The mid-size luxury-SUV segment’s adaptable 2022 BMW X5 offers a comfortable cabin and a fun driving experience in one stylish package. The X5 can travel short distances entirely on electricity by upgrading to the plug-in hybrid model, while the optional twin-turbo V-8 engine provides incredibly quick acceleration. The X5 may not have an interior as sumptuous as the Genesis GV80’s or be nearly as sporty as the Porsche Cayenne. Still, when compared against SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class and the 2022 BMW m4, the X5’s versatility shows through, earning it an Editors’ Choice award.
What has changed for 2022?
The Black Vermilion model is a new addition to the portfolio for 2022. In addition to a number of high-end amenities including Merino Black leather upholstery with red piping, a glass shift knob, a faux-suede headliner, a leather-covered dashboard, and a Harman/Kardon radio system, this black-and-red beauty has distinctive design cues. Only 350 of the xDrive40i model, on which it is based, will be sold in the United States, so if you’re interested, move soon. The wireless smartphone charging station is no longer available elsewhere in the lineup, and the 40i models’ Convenience package (remote start, four-zone automatic temperature control, and Wi-Fi hotspot) is no longer included on the spec sheet. The optional air suspension is no longer available for those base models either.
Performance depends on the engine, transmission, and other factors
Three unique powertrains, each corresponding to a different model, are available for the 2022 X5. A 335-hp inline-six turbocharged engine powers X5s with the sDrive40i or xDrive40i badge. The inline-six turbocharger and electric motor in the plug-in hybrid xDrive45e produce 389 horsepower when they are combined. An X5 was able to reach 60 mph on our test track in only 4.7 seconds thanks to its engine. (We also tested the 40i, which was able to reach 60 mph in a speedy 4.8 seconds.) The M50i can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds thanks to its 523 horsepower twin-turbo V-8 engine.
MPG in the real world and fuel efficiency
According to the EPA, the inline-six-powered X5 is slightly less fuel-efficient than the four-cylinder Q7 and as fuel-efficient as the GLE class’s equivalent with four cylinders. With the V-8, its EPA ratings significantly decline. However, only the 40i model beat its highway rating during our real-world highway fuel-economy testing with a 28 mpg result; the M50i earned 20 mpg, 2 fewer mpg than anticipated. The plug-in hybrid 45e achieved 26 mpg overall and 46 mpg when exclusively using battery power. To learn more about the X5’s fuel efficiency
Connectivity and Information
Twin The 12.3-inch monitors give the typically conservative cockpit a more modern appearance. One acts as a digital gauge display, which is a feature that luxury manufacturers are increasingly including, and the other gives users access to the infotainment system, which uses the most recent version of BMW’s iDrive software. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard.