2020 BMW X5 M Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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BMW’s X5 isn’t a sports car, but it moves like one. The high-performance midsize SUV gets even quicker for 2020, as the third generation debuts along with its X6 cousin. More power, more comfort, and arguably better looks are all part of the package.
The engine is the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 also found in the M5 sedan, and it makes 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. That’s 33 more hp than the old X5 M, and the torque curve is wider by 1,090 rpm. An available Competition trim adds another 17 hp. All X5 Ms shift through an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with three different settings that adjust shift speed and sharpness, and the dual-branch exhaust system comes with a feature that can adjust the exhaust note louder or softer with a control on the center console. All X5 Ms are also all-wheel drive (AWD) with an active M Differential. You can expect 16 mpg city, 22 highway, and 18 combined with premium fuel.
The standard trim will do 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, but the Competition trim will do it in 3.7 seconds. An optional M Driver’s Package also raises the electronically limited 155-mph top speed to 177 mph, and it comes with an invitation to hone your driving skills at one of BMW’s Performance Centers. There is one in California and one in South Carolina.
The X5 M’s all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, which in BMW-speak is called xDrive, keeps the vehicle in rear-drive for most situations, only directing power to the front when more traction is needed. The suspension is by double wishbones up front and a five-link setup in back. The X5 M rides on 21-inch alloy wheels with staggered tires. Drilled and vented brakes do the stopping, and drivers can select between Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus modes. The X5 M Competition adds a Track driving mode along with additional knee padding on each side for the driver taking those hard corners. Track mode also reduces the number of distractions from displays and driver-assist features to help drivers focus.
The X5 M is just as luxurious as the standard X5, with the premium fit and finish that one expects in a BMW. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch center display dominate the dashboard, and BMW’s iDrive 7 operating system is standard, as are illuminated door sill plates and carbon fiber trim. Options include full Merino leather (standard on the X5 M Competition), a Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound stereo, and a backseat entertainment system. Cargo space is 33.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up or 72.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Other standard features include lane-departure warning, rear-collision warning, frontal-collision warning with pedestrian warning and city-collision mitigation, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and speed limit information. Options on the safety front include a package with active cruise control that works up to 130 mph, lane-keep assist, extended traffic-jam assistant, and evasion aid.
For a luxury SUV that will outrun many performance cars and still carry a family of five with their overnight bags, the X5 M has never been a bad value. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Audi SQ7, Mercedes GLE 63 AMG are also worth considering.
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2020 BMW X5 M Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Rear air conditioning: with independent controls · Dual rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · 20G hard drive · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 2 subwoofers · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 14 · 600 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 15.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 15.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: carbon · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: cargo area carpet · Floor Mats: front · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Active parking system: driver controlled brake, gas and gear selection · Ambient lighting: color-adjustable · Assist handle: front · Cargo area power outlet: 12V · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Footwell lights: color-adjustable · Memorized settings: climate control · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 20
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.15
Engine
Alternator: 210 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: sensor-activated · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: power adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 12.3 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: cornering · Tail and brake lights: LED · Taillights: adaptive
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 20
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: with wind deflector · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade · Roof rails: black
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Parking sensors: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: 4-way power lumbar · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.0
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist · Smart device app compatibility: BMW ConnectedDrive · Smart device app function: vehicle location · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: remote operation · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Dual rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · 20G hard drive · Premium Brand: Harman-Kardon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 2 subwoofers · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 14 · 600 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 15.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 15.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: carbon · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: cargo area carpet · Floor Mats: front · Headliner trim: Alcantara · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Active parking system: driver controlled brake, gas and gear selection · Ambient lighting: color-adjustable · Assist handle: rear · Cargo area power outlet: 12V · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Footwell lights: color-adjustable · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: vehicle and key memory · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): USB front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: accessory hook · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 18
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.15
Engine
Alternator: 210 amps · Battery: maintenance-free · Exhaust: performance
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 12.3 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: low oil level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED · Taillights: adaptive
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 18
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade · Roof rails: black
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Automatic emergency braking: front pedestrian · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: 4-way power lumbar · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.0
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist · Smart device app compatibility: BMW ConnectedDrive · Smart device app function: maintenance status · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: remote operation · Rear wiper: with washer