2024 BMW X5 Review: Still The Consummate All-Rounder

You'd be hard-pressed to find a review of the new BMW X5 mid-size SUV that doesn't put it near the top of its class. Ever since the current G05 generation launched in the USA as a 2019 model, it's impressed with its quality, performance, and practicality. Now the 2024 X5 is back in updated form with a facelift and a raft of improvements, with newly upgraded powertrains - from a 375-hp base 3.0-liter to a storming 523-hp V8 - as well as a powerful new plug-in hybrid. But the world hasn't stood still, and in the meantime, more rivals have entered the fray, most notably the superb Genesis GV80, which takes a stab a the concept of a premium SUV at a high-value price. Then there's the continually improved Porsche Cayenne - still considered the quintessential driver's SUV - as well as the other German pretenders to the throne, the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Audi Q7, to name just a few. The X5 is not the cheapest, sportiest, or roomiest of the lot anymore, so does it still offer the all-round complete package it once did?

What's the Price of the 2024 BMW X5?

For the new year, pricing starts at $65,200 for the RWD sDrive40i, with the AWD xDrive40 retailing for $67,500. The PHEV xDrive50e will cost you $72,500, and the M60i, $89,300. These prices are MSRP for the 2024 BMW X5 in the USA, and they don't include the $995 destination fee or any extras.

2024 BMW X5 Handling and Driving Impressions

Once upon a time, the X5 was the default choice if you wanted a mid-size SUV with sporty handling, but a number of rivals now beat it on this score, notably the class-leading Cayenne. The Audi Q7 is also marginally sharper to pilot, but that doesn't mean the X5 isn't fun to drive. Handling remains precise and vice-free, and it's reassuringly stable and unwaveringly comfortable, maintaining the type of ride/handling balance that most SUV buyers will find spot-on. It's certainly a lot more comfortable than the harsh-riding X5 M. The M60i rides more firmly, but it's still comfortable and its Adaptive M Suspension and rear-axle steering impart an additional sense of agility. Performance-wise, there isn't a dud in the range, with even the base engine now able to launch the X5 to 60 mph in a rapid 5.3 seconds, obviating the need to go for the V8, which does the job in 4.1 seconds but costs a lot more. You can tailor your experience via three driving modes: Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport.

Verdict: Is The 2024 BMW X5 A Good SUV?

Right now is a very good time to buy a BMW X5. The 2024 revisions make it a strong contender, and the powerful new base engine is the sweet spot, allowing you to bag a powerful SUV with excellent efficiency and a good feature count for under $70k. The Cayenne is a better drive, but a substantially revised 2024 model is around the corner, and we'd take the updated X5 over the old Cayenne for now. Facelifted it may be, but the current Audi Q7 can trace its roots back to 2015 and is getting long in the tooth, while the GLE isn't too precise a driving tool, so the BMW still finishes ahead of it. The biggest fly in the ointment is the Genesis GV80, with cheaper entry-level models available and a similarly performing 3.5T AWD undercutting the base X5 in xDrive guise on price. The immensely capable and premium GV80 is newer and might just tip the scales in its favor. Try both before you buy.

What 2024 BMW X5 Model Should I Buy?

It isn't even a close-run thing. Go for the base car and be done with it. Your only choice is whether to take it in RWD or AWD, and that will be down to whether you're going to venture out onto slippery roads or live in the Snow Belt. With its newfound power and excellent performance and efficiency, the 40i trims offer by far the best combination of verve, economy, and value in the range and makes the V8 seem too expensive and far too thirsty for too little extra. Add the Driving Assistance Professional package to address the meager standard driver-assist count, and you still drive away with a sub-$70k SUV before destination, even if you opt for the xDrive. It's a no-brainer.