2024 BMW X5 Hybrid

The release date for the BMW X5 Hybrid was in March of 2023 when it launched at The Amelia Concours d'Elegance, and deliveries are tipped to start this summer in the USA. Production starts in April 2023 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The 2024 BMW X5 Hybrid's price starts at $72,500 before options. This excludes the $995 destination fee and is the X5 Hybrid's MSRP.

Rivals to the X5 Hybrid are plentiful, with the Volvo XC90 Recharge starting at $71,900. As far as premium fit and finish go, the Volvo is right up there with the X5 Hybrid, but the BMW offering has historically proven to be much more thrilling to drive. The refined Lexus RX Hybrid has a base price just over $50k, but is substantially less powerful - even the sportiest derivative with 366 hp starts at around $10k cheaper than the X5 Hybrid. A more apt comparison is with the Mercedes-Benz GLE and its 400e PHEV coming for 2024 which is likely to be cheaper but isn't quite as potent.

Like the rest of the X5 range, the X5 Hybrid gets a substantial refresh aesthetically. The entire front design is fresh and now features the new BMW signature headlights and grille. The headlights are much slimmer, and there are arrow-shaped DRLs that draw the eye outwards and double as turn signals. The grille can be illuminated as an optional extra. There are new vertical air curtains at the outer edges of the front fascia.

The back end also gets some TLC, and the rear lights, now bearing contours of fiber-optic light elements, come together to create an X-like motif. The X5 plug-in hybrid runs on 20-inch wheels as standard and all-season run-flat tires, although larger wheels are on offer. A panoramic moonroof is another welcome feature that won't add anything to the bill.

The exterior colors for the BMW X5 Hybrid include some new options for 2024, such as Blue Ridge Mountain, Brooklyn Grey, Skyscraper Grey, and Frozen Pure Grey, while approximately 40 BMW Individual special paintwork shades will be available at extra cost on launch.

Key dimensions for the BMW X5 Hybrid include a length of 194.2 inches, a width of 78.9 inches, and a height of 69.1 inches. This is pretty similar to the older model, although it now stands a little higher; the 117.1-inch wheelbase carries over from 2023.

Whereas the ICE-powered models range in curb weight from 4,919 pounds to 5,355 lbs, the electronic gubbins on the hybrid see it tip the scales at 5,573 lbs - the heftiest in the X5 stable.

The new BMW X5 SUV range gets a revised powertrain lineup, and the X5 Hybrid gets so much more that it warrants a model-name change. For 2024, the X5 Hybrid is called the xDrive50e and it makes almost 100 horses more than the 2023 X5 xDrive45e. The engine doing duty in the BMW X5 Hybrid is a 3.0-liter six-cylinder with a turbocharger supplemented by the brand's eDrive synchronous electric motor. It includes pre-gearing integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

Specs from the powertrain total 483 hp and 516 lb-ft and allow the X5 Hybrid to complete the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds - an impressive increase over the 2023 model's 5.3-second dash. Top speed is limited to 130 mph, and the SUV will be brought to a stop by four-piston fixed-caliper front brakes and single-piston rear brakes. We have no doubt the X5 Hybrid will remain as stable, refined, and fun to drive as its predecessors - if not more so, thanks to the increase in power.

Unlike base X5 models, the xDrive50e comes with a two-axle air suspension just like the high-performance X5 M60i.

Not only does the BMW X5 Hybrid get more power for 2024, but it also sees an increase in the all-electric range. Whereas the outgoing model managed around 30 miles without engaging the gas engine, the 2024 X5 Hybrid can go for 40 miles. Further upgrades to the hybrid model include a larger 25.7-kWh battery which is compatible with single-phase and three-phase charging to double the charging rate for quicker battery refills. We'll wait for the official mpg figures for the 2024 BMW X5 Hybrid, but we're rooting for a figure that exceeds 50 MPGe.

Not only does it get substantial updates to the exterior, but the BMW X5 Hybrid interior is even better than before. Most of the changes center around the newly standard BMW Curved Display that takes the place of the existing twin 12.3-inch screens. The Curved Display incorporates a 12.3-inch driver cluster with a 14.9-inch infotainment screen under one pane in the dashboard. It's powered by iDrive 8, the brand's infotainment software which comes with all the tech wizardry to enable smartphone usage, navigation, and more. Speaking of the dash, it's upholstered in Sensafin as standard and features slimmer central air vents and a much more polished design.

The rest of the cabin feels more luxurious than before, and there's a new ambient light bar in the dashboard ahead of the front passenger. Sport seats are standard inside the BMW X5 Hybrid and are wrapped in Sensafin, although these can be upgraded to multi-contour seats with ventilation. The faux-leather Sensafin is quilted and perforated, and interior colors for the 2024 X5 Hybrid include such hues as Silverstone, Coffee, Cognac, or Black. Extended Merino leather will be available as an optional extra.

Standard features include heated front seats, blind-spot detection, wireless charging, lane departure warning, and front collision warning. As for available features, the 2024 X5 Hybrid gets access to more than before. Reversing Assistant is standard and offers automated backing-up maneuvers, while the optional Parking Assistant Professional and Highway Assistant (as part of the Driving Assistance Professional package) make assisted driving both accessible and easy.

When it comes to cargo space, the BMW X5 Hybrid has 31.1 cubic feet behind the back row, which can fold down to open up 71.2 cubes of trunk space. This is a cubic foot or so less than what non-hybrid models have, but still spacious. Interior storage is still sufficient, with a glovebox, cupholders, and door pockets for all your knick-knacks.