BMW X5 M60i (2024) Review - Hybrid Times
The 4th and current generation of BMW's iconic X5 has received its mid-lifecycle facelift. Not only has the Bavarian bruiser received a nip and tuck on the exterior but has had its drivetrain updated as well and is now a hybrid. We test the new model to see if all the changes have made a significant difference.
In this article:
Hybrid Times
BMW's mid-size luxury SUV, the X5, is in its fourth and current generation and has received its mid lifecycle facelift and refresh for the 2024 year. This refresh sees the X5 get some long-awaited styling tweaks and new running gear.
Related: Which BMW X5 is better: diesel or petrol?
The range has also seen something of a juggle with the outgoing model X5 and X6 M50i being replaced with the M60i which features the new styling ques and hybrid drivetrain. Our test mule was the M60i with xDrive in a subdued black-on-black colour scheme that was all parts sinister government minister.
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Styling
The X5 cuts a rather imposing silhouette with its sapphire black paintwork, Shadowline trim pack, and black-on-black interior. All that this vehicle is short of is a set of blue lights on the dashboard and one would have the complete package to take on Gauteng freeways.
The exterior update starts with new bumpers front and rear, redesigned LED lighting front and rear as well as a new grille trim, thankfully the kidney grill hasn't gotten any bigger but it does receive an illuminated edge banding that gives the front end a sophisticated look when the sun goes down.
After running through the BMW Car Configurator we ascertained that our test mule was equipped with a number of extra packages which subtly change the exterior visage of the vehicle. The M Sport Pro package sees to the M Sport brakes, Shadowline trim kit, and Individual Lighting as well as the 22" V-spoke style bicolour wheels.
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Space & Interior
Slipping inside the X5, one finds that our test vehicle had been furnished with the Deluxe and Comfort packages which see to it that all seats are ventilated and heated, front and rear, and that drinks in the cupholders can be cooled or heated. With the entire interior trimmed in plush Black Merino leather and featuring the latest tech, it is a lush and inviting place to while away those pesky hours in traffic.
With this being one of BMW's flagship products, space and comfort are front of mind and there is ample room for 5 occupants as well as a cavernous 650l-1870l boot area which is accessed via the auto split tailgate which makes loading of just about anything ever so convenient.
Comfort & Convenience
Some of the biggest updates come in the form of tech. Taking pride of place is the new curved 12.3" digital dash display and 14.9" centre console digital interface. The combination control and infotainment system now runs BMW's latest iDrive 8 operating system and is just as slick to operate. The system is very responsive and switching between apps, Android Auto and Apple Car Play is quick. We did have some signal interference from the e-Toll gantries which affected the wireless connectivity, causing disconnecting issues but the system quickly recorrects.
Cosseted in a climate-controlled interior with plush touch surfaces and a full suite of tech connectivity it would be easy to forget that you aren't in a relaxation lounge if it were not for the new LED illuminated ambient light bar which adds ambiance to the cabin with the appropriate ‘X5’ lettering and arrows.
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Performance
Cradled in the engine bay of the M60i is a new 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 equipped with 48-volt mild hybrid technology. Power figures of 390 kW and 750 Nm are identical to the outgoing M50i but with the Hybrid system adding up to 9 kW and 200 Nm boost, it results in a faster 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds.
And get up and go it will, flip the drive mode over into Sports, and the X5 will hunker down, lift its skirt and pounce toward the horizon before you've had time to realise how rapidly the bulk of the vehicle is traveling. It's a good thing that this X5 has its menacing black appearance, it has this incredible ability to clear a path in front of itself as drivers hogging the fast lane see the X5 approaching their rear bumpers rapidly, have seemingly been socially trained to move out of the way, automatically resulting in the X5 being able to waft along without interference.
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Fuel Economy
The X5 M60i is definitely a Jekyll and Hyde hybrid machine as keeping it in Eco Pro and relying on the regen braking, results in very manageable fuel consumption figures hovering in the 10l/100km range, and for a twin-turbo V8 is very acceptable. The flip side of that coin is when you engage Sports mode, plant the accelerator pedal, and watch the fuel gauge and range meter drop as fast as the digital speedometer goes up. Driving the X5 in anger will result in very frequent trips to the petrol station and getting anywhere near the expected 650km range from a full tank is almost impossible when the digital screens are lit in red.
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Safety
The new X5 received the requisite 5 stars from the Euro NCAP and is packed with driver assist and safety features. It scored 89% for protecting adult occupants, 86% for children, 75% for pedestrian protection, and 75% for its safety assistance systems.
Safety equipment that is included but not limited to:
- ABS
- EBD
- TSC
- 6 Airbags
- Lane-keeping assist
- BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring)
- Full driver awareness package
- Gesture control
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Price
The BMW X5 in the M60i base specification will set you back R 2 116 413.00. However as with most luxury German vehicles, one can add a few additional features and if we include the ones on our test unit it does raise the price significantly.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| BMW X5 xDrive30d | R 1 706 850 |
| BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport | R 1 797 609 |
| BMW X5 xDrive50e M Sport | R 1 927 000 |
| BMW M60i (2024) | R 2 255 013 (as tested) |
| BMW X5 M competition | R 3 248 842 |
Competitors
Competing at the sharp end of the luxury SUV segment, there are not many vehicles that sit around the same campfire as the X5. The closet competitor would be the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 coupe 4Matic+ but one could also look at left-field brands such as Alfa Romeo's Stelvio QV, Jaguar's F Pace SVR, and Porsche's Cayenne S.
Verdict
The X5 has always been a very refined vehicle that much like a muscle-bound security escort would afford you a lot of freedom and comfort on the road. The new refresh just polishes this image and makes the vehicle much more manageable and easier to live with day to day.
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