordinary driving, but less suited to being driven aggressively. The reviewer said the iX5 felt more willing on winding roads; that is a first-drive impression, not a comprehensive performance comparison.

Source: rss

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