The BMW X5 has been one of the most important luxury SUVs on the planet since 1999. Over 3.1 million sold. A nameplate that essentially invented the premium SUV category as we know it. And for 27 years, it looked and drove like a BMW X5.

The 2027 model changes almost everything.

Five Powertrains. One Car.

The fifth-generation X5 expands to five powertrains globally — gasoline, plug-in hybrid, electric, diesel, and hydrogen — making it the first BMW production model to offer five propulsion types under a single nameplate. BMW Group

The base X5 40 is powered by BMW’s B58 engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six now producing 394 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque thanks to an improved turbocharger, paired with a 48V mild hybrid system.

The all-electric iX5 leads the range with up to 435 miles of estimated EPA range and a new-generation 141.0-kWh battery. With an electric motor at each axle, the iX5 60 xDrive deploys 570 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, with 800V architecture and up to 460kW DC charging. BMW Group

A V8-powered M Performance model and a hydrogen version are also on the way — the plug-in hybrids and iX5 arrive March 6, 2027, with the hydrogen version possibly following in 2028.

A New Look — Built Around Light

The upright front end is significantly taller than before, giving the new X5 an imposing yet precisely proportioned appearance. The reduced, vertically aligned BMW kidney grille features Iconic Glow, integrated into daytime driving lights with new double-X light icons that remain illuminated day and night.

Inside, a 17.9-inch central touchscreen dominates the cabin, with an optional 14.6-inch passenger screen. The traditional iDrive rotary controller has been removed. Physical buttons remain on the steering wheel and door panels — BMW isn’t going fully touchscreen — but the direction is clear.

The third-row option is gone. BMW will sell the 2027 X5 exclusively as a two-row SUV, meaning buyers needing six or seven seats will have to move up to the X7.

The Feature That’s Causing Arguments

The iconic split tailgate is gone, replaced by a conventional liftgate to improve aerodynamics and packaging. BMW has since published an explanation for the decision, but X5 fans are not happy. The split tailgate — the design that let you sit on the lower half at a tailgate or trail — was one of the X5’s most beloved features for over two decades. BMW Group

BMW chose aerodynamics over nostalgia. Whether that’s the right call depends on who you ask.

What It Costs

In the United States, the 2027 BMW X5 starts at $71,250 for the rear-wheel-drive X5 40, the X5 40 xDrive follows at $73,550, the X5 50e xDrive at $78,950, and the electric iX5 60 xDrive starts at $81,250.

BMW plans to have the new X5 on dealer lots by the end of 2026. BMW Group

Worth It?

The 2027 X5 is BMW’s biggest bet on a single model in decades. Five powertrains, a completely new interior, Neue Klasse design language, and the courage to drop a beloved feature in the name of progress. It won’t please everyone. It never does when a brand this size swings this hard.

But if BMW gets the execution right, this could be the most significant X5 ever built.