2023 X5 Interior
The interior of the X5 is stunningly crafted as always. Build quality is right up there with the very best and the design is both modern and a tribute to classic BMW cabins of yore. A 12.3-inch driver info display sits behind a leather-clad steering wheel while a central 12.3-inch touch display handles infotainment. Soft-touch materials and Sensafin faux leather adorn most models as standard, while extended Merino leather is available on upper trims. Regardless of which model you're in, there's plenty of space and the seats are both comfortable and supportive, ensuring that the ambiance feels luxurious and homely at the same time. Other features like standard heated seats on all variants add to the X5's impressive lineup of features.
2023 X5 Interior Photos
Seating and Interior Space
As standard, the X5 will seat five adults in comfort, with plenty of headroom and legroom for all occupants. Getting in and out is easy, but if you opt for the available third-row with another pair of seats, ingress and egress are tricky and space is somewhat constrained, so we'd avoid choosing this option and rather consider something bigger if you need more seating capacity. In front, the seats are 16-way power-adjustable chairs with heating as standard on all variants, offering plenty of comfort and support as well as a great driving position. Second-row occupants have plenty of headroom but we didn't like the fact that the seats are not adjustable, meaning there's less room to stretch.
On the M50i, you get 20-way multi-contour seats with ventilation added. Options for the seats include heating for the rear seats, the steering wheel, and the front armrests, and you can also add massaging to the front seats if you've specced the 20-way perches or opted for the M50i model.
2023 BMW X5 Interior Dimensions:
| BMW X5 Trims | sDrive40i | xDrive40i | xDrive45e Plug-In Hybrid | M50i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom Front Seat | 40.8 in. | 40.8 in. | 40.7 in. | 40.7 in. |
| Headroom Back Seat | 38.7 in. | 38.7 in. | 38.7 in. | 38.7 in. |
| Legroom Front Seat | 39.8 in. | 39.8 in. | 39.8 in. | 39.8 in. |
| Legroom Back Seat | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. |
| Shoulder Room Front | 60 in. | 60 in. | 60 in. | 60 in. |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 58.1 in. | 58.1 in. | 58.1 in. | 58.1 in. |
Interior Colors and Materials
The base X5 features SensaFin faux leather as standard in a choice of Black, Cognac, Coffee, or Silverstone. Extended Merino leather is available in Ivory White, Coffee, Black, or Tartufo. However, these options cost $2,450 along with the addition of multi-contour seats, four-zone climate control, and the Executive Package, bringing the true total for this leather option to well over $6k. Fortunately, you get more choice with trim accents at no cost, with Aluminum Dark Mesh, Brown-Metallic Ash Grain wood, Anthracite-Brown Poplar Matte Finish wood, and Aluminum Tetragon options. The last option is not truly free though, as you need to add multi-contour seats, four-zone climate control, Black extended Merino leather, the Premium package, and the M Sport aero kit. These options can add up to a good few thousand bucks. Glass controls are also available as a standalone option.
Our hybrid sampler came in Ivory White with Aluminum Tetragon trim accents, heated front seats and armrests, an M sport steering, and ambient lighting which made for a cohesive, stylish interior.
The M50i variant gets the same options and the option to specify extended Merino leather, but at a more palatable $1,000. The same trim options are available here at no charge, but you can spend extra on carbon fiber ($300) or Individual Piano Black, Individual Fine Wood Ash Grain in High Gloss Silver, or BMW Individual Fineline Black with aluminum inserts for $1,080.
2023 X5 Trunk and Cargo Space
The BMW X5 is a pretty commodious SUV, offering 33.9 cubic feet of volume behind the rear seats, assuming that you've opted to stick with the standard two-row seating configuration. The hybrid variant is a little less commodious, however, at 33.1 cubes. That means plenty of space for full-size luggage for each occupant, along with extra space for shopping bags containing your road trip snacks. Thanks to a power liftgate, hands-free opening of the rear hatch is a breeze, and if the cargo area isn't spacious enough for you, you can fold the rear seats in a 40/20/40 split to open up as much as 72.3 cubic feet of volume.
In the cabin, you get decent door pockets, a glovebox, a center armrest bin, and a large space in the center console for your phone and/or wallet. There are also two cupholders in front and another two in the rear.
2023 BMW X5 Trunk and Cargo Space Photos
2023 X5 Infotainment and Features
Features
The X5 is a luxury German SUV, which means that standard features won't leave you wanting. The base model is equipped with launch control, stop/start, dynamic damper control, hill descent control, power-folding heated wing mirrors, dynamic cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, a power liftgate, and a panoramic moonroof with a power sunshade. You also get ambient lighting, Icon adaptive LED headlights, adaptive brake lights, rain-sensing wipers, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a 12.3-inch driver info display. Safety features include a drowsy driver monitor, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision detection, and post-collision braking. You also get heated front seats, but on the M50i, the front seats gain ventilation too. The M50i also boasts remote start and quad-zone climate control.
Available options in the US include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, massaging front seats, park assist, a surround-view camera, a drive recorder, air suspension (available in combination with the seven-seater option), and a heated steering wheel and armrests. A head-up display is available, while adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight, LED lights in the ceiling, and rear manual side window shades are available as part of the Executive package on the M50i.
Infotainment
The infotainment system in every BMW X5 SUV is powered by BMW's iDrive 7.0 system and is operated via a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. It allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with Bluetooth and USB connections, and features HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, navigation, and a 10-speaker sound system. The Hybrid and M50i get a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system instead. The system is easy to understand and navigate and responds quickly, reasserting its status as one of the best infotainment systems available on the market. In general, we preferred using the touchscreen instead of the iDrive controller on the center console. Screen response is excellent and we experienced no major hiccups, such as the sudden reboot that happened on a recent Mercedes test car.